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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.
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It's nice to see you all.
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I do not have any
announcements to make at the
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top, Jim, so we can go
straight to questions, if
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you'd like to start.
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The Press: Thank you, Josh.
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I'd like to ask
you about trade.
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You said that it's an ugly
process but it can yield a
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good result.
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I'm wondering if you
still think that today.
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Mr. Earnest: Hope
springs eternal.
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The Press: This Medicare
offset in the trade
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adjustment assistance
component of the bill seems
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to be a major sticking point
that Boehner and Ryan have
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attempted to fix, that
Leader Pelosi today said
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that had been fixed.
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However, that still seems
to be a sticking point.
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Secretary of Labor Tom
Perez sent a letter today
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supporting that TAA package.
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Does the President that
Democrats simply don't want
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to vote for, even
temporarily, for something
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that would cut Medicare?
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Or does he think they want
to use this to keep that
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fast track for a period?
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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim,
I'd refer you to those
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congressional Democrats to
determine their motive.
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But there are two things
that I think are
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worth clarifying.
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And the first is, as a
strictly legislative
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procedural matter, it's my
understanding that the vote
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is structured in such a way
that anyone who supports --
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who essentially votes
for the trade adjustment
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assistance package on the
floor of the House, when it
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comes up for a vote
tomorrow, will not have to
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vote for that
Medicare offset.
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Based on the way that
they've structured it,
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there's a -- you guys know
more about this than I do --
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but there is a rule that has
been put in place that, if
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passed, would prevent any
member of Congress -- and I
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think it's Democrats who are
most concerned about this --
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from having to vote for
the Medicare offset.
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And I think that is what led
Leader Pelosi to conclude
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that this particular concern
that she has raised had been
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effectively addressed.
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And this goes to something
that I described yesterday,
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which is this is the kind
of bipartisan effort that
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typically does yield
success in the House.
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And this is an effort from
Democrats and Republicans to
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sit down at the table, try
to identify common ground,
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address mutual concerns,
and try to move forward.
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And so that's why, as I
mentioned earlier, hope does
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continue to spring eternal.
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Now, there's a second piece
to this that's also really
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important for people to
understand, and this has
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gotten lost in the
debate a little bit.
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Trade adjustment assistance
-- the trade adjustment
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assistance program that
currently exists is
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scheduled to expire at
the end of the year.
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I'm confident that the
Speaker of the House, if he
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hasn't said so already,
would be happy to tell you
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that if trade adjustment
assistance doesn't pass this
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week, it's very unlikely to
pass before the end of the year.
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And what that means is it
means that if you're a
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member of Congress and
you vote against trade
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adjustment assistance this
week, you are adding your
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name to the death
certificate of trade
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adjustment assistance --
because it will go away.
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And that is a source of
significant concern to the
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President and, I know, many
other Democrats on Capitol
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Hill, because we know how
critically important trade
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adjustment assistance is to
middle-class families all
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across the country.
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This is a program that, over
its life, has served 2.2
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million American workers.
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And the good news, Jim, is
that this is not just an
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extension of the already
existing program; it
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represents a
significant expansion.
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It nearly doubles the cap of
money that's allowed to be
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spent on these programs.
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It makes a large number of
American workers eligible
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once again for trade
adjustment assistance,
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including more than 17,000
workers who'd previously had
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their application denied
over the last 18 months.
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They can now have their
application reconsidered
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for eligibility.
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So there are a lot of
reasons for Democrats and
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Republicans to support trade
adjustment assistance when
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it's on the floor at
the end of the week.
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The Press: Now, even as
Leader Pelosi said that she
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thought that the Medicare
issue had been fixed, she
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still also raised the
concern regarding public
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employees not being
included in the TAA.
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And I'm wondering, are
Democrats moving the goal
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post here?
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Is that a potential
problem for you guys?
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Mr. Earnest: Well, what we
have indicated is that the
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last TAA bill that I
referred to earlier -- the
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one that passed in 2011 --
was supported unanimously
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by Democrats.
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And it didn't include
eligibility, specific
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eligibility for public
sector workers.
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And there were no
significant concerns that
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were raised at that time.
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So the fact is, this piece
of legislation is consistent
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with that, and it would
significantly expand those
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workers who are eligible.
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It would expand eligibility
to those workers that may
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have been affected by trade
with non-FTA countries, like
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India or China.
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And again, according to
the statistics from the
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Department of Labor, that
would affect up to 30,000
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American workers.
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And the fact is that when
public sector workers were
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eligible between 2009 and
2011, do you know how many
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public sector workers
actually were certified as
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eligible to apply for trade
adjustment assistance benefits?
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Zero.
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None.
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Not a single one.
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So that is why -- again,
when you consider the
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opportunity that exists for
the United States Congress
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to pass legislation that
would make up to 30,000
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workers, who were affected
by trade with non-FTA
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countries, eligible for
trade adjustment assistance,
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and another 17,000 workers
who have previously been
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denied over the last 18
months, and would have the
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opportunity to have their
application reconsidered.
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The expansion of this trade
adjustment assistance that's
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included in this bill far
outweighs any concerns about
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the inclusion of public
sector workers, principally
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because when public sector
workers were included in the
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legislation, none of them
were deemed eligible.
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The Press: So this issue
that Ms. Pelosi is raising
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is a false argument?
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Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I wouldn't say that.
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What I would say is we have
a very strong case to make
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about why Democrats and
Republicans should be able
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to act in bipartisan fashion
to make sure that trade
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adjustment assistance
doesn't expire.
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And, in fact, they can
actually be a part of making
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sure that these important
benefits are expanding.
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The Press: Can you tell us
a little bit about what the
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President has
been doing today?
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His conversation with the
Speaker and the advocacy
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that Denis McDonough, Tom
Perez and Secretary Lew are
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making on the Hill?
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Mr. Earnest: Jim, I think
you've about covered it.
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(laughter)
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The fact is, everybody from
the President on down,
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including many members of
his team here at the White
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House and his economic team
across the administration,
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are making an aggressive
case to members of Congress
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about why they should
support this trade package
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that is scheduled for
a vote in the House of
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Representatives over the
next couple of days.
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And the President did have
an opportunity to call
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Speaker Boehner today.
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I don't have details of that
conversation to share with you.
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They talked about this
particular issue.
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And again, I think it is
indicative of the kind of
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bipartisan cooperation
that we know is ultimately
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successful to passing
meaningful legislation in
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the House of
Representatives.
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And this is the kind of
template that we have long
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sought and we have long
encouraged Republicans who
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are in the majority
to engage in.
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And we're pleased
to do our part.
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Again, it doesn't mean
that a perfect piece of
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legislation is
going to pass.
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But it does mean that
Democrats and Republicans
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should be able to seize
common ground to advance
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values that they share.
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And in this case, we're
talking about trying to
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expand economic opportunity
for everybody American.
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And that should be an
area where Democrats and
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Republicans can
find common ground.
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In the past, we often
haven't been able to, but
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here's a prime opportunity
for us to do it entirely
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consistent with the kinds of
progressive values that the
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President has championed
throughout his time here at
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the White House.
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Roberta.
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The Press: I want to
ask about the Senate.
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And I'm wondering, does the
White House support Senator
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Burr's cyber
information-sharing bill?
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Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't
seen the details of the
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particular bill.
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The President put forward
his own legislative language
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at the beginning of this
year that we believe would
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make it easier for the
federal government to
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effectively respond to
intrusions when they occur.
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It also will allow both
government and private
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sector websites -- or
private sector servers to
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better protect their
networks from cyber intrusions.
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And that's why we have
pretty aggressively
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advocated congressional
passage of that
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legislative language.
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It shouldn't be
controversial.
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It certainly isn't
partisan in nature.
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But it's technical enough
that it would make sure that
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federal authorities have
what they need to try to
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protect not just government
computer networks but also
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taking steps that would help
the private sector protect
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their networks from cyber
intrusions, as well.
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The Press: So Senator Burr
and some other Republicans
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are trying to move some
cyber
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information-sharing legislation.
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And there's been a
suggestion that it be
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attached to the NDAA.
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What does the White House
make of that approach?
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Mr. Earnest: Well, we take
a pretty dim view of that
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approach, to be
blunt about it.
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The fact is we want the
Senate to pass cybersecurity
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00:10:00,566 --> 00:10:03,035
legislation, not
play games with it.
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And the suggestion that
they're going to attach it
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to a piece of legislation
that the President has
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already indicated he opposed
is an indication that
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00:10:10,109 --> 00:10:12,111
they're interested -- more
interested in playing
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politics than they are in
actually making sure that we
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have all the tools we need
to protect the American
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people from cyber hacks,
either emanating inside the
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United States or, more
commonly, abroad.
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The Press: But the White
House -- correct me if I'm
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wrong -- but the White House
seems to regularly issue
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veto threats for the NDAA.
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But when it comes down to
it, the President signs
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these large defense spending
bills, authorization bills.
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So how serious is the White
House this time around about
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this veto threat
for the NDAA?
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Mr. Earnest: Very serious.
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And I would -- we're
obviously talking about some
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weighty policy matters when
we're talking about the
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National Defense
Authorization Act.
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And the President has in
the past expressed serious
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concerns with some of the
things that members of
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Congress have sought to
add to this legislation.
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But the concerns that the
President has are serious.
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And we have seen so far in
the House that there are
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enough votes in the House of
Representatives to sustain a
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presidential veto.
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And I think that's an
indication that the
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President's veto threat
should be taken quite seriously.
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Jim.
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00:11:31,190 --> 00:11:33,626
The Press: Josh, on the Hill
today, Lieutenant Colonel
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00:11:33,626 --> 00:11:37,496
Jason Amerine testified that
chaos and friction within
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00:11:37,496 --> 00:11:40,900
the Obama administration
between the FBI and the DOD
247
00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:43,702
led to a failure to gain the
release of at least five
248
00:11:43,702 --> 00:11:47,373
civilian hostages, including
Warren Weinstein and an
249
00:11:47,373 --> 00:11:50,042
American, Caitlin Coleman,
and the child she gave birth
250
00:11:50,042 --> 00:11:52,478
to in captivity
of the Taliban.
251
00:11:52,478 --> 00:11:56,748
His direct quote was, "Our
nation lacks an organization
252
00:11:56,749 --> 00:11:59,118
that can synchronize
the efforts of all our
253
00:11:59,118 --> 00:12:02,054
government agencies to
get our hostages home."
254
00:12:02,054 --> 00:12:03,389
Is that true?
255
00:12:03,389 --> 00:12:04,790
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, what
I would say, first of all,
256
00:12:04,790 --> 00:12:08,861
is that the President has
talked extensively about the
257
00:12:08,861 --> 00:12:12,598
great lengths that the U.S.
258
00:12:12,598 --> 00:12:15,935
government has gone to try
to secure the safe return of
259
00:12:15,935 --> 00:12:18,871
American hostages
being held overseas.
260
00:12:18,871 --> 00:12:22,942
The President has on a
number of occasions ordered
261
00:12:22,942 --> 00:12:27,046
special operators to go into
dangerous places, including
262
00:12:27,046 --> 00:12:30,583
into Syria, to try to
secure the release of
263
00:12:30,583 --> 00:12:31,750
U.S. hostages.
264
00:12:31,750 --> 00:12:35,154
The President has also
ordered similar raids in Yemen.
265
00:12:35,154 --> 00:12:38,390
And I think that is an
indication that the
266
00:12:38,390 --> 00:12:42,561
President is willing
to take some big risks.
267
00:12:42,561 --> 00:12:44,697
And our men and women in
uniform are willing to put
268
00:12:44,697 --> 00:12:48,501
themselves in harm's way
to try to secure the safe
269
00:12:48,501 --> 00:12:50,336
return of American hostages.
270
00:12:50,336 --> 00:12:52,705
I think that is a pretty
clear demonstration of this
271
00:12:52,705 --> 00:12:54,673
President and this
administration's and this
272
00:12:54,673 --> 00:12:56,675
country's commitment to
securing the release of
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American hostages.
274
00:12:58,811 --> 00:13:03,048
Now, what I will also say
is that I can't talk about
275
00:13:03,048 --> 00:13:08,487
individual cases from up
here, either of previous --
276
00:13:08,487 --> 00:13:10,723
I'm not going to talk about
any individual cases.
277
00:13:10,723 --> 00:13:13,925
But what the President has
acknowledged, and what his
278
00:13:13,926 --> 00:13:18,030
team is diligently working
on, is a review of the
279
00:13:18,030 --> 00:13:21,266
process that the
administration carries out
280
00:13:21,267 --> 00:13:25,304
for handling these cases
and communicating with the
281
00:13:25,304 --> 00:13:27,706
families of those who
are being held hostage.
282
00:13:27,706 --> 00:13:29,708
And there are a number of
proposals that have
283
00:13:29,708 --> 00:13:30,709
been circulated.
284
00:13:30,709 --> 00:13:32,744
I would anticipate that we
would have some more details
285
00:13:32,745 --> 00:13:38,050
soon as it relates to some
policy changes that we
286
00:13:38,050 --> 00:13:41,252
believe would make our
government even more
287
00:13:41,253 --> 00:13:46,192
effective in leveraging all
of our assets to try to
288
00:13:46,192 --> 00:13:48,194
secure the return of
American hostages.
289
00:13:48,194 --> 00:13:50,195
The Press: But it does
sound as though you're not
290
00:13:50,196 --> 00:13:52,298
disagreeing that there
are some problems about
291
00:13:52,298 --> 00:13:56,368
communication between the
FBI, the DOD, when these
292
00:13:56,368 --> 00:13:57,870
things happen.
293
00:13:57,870 --> 00:13:59,838
Mr. Earnest: I think what we
have acknowledged is that
294
00:13:59,838 --> 00:14:02,040
there are some reforms that
we could put in place that
295
00:14:02,041 --> 00:14:05,444
would better integrate the
elements of the federal
296
00:14:05,444 --> 00:14:07,445
government that are working
so hard to secure the
297
00:14:07,446 --> 00:14:09,782
release of
American hostages.
298
00:14:09,782 --> 00:14:11,850
The Press: On another
subject, if I could.
299
00:14:11,850 --> 00:14:22,928
ABC News has been reporting
that the administration,
300
00:14:22,928 --> 00:14:25,064
according to one
person -- a U.S.
301
00:14:25,064 --> 00:14:27,967
official -- are familiar
with the OPM hack.
302
00:14:27,967 --> 00:14:30,936
Says the hack itself is
far deeper and far more
303
00:14:30,936 --> 00:14:33,405
problematic than
administration officials
304
00:14:33,405 --> 00:14:34,839
have been admitting.
305
00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:39,411
That there is, in fact, an
effort by the White House to
306
00:14:39,411 --> 00:14:43,949
tell other agencies not to
release full information to
307
00:14:43,949 --> 00:14:48,087
reporters about the
extent of this hack.
308
00:14:48,087 --> 00:14:53,092
Is this hack more deep and
more wide than what the
309
00:14:53,092 --> 00:14:54,660
administration has told us?
310
00:14:54,660 --> 00:14:58,063
Mr. Earnest: Jim, what I can
tell you is that the precise
311
00:14:58,063 --> 00:15:00,933
scope of this particular
intrusion is one that
312
00:15:00,933 --> 00:15:03,902
continues to be under
investigation by the FBI and
313
00:15:03,902 --> 00:15:09,908
other technical experts that
have the knowledge necessary
314
00:15:09,908 --> 00:15:14,213
to try to figure out what
exactly has occurred.
315
00:15:14,213 --> 00:15:18,784
And I think we have been
clear since this news broke
316
00:15:18,784 --> 00:15:21,120
that this is a matter that
we take very seriously.
317
00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,590
And we do -- we are
concerned that this could --
318
00:15:24,590 --> 00:15:30,663
again, based on an early
review of what's transpired,
319
00:15:30,663 --> 00:15:34,433
could potentially have
affected more than 4 million
320
00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:37,069
federal employees.
321
00:15:37,069 --> 00:15:40,339
We've also been blunt about
the fact that we know that
322
00:15:40,339 --> 00:15:43,309
the Office of Personnel
Management maintains
323
00:15:43,309 --> 00:15:45,978
sensitive data and sensitive
information about
324
00:15:45,978 --> 00:15:47,945
federal employees.
325
00:15:47,946 --> 00:15:52,751
Again, the precise scope of
how much and what type of
326
00:15:52,751 --> 00:15:56,422
data has been exfiltrated
is something that, again,
327
00:15:56,422 --> 00:16:00,592
continues to be investigated
by the FBI and other
328
00:16:00,592 --> 00:16:01,627
technical experts.
329
00:16:01,627 --> 00:16:08,132
But we have already begun
the process of contacting
330
00:16:08,133 --> 00:16:12,104
those that we thus far
believe could potentially
331
00:16:12,104 --> 00:16:14,773
have been affected
in a serious way.
332
00:16:14,773 --> 00:16:17,476
And if additional
notifications are necessary,
333
00:16:17,476 --> 00:16:20,379
that's something that we
will -- that responsibility
334
00:16:20,379 --> 00:16:21,547
is one that we
take seriously.
335
00:16:21,547 --> 00:16:24,149
As additional notifications
are necessary, we'll make them.
336
00:16:24,149 --> 00:16:26,852
The Press: But do we have
the whole story now about
337
00:16:26,852 --> 00:16:28,620
what the White
House does know?
338
00:16:28,620 --> 00:16:31,357
Or are you holding back
information about the extent
339
00:16:31,357 --> 00:16:32,458
of this hack?
340
00:16:32,458 --> 00:16:34,526
In fact, we're being told
that it's much more than
341
00:16:34,526 --> 00:16:35,593
4 million people.
342
00:16:35,594 --> 00:16:37,029
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, the
thing that we have been
343
00:16:37,029 --> 00:16:39,465
clear about is that there
are certain elements of the
344
00:16:39,465 --> 00:16:41,500
investigation that we are
reluctant to talk about
345
00:16:41,500 --> 00:16:44,737
publicly because the
disclosure of some pieces of
346
00:16:44,737 --> 00:16:47,639
information could inhibit
the ongoing investigation.
347
00:16:47,639 --> 00:16:50,609
And that's been true --
that's limited our ability
348
00:16:50,609 --> 00:16:51,510
to talk about other cyber
349
00:16:51,510 --> 00:16:53,412
intrusions when they've occurred.
350
00:16:53,412 --> 00:16:56,849
So this is a hallmark of these kinds of investigations.
351
00:16:56,849 --> 00:16:58,851
Frankly, I think it's
a hallmark of a lot of
352
00:16:58,851 --> 00:17:01,920
criminal investigations that
even don't involve crimes
353
00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:03,921
committed in cyberspace.
354
00:17:06,692 --> 00:17:08,926
But what is also true is
there's also a reluctance to
355
00:17:08,926 --> 00:17:11,763
talk in a lot of detail
while the investigation
356
00:17:11,763 --> 00:17:13,464
is ongoing.
357
00:17:13,464 --> 00:17:15,934
And I certainly wouldn't
want to say something that
358
00:17:15,934 --> 00:17:20,873
would be contradicted by our
investigators once they've
359
00:17:20,873 --> 00:17:22,875
obtained additional
information.
360
00:17:22,875 --> 00:17:27,780
So I think we certainly are
being cautious in terms of
361
00:17:27,780 --> 00:17:29,782
what information we are
communicating, but we have
362
00:17:29,782 --> 00:17:32,684
also been pretty direct
about living up to our
363
00:17:32,684 --> 00:17:35,154
commitment to make sure that
we're communicating directly
364
00:17:35,154 --> 00:17:38,490
with those that need to be
notified about a potential
365
00:17:38,490 --> 00:17:41,160
breach of their
sensitive data.
366
00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,695
And this is walking a fine
line; I would acknowledge
367
00:17:43,695 --> 00:17:45,264
that as well.
368
00:17:45,264 --> 00:17:47,265
But if there's an
opportunity for us to share
369
00:17:47,266 --> 00:17:49,268
additional information about
this ongoing investigation
370
00:17:49,268 --> 00:17:53,105
in the future, then we will
try to do that given the
371
00:17:53,105 --> 00:17:55,941
limitations that
I've just described.
372
00:17:55,941 --> 00:17:56,675
Kristen.
373
00:17:56,675 --> 00:17:57,776
The Press: Josh, thanks.
374
00:17:57,776 --> 00:17:59,778
We learned today that
General Dempsey told
375
00:17:59,778 --> 00:18:04,149
reporters that the
administration is open to
376
00:18:04,149 --> 00:18:06,552
opening up more
bases in Iraq.
377
00:18:06,552 --> 00:18:08,219
Is that the President's
thinking -- is that
378
00:18:08,220 --> 00:18:09,955
consistent with the
President's thinking?
379
00:18:09,955 --> 00:18:12,558
And are there any immediate
or specific plans to do that
380
00:18:12,558 --> 00:18:14,159
beyond what we
learned yesterday?
381
00:18:14,159 --> 00:18:15,727
Mr. Earnest: There are no
immediate or specific plans
382
00:18:15,727 --> 00:18:16,962
to do that.
383
00:18:16,962 --> 00:18:20,098
As my colleagues in the
Pentagon will tell you, that
384
00:18:20,098 --> 00:18:24,636
they devote significant time
and energy and resources to
385
00:18:24,636 --> 00:18:26,437
contingency planning.
386
00:18:26,438 --> 00:18:29,041
And the President relies on
his military advisors in
387
00:18:29,041 --> 00:18:32,144
particular to spend a lot of
time thinking ahead about
388
00:18:32,144 --> 00:18:35,747
what could lie
ahead in the future.
389
00:18:35,747 --> 00:18:37,850
But as I mentioned earlier,
there is no immediate plan
390
00:18:37,850 --> 00:18:38,917
to do this.
391
00:18:38,917 --> 00:18:41,687
What I will say, though,
is that if a kind of
392
00:18:41,687 --> 00:18:45,224
recommendation like this did
come from the President's
393
00:18:45,224 --> 00:18:47,559
national security team and
from his military advisors
394
00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:52,664
in particular, it would be a
recommendation that is made
395
00:18:52,664 --> 00:18:55,601
-- it would be a
recommendation that reflects
396
00:18:58,136 --> 00:19:02,341
that the ongoing training
efforts have been useful.
397
00:19:02,341 --> 00:19:05,244
That the reason that we
would consider expanding the
398
00:19:05,244 --> 00:19:08,880
training operation, and the
advise-and-assist operation
399
00:19:08,881 --> 00:19:13,385
that's underway, would
be because it's been an
400
00:19:13,385 --> 00:19:15,854
effective element
of our strategy.
401
00:19:15,854 --> 00:19:18,724
Now, it doesn't necessarily
mean, however, that it would
402
00:19:18,724 --> 00:19:21,059
require the additional
deployment of American
403
00:19:21,059 --> 00:19:22,494
military personnel.
404
00:19:22,494 --> 00:19:23,896
The Press: But it could
include the deployment of
405
00:19:23,896 --> 00:19:24,696
American military personnel.
406
00:19:24,696 --> 00:19:25,863
Mr. Earnest: Well,
but it might not.
407
00:19:25,864 --> 00:19:27,666
So again, this is all
very hypothetical.
408
00:19:27,666 --> 00:19:29,467
But it might not.
409
00:19:29,468 --> 00:19:30,969
This is all very
hypothetical because this is
410
00:19:30,969 --> 00:19:33,705
not a recommendation that
the President's military
411
00:19:33,705 --> 00:19:35,706
advisors have offered.
412
00:19:35,707 --> 00:19:39,678
And so we'll have to see.
413
00:19:39,678 --> 00:19:41,313
The Press: The point speaks
to a concern -- and we
414
00:19:41,313 --> 00:19:43,682
talked about this yesterday
among two of the President's
415
00:19:43,682 --> 00:19:46,084
Democratic colleagues
-- that we are seeing
416
00:19:46,084 --> 00:19:48,620
increasingly more
troops, more U.S.
417
00:19:48,620 --> 00:19:51,523
forces going to Iraq.
418
00:19:51,523 --> 00:19:52,957
Representative Charlie
Rangel said -- and I'm
419
00:19:52,958 --> 00:19:56,228
quoting him -- "This
is exactly how Vietnam started."
420
00:19:56,228 --> 00:19:59,197
Your response to that
broader concern that this
421
00:19:59,197 --> 00:20:00,998
is, in fact, mission creep?
422
00:20:00,999 --> 00:20:02,868
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kristen,
as I think I tried to point
423
00:20:02,868 --> 00:20:07,906
out, if a decision were
made to open an additional
424
00:20:07,906 --> 00:20:13,245
facility to offer training
and advice and assistance to
425
00:20:13,245 --> 00:20:15,447
fighters fighting under the
command and control of the
426
00:20:15,447 --> 00:20:18,483
Iraqi central government,
that would be a very clear
427
00:20:18,483 --> 00:20:21,520
indication that previous
efforts -- or currently
428
00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:26,858
ongoing efforts to do
that -- have been useful.
429
00:20:26,858 --> 00:20:31,530
And it would -- rather than
being evidence of mission
430
00:20:31,530 --> 00:20:36,535
creep, it would be evidence
of some progress in the
431
00:20:36,535 --> 00:20:40,973
ongoing mission to support
the Iraqis as they take the
432
00:20:40,973 --> 00:20:45,077
fight to ISIL on the ground
in their own country.
433
00:20:45,077 --> 00:20:49,715
What also is undeniable
are the numbers.
434
00:20:49,715 --> 00:20:51,716
You'll recall that when the
President took office in
435
00:20:51,717 --> 00:20:55,988
2009, there were
about 150,000 U.S.
436
00:20:55,988 --> 00:21:00,759
military personnel in
Iraq in a combat role.
437
00:21:00,759 --> 00:21:06,365
The current situation is
that there are about 3,500 U.S.
438
00:21:06,365 --> 00:21:12,638
military personnel in Iraq
not in a combat role -- in a
439
00:21:12,638 --> 00:21:15,907
variety of roles that
includes military advisors,
440
00:21:15,907 --> 00:21:18,577
force protection,
intelligence officers, those
441
00:21:18,577 --> 00:21:22,447
who are staffing joint
operations centers, and others.
442
00:21:22,447 --> 00:21:24,081
The Press: Isn't that, to
some extent, semantics to
443
00:21:24,082 --> 00:21:25,984
say that they're not
in a combat role?
444
00:21:25,984 --> 00:21:26,418
I mean, again --
445
00:21:26,418 --> 00:21:27,519
Mr.
Earnest: It's not.
446
00:21:27,519 --> 00:21:29,221
The Press: Charlie Rangel
says, if you don't think
447
00:21:29,221 --> 00:21:31,356
you're putting them in
harm's way, you're not
448
00:21:31,356 --> 00:21:32,824
living in the real world.
449
00:21:32,824 --> 00:21:35,527
And they are going into a
very dangerous situation.
450
00:21:35,527 --> 00:21:39,031
Mr. Earnest: It is very
clear what the President has
451
00:21:39,031 --> 00:21:42,434
asked them to do and what
their commanders have asked
452
00:21:42,434 --> 00:21:43,769
them to do.
453
00:21:43,769 --> 00:21:49,107
And the President does not,
and has not, put currently
454
00:21:49,107 --> 00:21:54,680
deployed military personnel
in Iraq to go and directly
455
00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,515
engage the ISIL enemy.
456
00:21:56,515 --> 00:21:59,051
They are there to support
the Iraqi people to do for
457
00:21:59,051 --> 00:22:04,755
them what they must do for
themselves -- or to support
458
00:22:04,756 --> 00:22:07,159
them in what they must
do for themselves.
459
00:22:07,159 --> 00:22:11,430
And that is to support
Iraqis, who are under the
460
00:22:11,430 --> 00:22:13,865
command and control of the
Iraqi central government, as
461
00:22:13,865 --> 00:22:16,234
they take the fight on the
ground to ISIL in their
462
00:22:16,234 --> 00:22:17,235
own country.
463
00:22:17,235 --> 00:22:19,236
The United States and our
coalition partners have
464
00:22:19,237 --> 00:22:21,907
deployed military personnel
to support them in that effort.
465
00:22:21,907 --> 00:22:24,643
And that means, in some
cases, doing training; in
466
00:22:24,643 --> 00:22:26,912
some cases offering advice
and assistance; in some
467
00:22:26,912 --> 00:22:29,281
cases providing military
equipment; in some cases
468
00:22:29,281 --> 00:22:31,383
staffing a joint
operations center.
469
00:22:31,383 --> 00:22:33,385
But ultimately, this will be
the responsibility of the
470
00:22:33,385 --> 00:22:35,520
Iraqi people, and it's
something that they must do
471
00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:36,187
for themselves.
472
00:22:36,188 --> 00:22:37,289
The Press: And just to
close the loop, Josh.
473
00:22:37,289 --> 00:22:39,725
Is there any timeline by
which the President will sit
474
00:22:39,725 --> 00:22:43,495
down and decide whether or
not to open up another base?
475
00:22:43,495 --> 00:22:47,064
Mr. Earnest: Again, Kristen,
the President will be
476
00:22:47,065 --> 00:22:50,502
relying on the advice of
his national security team,
477
00:22:50,502 --> 00:22:52,504
including senior
members of the Pentagon.
478
00:22:52,504 --> 00:22:54,505
And this is not something
that they have recommended,
479
00:22:54,506 --> 00:22:56,508
and I think that's something
that even General Dempsey said.
480
00:22:56,508 --> 00:23:02,814
So I think it's important to
understand the context in
481
00:23:02,814 --> 00:23:04,783
which General Dempsey made
those comments and to
482
00:23:04,783 --> 00:23:06,784
understand the role that he
has, which is to spend a lot
483
00:23:06,785 --> 00:23:08,987
of time thinking ahead and
doing contingency planning.
484
00:23:08,987 --> 00:23:14,126
And I think that's pretty
clear from the comments that
485
00:23:14,126 --> 00:23:15,127
he shared today.
486
00:23:15,127 --> 00:23:17,129
The Press: Just one on
the trade deal, Josh.
487
00:23:17,129 --> 00:23:19,030
There is some concern among
lawmakers that the trade
488
00:23:19,030 --> 00:23:22,501
deal could impact, could
in some ways threaten
489
00:23:22,501 --> 00:23:23,668
food safety.
490
00:23:23,668 --> 00:23:25,736
Is the President confident
that that won't happen?
491
00:23:25,737 --> 00:23:27,706
Can he assure Americans
that that won't happen?
492
00:23:27,706 --> 00:23:28,840
Mr. Earnest: Yes.
493
00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,208
He can assure Americans
that that will not happen.
494
00:23:31,209 --> 00:23:33,345
Principally -- there are
a variety of reasons.
495
00:23:33,345 --> 00:23:35,347
I know that The Washington
Post has taken a look at
496
00:23:35,347 --> 00:23:39,017
this and has been pretty
harshly critical of the
497
00:23:39,017 --> 00:23:41,019
arguments that have been
made by some who've raised
498
00:23:41,019 --> 00:23:43,021
this concern because it
just didn't stand up to
499
00:23:43,021 --> 00:23:44,022
any scrutiny.
500
00:23:44,022 --> 00:23:46,024
The fact of the matter is
the reason that we engage in
501
00:23:46,024 --> 00:23:47,993
these kinds of trade
agreements is because we
502
00:23:47,993 --> 00:23:48,994
want to raise standards.
503
00:23:48,994 --> 00:23:55,332
And that's exactly what this
trade agreement would do,
504
00:23:55,333 --> 00:23:59,604
even when it comes
to food safety.
505
00:23:59,604 --> 00:24:00,038
Cheryl.
506
00:24:00,038 --> 00:24:02,073
The Press: Thanks, Josh.
507
00:24:02,073 --> 00:24:04,776
My favorite subject -- today
on Capitol Hill, Speaker
508
00:24:04,776 --> 00:24:07,279
Boehner was asked about
the spending bills and the
509
00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:09,781
possibility of
budget negotiations.
510
00:24:09,781 --> 00:24:12,884
And he again said he was
open to that, but said the
511
00:24:12,884 --> 00:24:16,855
White House needs to go
first, needs to initiate those.
512
00:24:16,855 --> 00:24:20,091
Would you be open
to doing that?
513
00:24:20,091 --> 00:24:24,662
Mr. Earnest: Well, Cheryl,
as you know, in the wisdom
514
00:24:24,663 --> 00:24:27,999
of our forefathers, it
meant that they wrote the
515
00:24:27,999 --> 00:24:30,468
Constitution of the United
States to give the power of
516
00:24:30,468 --> 00:24:32,804
the purse to the United
States Congress.
517
00:24:32,804 --> 00:24:36,408
It means that Congress,
individuals who decide to
518
00:24:36,408 --> 00:24:40,544
run for Congress are signing
up for the responsibility of
519
00:24:40,545 --> 00:24:42,480
doing what I would
acknowledge is difficult
520
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,516
work, which is making very
difficult, critically
521
00:24:44,516 --> 00:24:47,819
important decisions about
our priorities, and about
522
00:24:47,819 --> 00:24:52,924
how the resources of the
American people are properly
523
00:24:52,924 --> 00:24:57,295
used to advance the interest
of our country and all of
524
00:24:57,295 --> 00:24:58,897
our citizens.
525
00:24:58,897 --> 00:25:05,736
And what we have been clear
about is that Congress
526
00:25:05,737 --> 00:25:11,810
identified a pretty
effective process for
527
00:25:11,810 --> 00:25:15,447
resolving differences and
trying to come to agreement
528
00:25:15,447 --> 00:25:20,017
on some of these difficult
issues when Senator Patty
529
00:25:20,018 --> 00:25:22,988
Murray and Congressman
Paul Ryan sat down at the
530
00:25:22,988 --> 00:25:25,957
negotiating table and
hammered out an agreement.
531
00:25:25,957 --> 00:25:31,563
And they did that to build
a bipartisan agreement that
532
00:25:31,563 --> 00:25:33,565
both Democrats and
Republicans in both houses
533
00:25:33,565 --> 00:25:35,901
of Congress could support.
534
00:25:35,901 --> 00:25:38,069
And the White House was, of
course, involved
535
00:25:38,069 --> 00:25:39,070
in that process.
536
00:25:39,070 --> 00:25:41,072
We were aware of
what was going on.
537
00:25:41,072 --> 00:25:43,073
We, in some cases, offered
some technical assistance
538
00:25:43,074 --> 00:25:45,043
about helping them
understand what impact
539
00:25:45,043 --> 00:25:49,246
certain budgetary
decisions would have.
540
00:25:49,247 --> 00:25:51,249
But ultimately, this is
something that Congress
541
00:25:51,249 --> 00:25:52,884
must resolve.
542
00:25:52,884 --> 00:25:56,655
What I will also say,
though, is that the
543
00:25:56,655 --> 00:25:58,423
President put
forward a budget.
544
00:25:58,423 --> 00:26:00,425
The President has actually
been very clear about what
545
00:26:00,425 --> 00:26:03,294
direction he thinks
that we should go.
546
00:26:03,295 --> 00:26:07,265
It's a common-sense,
fiscally responsible plan
547
00:26:07,265 --> 00:26:09,801
that puts the interests of
middle-class families first,
548
00:26:09,801 --> 00:26:12,270
and makes expanding economic
opportunity for every
549
00:26:12,270 --> 00:26:15,674
American the top priority.
550
00:26:15,674 --> 00:26:19,110
So we believe that there's a
clear template for how this
551
00:26:19,110 --> 00:26:20,611
can get resolved.
552
00:26:20,612 --> 00:26:22,814
We have been clear, and
we've demonstrated a
553
00:26:22,814 --> 00:26:26,418
willingness to play a
supportive role
554
00:26:26,418 --> 00:26:28,053
in those conversations.
555
00:26:28,053 --> 00:26:30,055
And the President has
actually put forward
556
00:26:30,055 --> 00:26:33,024
already, months ago, a
specific template for the
557
00:26:33,024 --> 00:26:35,827
direction that he believes
those conversations should go.
558
00:26:35,827 --> 00:26:40,198
Now it's time for Congress
to step up and do their job.
559
00:26:40,198 --> 00:26:41,199
Hopefully they will.
560
00:26:41,199 --> 00:26:42,233
Olivier.
561
00:26:42,233 --> 00:26:43,301
The Press: A couple
for you, Josh.
562
00:26:43,301 --> 00:26:46,204
You said that everybody from
the President on down is
563
00:26:46,204 --> 00:26:47,405
making calls on trade.
564
00:26:47,405 --> 00:26:49,407
Does that include
the Vice President?
565
00:26:49,407 --> 00:26:51,408
Mr. Earnest: I would check
with the Vice President's
566
00:26:51,409 --> 00:26:52,410
office about that.
567
00:26:52,410 --> 00:26:53,345
I don't know whether or not
he's making calls today.
568
00:26:53,345 --> 00:26:58,149
The Press: And in your back
and forth with Kristen, you
569
00:26:58,149 --> 00:27:03,388
suggested that this
hypothetical future opening
570
00:27:03,388 --> 00:27:08,525
of other facilities in Iraq
would be a sign of progress.
571
00:27:08,526 --> 00:27:09,561
Did I hear that correctly?
572
00:27:09,561 --> 00:27:12,330
Mr. Earnest: Well, the point
that I'm trying to make,
573
00:27:12,330 --> 00:27:14,532
Olivier, I think what I
described is -- I described
574
00:27:14,532 --> 00:27:15,533
it as useful.
575
00:27:15,533 --> 00:27:20,538
And the reason is simply
this: that if -- if, again,
576
00:27:20,538 --> 00:27:23,641
hypothetically -- the
President were to make a
577
00:27:23,641 --> 00:27:25,643
decision at the
recommendation of his
578
00:27:25,643 --> 00:27:27,812
national security team
to open up an additional
579
00:27:27,812 --> 00:27:31,049
facility in Iraq where
training, advising and
580
00:27:31,049 --> 00:27:35,120
assisting could occur,
he would only do that if
581
00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:39,390
already open facilities
where training, advising and
582
00:27:39,391 --> 00:27:45,497
assisting of Iraqi fighters
is occurring was useful.
583
00:27:45,497 --> 00:27:48,967
And so the point is, it
was an effort -- I was
584
00:27:48,967 --> 00:27:51,236
anticipating Kristen's
question -- this question
585
00:27:51,236 --> 00:27:53,238
about mission creep, which I
think is a legitimate
586
00:27:53,238 --> 00:27:54,239
one to raise.
587
00:27:54,239 --> 00:27:56,574
I think the point is that
if an additional base were
588
00:27:56,574 --> 00:27:57,942
opened at the recommendation
of the President's national
589
00:27:57,942 --> 00:28:00,545
security team, it would be
entirely consistent and,
590
00:28:00,545 --> 00:28:04,482
frankly, even an endorsement
of the strategy moving forward.
591
00:28:04,482 --> 00:28:08,319
But again, at this point,
that is a theoretical,
592
00:28:08,319 --> 00:28:09,320
hypothetical exercise.
593
00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,389
The Press: I recognize the
difference between a sign of
594
00:28:11,389 --> 00:28:12,389
progress and useful.
595
00:28:12,390 --> 00:28:14,392
I recognize there's
a distinction there.
596
00:28:14,392 --> 00:28:18,229
On the mission creep issue,
you don't have to give me a
597
00:28:18,229 --> 00:28:20,231
number, but does the
President have a number in
598
00:28:20,231 --> 00:28:23,268
mind of troops above which
he's not willing to go?
599
00:28:23,268 --> 00:28:26,504
You've at least said he's
not going to send 150,000
600
00:28:26,504 --> 00:28:27,504
American troops back.
601
00:28:27,505 --> 00:28:29,507
So is there some number
below that where he would
602
00:28:29,507 --> 00:28:32,444
say, no, forget it -- this
is just not worth doing?
603
00:28:32,444 --> 00:28:35,447
Mr. Earnest: Not one
that I'm aware of.
604
00:28:35,447 --> 00:28:39,716
But I think the context for
this debate is important,
605
00:28:39,717 --> 00:28:41,719
and you just laid it out,
which is that there is a
606
00:28:41,719 --> 00:28:44,055
significant difference
between 150,000 troops in a
607
00:28:44,055 --> 00:28:46,658
combat role and 3,500 U.S.
608
00:28:46,658 --> 00:28:50,160
troops in roles not in a
combat role -- in a variety
609
00:28:50,161 --> 00:28:51,629
of other roles.
610
00:28:51,629 --> 00:28:54,466
That is not in any way to
downplay the kind of risk
611
00:28:54,466 --> 00:28:57,668
that these military
servicemembers are assuming
612
00:28:57,669 --> 00:28:59,270
on behalf of our nation.
613
00:28:59,270 --> 00:29:01,272
I certainly don't
take that lightly.
614
00:29:01,272 --> 00:29:02,040
I can guarantee you that
the President of the United
615
00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,676
States does not
take that lightly.
616
00:29:04,676 --> 00:29:07,912
But the way that the
President makes decisions
617
00:29:07,912 --> 00:29:15,253
about the number of military
personnel that are necessary
618
00:29:15,253 --> 00:29:21,693
in Iraq are not driven by an
arbitrary consideration of
619
00:29:21,693 --> 00:29:27,465
round numbers, but rather
are driven by the number of
620
00:29:30,001 --> 00:29:34,072
military personnel required
to carry out what the
621
00:29:34,072 --> 00:29:36,073
President has ordered.
622
00:29:36,074 --> 00:29:39,377
So in this most recent case
of expanding our training,
623
00:29:39,377 --> 00:29:45,149
advising and assisting
mission to Taqaddum Air
624
00:29:45,150 --> 00:29:51,055
Base, the military planners
put together essentially the
625
00:29:51,055 --> 00:29:53,458
scope of what the operation,
that mission would look like
626
00:29:53,458 --> 00:29:54,826
at that air base.
627
00:29:54,826 --> 00:29:57,295
And then they put forward
what they believe was the
628
00:29:57,295 --> 00:30:00,999
necessary number of military
personnel that would allow
629
00:30:00,999 --> 00:30:04,802
that operation to be --
or that mission to be
630
00:30:04,802 --> 00:30:06,704
successfully executed.
631
00:30:06,704 --> 00:30:13,544
And it also factored in the
number of support personnel,
632
00:30:13,545 --> 00:30:15,547
the number of security
personnel and others that
633
00:30:15,547 --> 00:30:16,881
would be required there.
634
00:30:16,881 --> 00:30:19,717
And that number is a little
over 400 that would need to
635
00:30:19,717 --> 00:30:20,718
be at the base.
636
00:30:20,718 --> 00:30:22,854
And that's ultimately the
way these decisions are made.
637
00:30:22,854 --> 00:30:25,356
So it's not driven by the
numbers on the front end.
638
00:30:25,356 --> 00:30:27,859
It rather is a consideration
of the policy recommendation
639
00:30:27,859 --> 00:30:30,061
that's been put forward by
the national security team,
640
00:30:30,061 --> 00:30:33,063
and then the consideration
about the number of military
641
00:30:33,064 --> 00:30:36,367
personnel that would be
required to successfully and
642
00:30:36,367 --> 00:30:39,571
as safely as possible
complete that mission.
643
00:30:39,571 --> 00:30:41,139
Jim.
644
00:30:41,139 --> 00:30:43,675
The Press: Josh, just to
follow up on that, when you
645
00:30:43,675 --> 00:30:47,078
talk about opening up a base
at Taqaddum or the prospect
646
00:30:47,078 --> 00:30:51,081
of opening up further bases
around Iraq, these would be
647
00:30:51,082 --> 00:30:52,717
Iraqi bases, would they not?
648
00:30:52,717 --> 00:30:54,485
These would not be U.S. bases.
649
00:30:54,485 --> 00:30:57,621
Mr. Earnest: Yes, these are
bases that are in Iraq.
650
00:30:57,622 --> 00:31:01,259
And we do not envision the
establishment of a military
651
00:31:01,259 --> 00:31:02,660
base in Iraq at this point.
652
00:31:02,660 --> 00:31:04,662
The Press: Right, because
legally that would not be
653
00:31:04,662 --> 00:31:05,663
possible, correct?
654
00:31:05,663 --> 00:31:06,931
You don't have a status
of forces agreement.
655
00:31:06,931 --> 00:31:10,969
You don't have the legal
architecture in place to
656
00:31:10,969 --> 00:31:13,438
open up U.S. bases in Iraq.
657
00:31:13,438 --> 00:31:15,473
So you're basically
using their space?
658
00:31:15,473 --> 00:31:17,475
Or -- Mr. Earnest: I would
acknowledge that I'm not
659
00:31:17,475 --> 00:31:20,278
familiar with the legal
requirements of these kinds
660
00:31:20,278 --> 00:31:21,946
of agreements.
661
00:31:21,946 --> 00:31:24,148
But again, to answer your
question as precisely as I
662
00:31:24,148 --> 00:31:29,419
can, yes, these are Iraqi
facilities where U.S.
663
00:31:29,420 --> 00:31:35,159
military personnel would go
to carry out a train, advise
664
00:31:35,159 --> 00:31:36,194
and assist mission.
665
00:31:36,194 --> 00:31:40,632
And there are five of those
bases where that mission is
666
00:31:40,632 --> 00:31:42,767
taking place right
now, inside of Iraq.
667
00:31:42,767 --> 00:31:45,637
The Press: Because when the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
668
00:31:45,637 --> 00:31:48,505
was talking about the
prospect of opening up bases
669
00:31:48,506 --> 00:31:51,376
around Iraq, I suppose
that some Americans may be
670
00:31:51,376 --> 00:31:53,244
confused as to what he was
talking about, because
671
00:31:53,244 --> 00:31:54,445
you're not talking
about opening up U.S.
672
00:31:54,445 --> 00:31:56,347
military bases.
673
00:31:56,347 --> 00:31:57,715
Mr. Earnest: That's correct.
674
00:31:57,715 --> 00:31:59,716
I didn't see the exact
transcript of his remarks.
675
00:31:59,717 --> 00:32:02,520
It may be that he meant
opening up those bases to U.S.
676
00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:04,555
military personnel where
this training, advising and
677
00:32:04,555 --> 00:32:06,291
assisting operation
could be carried out.
678
00:32:06,291 --> 00:32:07,859
The Press: But you're not
talking about getting in the
679
00:32:07,859 --> 00:32:09,827
business of opening up U.S.
680
00:32:09,827 --> 00:32:10,628
military bases.
681
00:32:10,628 --> 00:32:11,162
Mr. Earnest: That's not something
682
00:32:11,162 --> 00:32:12,297
that's been contemplated.
683
00:32:12,297 --> 00:32:14,599
The Press: And I wanted to
ask you about the Affordable
684
00:32:14,599 --> 00:32:16,000
Care Act.
685
00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:17,368
I know the President has an
interview today with the
686
00:32:17,368 --> 00:32:19,203
program, Extra.
687
00:32:19,203 --> 00:32:22,407
And he's also been making
some remarks -- he made some
688
00:32:22,407 --> 00:32:25,009
remarks yesterday in his
speech and talked about this
689
00:32:25,009 --> 00:32:29,180
during the news
conference in Germany.
690
00:32:29,180 --> 00:32:34,419
And I was just curious, are
you trying to communicate to
691
00:32:34,419 --> 00:32:38,356
the Supreme Court justices
about what's at risk if the
692
00:32:38,356 --> 00:32:42,960
Affordable Care Act
is gutted in King vs. Burwell?
693
00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:44,829
It just almost feels like
you jumped into campaign
694
00:32:44,829 --> 00:32:46,831
mode all of a
sudden on Obamacare.
695
00:32:46,831 --> 00:32:49,833
And so I'm just curious, are
you trying to reach to the
696
00:32:49,834 --> 00:32:52,203
justices there
with some of this?
697
00:32:52,203 --> 00:32:53,471
Mr. Earnest: No.
698
00:32:53,471 --> 00:32:54,972
And I think there are a
couple of reasons for that.
699
00:32:54,972 --> 00:32:57,775
The first is, the President
has, I think on a number of
700
00:32:57,775 --> 00:32:59,177
occasions, even in the
context of some of his
701
00:32:59,177 --> 00:33:02,112
recent remarks, acknowledged
that the decision in the
702
00:33:02,113 --> 00:33:05,249
King v. Burwell case will be a
decision that's made by a
703
00:33:05,249 --> 00:33:07,952
separate but equal
branch of government.
704
00:33:07,952 --> 00:33:12,457
Those are the nine justices
of the Supreme Court.
705
00:33:12,457 --> 00:33:16,094
I'm certainly no Supreme
Court watcher or expert, but
706
00:33:16,094 --> 00:33:17,395
my understanding about
the way that these things
707
00:33:17,395 --> 00:33:21,199
typically go is that the
opinions are typically
708
00:33:21,199 --> 00:33:24,969
written a number of days in
advance of their
709
00:33:24,969 --> 00:33:26,404
eventual release.
710
00:33:26,404 --> 00:33:30,074
So I think it's -- again, I
say this not based on my own
711
00:33:30,074 --> 00:33:32,410
personal knowledge, but
based on the advice that
712
00:33:32,410 --> 00:33:35,380
I've received that, in all
likelihood, the decision in
713
00:33:35,380 --> 00:33:38,816
this case has already been
reached and written, and the
714
00:33:38,816 --> 00:33:40,818
Supreme Court is merely
waiting for the day that
715
00:33:40,818 --> 00:33:43,287
they choose to announce the
decision that they have made.
716
00:33:43,287 --> 00:33:45,289
The Press: And so why is
there such a focus on
717
00:33:45,289 --> 00:33:46,357
defending the program?
718
00:33:46,357 --> 00:33:47,392
It's five years old now.
719
00:33:47,392 --> 00:33:48,393
It's up and running.
720
00:33:48,393 --> 00:33:52,130
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President views this as
721
00:33:52,130 --> 00:33:57,602
a significant element -- or
a significant achievement of
722
00:33:57,602 --> 00:33:59,003
his presidency.
723
00:33:59,003 --> 00:34:03,541
And it has had an impact
on millions of Americans.
724
00:34:03,541 --> 00:34:07,311
And I'm not just referring
to the 16 million Americans
725
00:34:07,311 --> 00:34:09,913
who received health care
after the Affordable Care
726
00:34:09,914 --> 00:34:13,484
Act took effect; I'm
actually referring also to
727
00:34:13,484 --> 00:34:16,654
the millions of other
Americans across the country
728
00:34:16,654 --> 00:34:18,656
who benefit from the
consumer protections that
729
00:34:18,656 --> 00:34:19,824
are included in the law.
730
00:34:19,824 --> 00:34:21,793
That includes every single
woman who has health
731
00:34:21,793 --> 00:34:23,795
insurance in the United
States; they no longer have
732
00:34:23,795 --> 00:34:25,930
to be worried about being
charged more just because
733
00:34:25,929 --> 00:34:26,931
they're a woman.
734
00:34:26,931 --> 00:34:28,933
I'm talking about every
American in the United
735
00:34:28,933 --> 00:34:31,201
States that has a so-called
preexisting condition; they
736
00:34:31,202 --> 00:34:33,504
never again have to be
worried about being
737
00:34:33,504 --> 00:34:35,505
discriminated against
because they have a
738
00:34:35,505 --> 00:34:36,507
preexisting condition.
739
00:34:36,507 --> 00:34:38,509
I'm talking about every
single American who
740
00:34:38,509 --> 00:34:40,511
previously worried about
hitting their lifetime cap
741
00:34:40,511 --> 00:34:42,846
because the Affordable Care
Act -- an insurance company
742
00:34:42,847 --> 00:34:44,849
can no longer say that
they're going to stop paying
743
00:34:44,849 --> 00:34:46,851
your benefits because
you've been too sick.
744
00:34:46,851 --> 00:34:51,456
And I think reminding people
of that progress and those
745
00:34:51,456 --> 00:34:53,925
important benefits is
something that the President
746
00:34:53,925 --> 00:34:54,826
feels strongly about.
747
00:34:54,826 --> 00:34:59,363
And even if there are no
more Supreme Court cases
748
00:34:59,363 --> 00:35:02,567
between now and January of
2017, I would anticipate
749
00:35:02,567 --> 00:35:04,969
you'll hear the President
make that case at least one
750
00:35:04,969 --> 00:35:05,536
more time.
751
00:35:05,536 --> 00:35:10,842
The Press: And finally,
Senator Lindsey Graham told
752
00:35:10,842 --> 00:35:13,544
CNN that he's considering
the idea of a rotating First
753
00:35:13,544 --> 00:35:15,779
Lady should he
become President.
754
00:35:15,780 --> 00:35:17,515
(laughter)
755
00:35:17,515 --> 00:35:20,518
And I'm not going to ask you
to weigh in on that idea --
756
00:35:20,518 --> 00:35:25,056
unless you would like to --
but to get at that question,
757
00:35:25,056 --> 00:35:27,658
I'm just kind of curious
what it would be like at the
758
00:35:27,658 --> 00:35:29,660
White House without
a First Lady.
759
00:35:29,660 --> 00:35:33,964
And would you be able to
do everything that a White
760
00:35:33,965 --> 00:35:36,234
House does without
a First Lady?
761
00:35:36,234 --> 00:35:40,238
She's a huge -- the current
First Lady has a very large
762
00:35:40,238 --> 00:35:44,008
ceremonial role and policy
role at this White House.
763
00:35:44,008 --> 00:35:45,576
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
that's what occurs to me,
764
00:35:45,576 --> 00:35:48,012
Jim, is it's hard to -- at
least it's hard to imagine
765
00:35:48,012 --> 00:35:50,848
this White House without
this First Lady.
766
00:35:50,848 --> 00:35:54,886
She obviously has played
such an important role not
767
00:35:54,886 --> 00:35:57,755
just in carrying out the
ceremonial aspects of her
768
00:35:57,755 --> 00:36:01,392
job, but also in advocating
for the kinds of things that
769
00:36:01,392 --> 00:36:03,794
she and the President
believe should be
770
00:36:03,794 --> 00:36:04,795
national priorities.
771
00:36:04,795 --> 00:36:07,298
And these are things about
making sure that our kids
772
00:36:07,298 --> 00:36:10,634
get off to a healthy start
in life, and making sure
773
00:36:10,635 --> 00:36:13,871
that our military families
have felt the full weight of
774
00:36:13,871 --> 00:36:16,641
support and gratitude that
the American people have for
775
00:36:16,641 --> 00:36:20,144
the sacrifices that they
have made for our country.
776
00:36:20,144 --> 00:36:27,785
So it's hard for me to
imagine both a Graham White
777
00:36:27,785 --> 00:36:30,687
House and what a Graham
White House would be without
778
00:36:30,688 --> 00:36:31,689
a First Lady.
779
00:36:31,689 --> 00:36:34,591
But I would obviously defer
to the Senator to describe
780
00:36:34,592 --> 00:36:36,494
what that would be.
781
00:36:36,494 --> 00:36:37,895
Chris.
782
00:36:37,895 --> 00:36:39,096
The Press: Thanks, Josh.
783
00:36:39,096 --> 00:36:41,933
Among the opponents of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership
784
00:36:41,933 --> 00:36:47,004
are LGBT advocates who say
the deal improperly opens up
785
00:36:47,004 --> 00:36:48,339
trade for countries that
criminalize being LGBT.
786
00:36:48,339 --> 00:36:52,410
In Malaysia, LGBT people can
be imprisoned for 20 years
787
00:36:52,410 --> 00:36:53,009
or more.
788
00:36:53,010 --> 00:36:56,013
In Brunei, the country
recently enacted Sharia law
789
00:36:56,013 --> 00:36:58,215
which calls for
death by stoning.
790
00:36:58,215 --> 00:37:02,453
In an op-ed today in the
Advocate, long-time LGBT
791
00:37:02,453 --> 00:37:06,657
rights activist Lee Jones
and Pride at Work Director
792
00:37:06,657 --> 00:37:09,327
Jerame Davis said signing
this deal will send a
793
00:37:09,327 --> 00:37:12,263
message to the world that
you can abuse, imprison and
794
00:37:12,263 --> 00:37:15,066
kill LGBT people and still
have preferential access to
795
00:37:15,066 --> 00:37:16,133
coveted U.S. markets.
796
00:37:16,133 --> 00:37:17,268
What's your
response to that?
797
00:37:17,268 --> 00:37:19,937
Mr. Earnest: Chris, I think
the response that I would
798
00:37:19,937 --> 00:37:21,939
share with you is that
we, obviously -- and the
799
00:37:21,939 --> 00:37:26,042
President has spoken
publicly about the concerns
800
00:37:26,043 --> 00:37:29,714
that we have in terms of the
way that other countries
801
00:37:29,714 --> 00:37:32,250
discriminate against people
because of who they love.
802
00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:34,652
And in some cases, these
people aren't just
803
00:37:34,652 --> 00:37:38,122
discriminated against, they
are subjected to terrible
804
00:37:38,122 --> 00:37:39,991
acts of violence.
805
00:37:39,991 --> 00:37:44,996
And the President has used
his moral authority to speak
806
00:37:44,996 --> 00:37:47,832
out against this
rather aggressively.
807
00:37:47,832 --> 00:37:50,468
And in some cases, we know
that there are countries
808
00:37:50,468 --> 00:37:54,437
where these kinds of
conditions are in place.
809
00:37:54,438 --> 00:37:56,440
And I think in the mind of
the President, the question
810
00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:59,944
simply is, what are we
going to do about it?
811
00:37:59,944 --> 00:38:04,281
And there are some who
legitimately advocate that
812
00:38:04,281 --> 00:38:06,283
we should try to isolate
those countries and we
813
00:38:06,283 --> 00:38:08,285
should not talk to them,
and we should not do any
814
00:38:08,285 --> 00:38:10,287
business with them, and
we should not engage them
815
00:38:10,287 --> 00:38:11,756
because of those practices.
816
00:38:11,756 --> 00:38:14,524
The President merely has a
different approach, which is
817
00:38:14,525 --> 00:38:19,664
that the more successful we
can be in engaging them both
818
00:38:19,664 --> 00:38:22,667
economically and culturally,
and politically, and
819
00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:25,603
diplomatically, and
militarily, in some cases
820
00:38:25,603 --> 00:38:29,073
the more effective we can be
in advocating for the kinds
821
00:38:29,073 --> 00:38:31,142
of values that we prioritize
in this country, and
822
00:38:31,142 --> 00:38:33,144
certainly the kinds of
values the President has
823
00:38:33,144 --> 00:38:35,513
championed while sitting
in the Oval Office.
824
00:38:35,513 --> 00:38:38,249
And I think that principle
would apply in this case,
825
00:38:38,249 --> 00:38:39,250
as well.
826
00:38:39,250 --> 00:38:41,252
The Press: If you're so
confident that opening up
827
00:38:41,252 --> 00:38:44,455
this deal could lead to
improvement on the LGBT
828
00:38:44,455 --> 00:38:47,758
rights issues in these
countries, why do you think
829
00:38:47,758 --> 00:38:49,894
these advocates are so
steadfast against it?
830
00:38:49,894 --> 00:38:51,895
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris, I
think the argument that I'm
831
00:38:51,896 --> 00:38:58,002
making is that I'm confident
that doing nothing is not
832
00:38:58,002 --> 00:39:00,705
the most effective way
for us to press our case.
833
00:39:00,705 --> 00:39:03,307
And that's the argument
that I'm making.
834
00:39:03,307 --> 00:39:04,642
And that, frankly, is the
835
00:39:04,642 --> 00:39:06,644
approach that some are advocating.
836
00:39:06,644 --> 00:39:08,611
And again, I'm not going
to question their motives.
837
00:39:08,612 --> 00:39:11,248
I know that they share the
President's view about these
838
00:39:11,248 --> 00:39:14,185
kinds of cherished values
and ensuring that people
839
00:39:14,185 --> 00:39:16,187
shouldn't be discriminated
against or subjected to
840
00:39:16,187 --> 00:39:18,189
violence just because
of who they love.
841
00:39:18,189 --> 00:39:24,095
But the President's approach
to trying to pressure other
842
00:39:24,095 --> 00:39:26,964
countries to live up to the
kinds of values that we hold
843
00:39:26,964 --> 00:39:29,299
dear in this country is
that we can do that more
844
00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:31,802
effectively by
engaging them.
845
00:39:31,802 --> 00:39:32,470
Major.
846
00:39:32,470 --> 00:39:39,176
The Press: Josh, on TPP and
TAA, the House Republicans
847
00:39:39,176 --> 00:39:42,779
say they made several
changes, which we've just
848
00:39:42,780 --> 00:39:47,818
gone over, in consultation
with Leader Pelosi, and that
849
00:39:47,818 --> 00:39:52,423
what is needed now is for
Leader Pelosi to endorse
850
00:39:52,423 --> 00:39:56,560
those changes, be a public
advocate on behalf of both
851
00:39:56,560 --> 00:40:01,932
TAA and TPA, and a stronger
signal from this White House
852
00:40:01,932 --> 00:40:04,535
that all underlying issues
have been dealt with and
853
00:40:04,535 --> 00:40:07,671
this is something that
should go forward as is and
854
00:40:07,671 --> 00:40:09,439
Pelosi should
lead that charge.
855
00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:11,575
Are you prepared to do that?
856
00:40:11,575 --> 00:40:15,078
They have a very good
relationship, historically,
857
00:40:15,079 --> 00:40:17,681
the President and
Minority Leader Pelosi.
858
00:40:17,681 --> 00:40:20,117
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say
a couple things about that.
859
00:40:20,117 --> 00:40:22,319
One of the foundations of
that relationship is an
860
00:40:22,319 --> 00:40:26,624
acknowledgement that Leader
Pelosi is going to vote her
861
00:40:26,624 --> 00:40:28,625
conscience and do what she
thinks is right, and she
862
00:40:28,626 --> 00:40:31,061
knows the President is
going to do the same thing.
863
00:40:31,061 --> 00:40:33,731
And I think what has
been a hallmark of that
864
00:40:33,731 --> 00:40:36,066
relationship is that their
values and their vision for
865
00:40:36,066 --> 00:40:39,837
the country are so often, on
a wide range of issues, very
866
00:40:39,837 --> 00:40:41,839
closely shared.
867
00:40:45,142 --> 00:40:49,446
And I will also say -- so
I guess the point is that
868
00:40:49,446 --> 00:40:53,750
Speaker Boehner is welcome
to make that case, but he
869
00:40:53,751 --> 00:40:55,753
should do that directly
to Leader Pelosi.
870
00:40:55,753 --> 00:40:57,755
And based on the kinds
of conversations that is
871
00:40:57,755 --> 00:40:59,757
apparent that they've had
over the last few days, it
872
00:40:59,757 --> 00:41:01,759
sounds like that's
what he's doing.
873
00:41:01,759 --> 00:41:03,761
When it comes to the
President, we have -- I
874
00:41:03,761 --> 00:41:06,630
think as is evident from the
list of engagements that Jim
875
00:41:06,630 --> 00:41:08,265
ran through --
876
00:41:08,265 --> 00:41:09,165
The Press:
They're going on right now.
877
00:41:09,166 --> 00:41:10,467
Mr. Earnest: Yes, they're
going on right now.
878
00:41:10,467 --> 00:41:13,237
So you've got the Chief of
Staff of the White House
879
00:41:13,237 --> 00:41:16,574
along with members of the
Cabinet who are up on
880
00:41:16,574 --> 00:41:17,775
Capitol Hill.
881
00:41:17,775 --> 00:41:20,277
The President had a
conversation with
882
00:41:20,277 --> 00:41:21,278
Speaker Boehner.
883
00:41:21,278 --> 00:41:23,314
I'm confident that is not
the only telephone call that
884
00:41:23,314 --> 00:41:26,549
the President will have with
a member of Congress today.
885
00:41:26,550 --> 00:41:30,154
So we will make our case
to Democrats about --
886
00:41:30,154 --> 00:41:32,556
principally to Democrats,
but not exclusively to
887
00:41:32,556 --> 00:41:35,659
Democrats -- about why we
believe this is the right
888
00:41:35,659 --> 00:41:39,663
approach, consistent with
the President's effort to
889
00:41:39,663 --> 00:41:41,832
champion economic
opportunity for
890
00:41:41,832 --> 00:41:42,833
middle-class families.
891
00:41:42,833 --> 00:41:46,136
The Press: How comfortable
are you and is the President
892
00:41:46,136 --> 00:41:49,907
with Leader Pelosi
withholding her public
893
00:41:49,907 --> 00:41:52,776
position on this until
tomorrow on the House floor?
894
00:41:52,776 --> 00:41:57,481
Would not it be more helpful
to what you just outlined,
895
00:41:57,481 --> 00:42:01,619
the cause of this advocacy,
to have Leader Pelosi -- if,
896
00:42:01,619 --> 00:42:04,622
in fact, she's going to
say yes -- say so now?
897
00:42:04,622 --> 00:42:06,656
Mr. Earnest: Well, it is
entirely within her rights to --
898
00:42:06,657 --> 00:42:07,892
The Press: I
do acknowledge that.
899
00:42:07,892 --> 00:42:09,627
That's not the question.
900
00:42:09,627 --> 00:42:13,596
Would it be helpful to you
if what her conscience tells
901
00:42:13,597 --> 00:42:17,001
her were more clear to those
in her caucus and in the
902
00:42:17,001 --> 00:42:17,735
White House?
903
00:42:17,735 --> 00:42:19,803
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll just
say as -- again, Major, it
904
00:42:19,803 --> 00:42:21,739
is entirely within her right
to decide when she's ready
905
00:42:21,739 --> 00:42:24,341
to make public her
position on these issues.
906
00:42:24,341 --> 00:42:28,712
And the President and
everyone here at the White
907
00:42:28,712 --> 00:42:32,316
House welcomes the support
of everybody that we can get.
908
00:42:32,316 --> 00:42:35,519
And that's any Republicans
we can go to support this,
909
00:42:35,519 --> 00:42:37,787
as many Democrats as we can
get to support this, up to
910
00:42:37,788 --> 00:42:40,491
and including the
Democratic Leader.
911
00:42:40,491 --> 00:42:43,794
The Press: General Odierno
said this morning that the
912
00:42:43,794 --> 00:42:46,763
battle against ISIS is a
three-, five-, seven-, to
913
00:42:46,764 --> 00:42:49,366
10-year project.
914
00:42:49,366 --> 00:42:53,604
Is that a timeline the
President believes in or the
915
00:42:53,604 --> 00:42:56,073
country should
be prepared for?
916
00:42:56,073 --> 00:42:57,441
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
haven't seen -- I think the
917
00:42:57,441 --> 00:42:59,542
President has been as clear
about this as he possibly
918
00:42:59,543 --> 00:43:01,912
can based on his own
assessment of the situation,
919
00:43:01,912 --> 00:43:04,114
which is that this is not
a short-term proposition.
920
00:43:04,114 --> 00:43:06,383
It will require a
long-term commitment.
921
00:43:06,383 --> 00:43:07,250
The Press: But I've never
heard someone who is as
922
00:43:07,251 --> 00:43:09,186
close to this as the Army
Chief of Staff quite
923
00:43:09,186 --> 00:43:11,555
obviously is -- he's not the
only one who's close to it,
924
00:43:11,555 --> 00:43:14,959
but he's pretty close to it
-- be that specific about
925
00:43:14,959 --> 00:43:18,294
the kind of timeline he
believes this country ought
926
00:43:18,295 --> 00:43:19,797
to prepare itself for.
927
00:43:19,797 --> 00:43:21,832
I'm just curious if the
President thinks that's
928
00:43:21,832 --> 00:43:24,268
within the ballpark; that's
something the country ought
929
00:43:24,268 --> 00:43:25,369
to brace for.
930
00:43:25,369 --> 00:43:27,504
Mr. Earnest: And General
Odierno obviously has spent
931
00:43:27,504 --> 00:43:32,942
not time -- not just time in
his current role, but he's
932
00:43:32,943 --> 00:43:35,813
also spent a lot of time on
the ground in Iraq, in the
933
00:43:35,813 --> 00:43:39,283
previous campaign in Iraq.
934
00:43:39,283 --> 00:43:41,285
And so he is somebody
that brings
935
00:43:41,285 --> 00:43:42,553
significant knowledge.
936
00:43:42,553 --> 00:43:44,555
So I obviously wouldn't be
in a position to contradict him.
937
00:43:44,555 --> 00:43:48,424
But I think the best way
that I can describe to you
938
00:43:48,425 --> 00:43:50,427
the President's view of the
situation is to point you to
939
00:43:50,427 --> 00:43:53,430
what he said about it, which
is that he does not believe
940
00:43:53,430 --> 00:43:55,566
-- or he thinks it's
important for the American
941
00:43:55,566 --> 00:43:57,301
people to understand that
this is not a short-term
942
00:43:57,301 --> 00:43:59,370
proposition and it will
require a long-term
943
00:43:59,370 --> 00:44:00,837
commitment on the part of
the United States and our
944
00:44:00,838 --> 00:44:02,406
coalition partners.
945
00:44:02,406 --> 00:44:03,841
But the President has been
just as clear about the fact
946
00:44:03,841 --> 00:44:09,013
that he does not envision a
scenario where it is in the
947
00:44:09,013 --> 00:44:11,015
best interest of our country
to engage in another
948
00:44:11,015 --> 00:44:13,017
large-scale ground operation
-- ground combat operation
949
00:44:13,017 --> 00:44:14,018
inside of Iraq.
950
00:44:14,018 --> 00:44:15,986
The Press: So without
endorsing it specifically,
951
00:44:15,986 --> 00:44:17,988
you're not going to disagree
with General Odierno?
952
00:44:17,988 --> 00:44:19,990
Mr. Earnest: General
Odierno, again, based on his
953
00:44:19,990 --> 00:44:23,794
own personal experience and
expertise, has a lot of
954
00:44:23,794 --> 00:44:25,496
credibility when talking
about these issues.
955
00:44:25,496 --> 00:44:28,065
But the best way I can
describe to you the
956
00:44:28,065 --> 00:44:30,067
President's position
is what he said.
957
00:44:30,067 --> 00:44:32,069
The Press: General Odierno
also said that this cannot
958
00:44:32,069 --> 00:44:35,572
be solved, the ISIS problem
and the Iraq problem, until
959
00:44:35,572 --> 00:44:40,210
political reconciliation in
the country takes hold, and
960
00:44:40,210 --> 00:44:42,479
that nothing really the
Americans can do is going to
961
00:44:42,479 --> 00:44:46,116
solve that problem unless
the Iraqis are prepared and
962
00:44:46,116 --> 00:44:50,387
willing to solve
it themselves.
963
00:44:50,387 --> 00:44:52,356
I presume you
agree with that.
964
00:44:52,356 --> 00:44:56,026
And I wonder if you consider
that problem bigger than
965
00:44:56,026 --> 00:44:57,027
ISIS itself.
966
00:44:57,027 --> 00:45:01,732
Because General Odierno said
one of the reasons ISIS
967
00:45:01,732 --> 00:45:04,435
exists is because of so many
decisions made by the Maliki
968
00:45:04,435 --> 00:45:07,137
government and the inability
of Iraq to pull itself
969
00:45:07,137 --> 00:45:09,106
together after the
United States left.
970
00:45:09,106 --> 00:45:10,841
So what's the
bigger problem here?
971
00:45:10,841 --> 00:45:15,679
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the point -- again, I think
972
00:45:15,679 --> 00:45:18,415
you were probably faithful
in your paraphrasing
973
00:45:18,415 --> 00:45:19,716
of his comments.
974
00:45:19,716 --> 00:45:22,352
I have confidence in that.
975
00:45:22,352 --> 00:45:24,555
It seems to me the point
that he's making and I think
976
00:45:24,555 --> 00:45:28,591
illustrating pretty clearly
is it is impossible to
977
00:45:28,592 --> 00:45:33,297
separate the failed
political leadership and
978
00:45:33,297 --> 00:45:37,301
divisive governing strategy
of Prime Minister Maliki
979
00:45:37,301 --> 00:45:38,936
from the growth of ISIL.
980
00:45:38,936 --> 00:45:44,541
And these are two problems
that are interrelated.
981
00:45:44,541 --> 00:45:48,879
And we have identified --
and this is something that
982
00:45:48,879 --> 00:45:51,415
shaped our involvement
in this matter
983
00:45:51,415 --> 00:45:52,416
from the beginning.
984
00:45:52,416 --> 00:45:56,153
You'll recall that when ISIL
made their rapid, stark
985
00:45:56,153 --> 00:46:01,491
advance across the desert
from Syria into Iraq, there
986
00:46:01,492 --> 00:46:03,494
were many who were
suggesting that the
987
00:46:03,494 --> 00:46:06,663
President should be
aggressively engaged in the
988
00:46:06,663 --> 00:46:08,999
effort to try to prevent
that, to try to blunt that
989
00:46:08,999 --> 00:46:12,269
advance, and urged an
aggressive commitment of
990
00:46:12,269 --> 00:46:13,971
resources to do that.
991
00:46:13,971 --> 00:46:18,008
And the President was very
limited in doing that for a
992
00:46:18,008 --> 00:46:19,009
couple of reasons.
993
00:46:19,009 --> 00:46:21,011
He did prioritize the
protection of military
994
00:46:21,011 --> 00:46:23,013
personnel in Iraq, and so
we did take steps to ensure
995
00:46:23,013 --> 00:46:24,915
their safety.
996
00:46:24,915 --> 00:46:27,084
But the President also said
I'm not willing to make a
997
00:46:27,084 --> 00:46:29,886
more significant commitment
in Iraq until it's clear
998
00:46:29,887 --> 00:46:33,123
that the Iraqi central
government is willing to
999
00:46:33,123 --> 00:46:36,126
commit to govern that
country in an inclusive way.
1000
00:46:36,126 --> 00:46:39,062
And that's why we have been
gratified to see Prime
1001
00:46:39,062 --> 00:46:41,365
Minister Abadi, at least in
the first 10 months or so
1002
00:46:41,365 --> 00:46:43,834
that he's been in office,
live up to the kind of
1003
00:46:43,834 --> 00:46:47,037
commitment that he made on
the front end to unify Iraq,
1004
00:46:47,037 --> 00:46:49,740
to face down the
threat from ISIL.
1005
00:46:49,740 --> 00:46:51,741
He has committed to
governing the country in a
1006
00:46:51,742 --> 00:46:53,443
multi-sectarian way.
1007
00:46:53,443 --> 00:46:56,847
That's clear from the way
that his cabinet has been
1008
00:46:56,847 --> 00:46:59,783
assembled and the way that
they have governed the country.
1009
00:46:59,783 --> 00:47:02,152
It's been clear from the way
that he has attempted to
1010
00:47:02,152 --> 00:47:06,223
build a multi-sectarian
force to take on ISIL.
1011
00:47:06,223 --> 00:47:09,026
So he's living up to
those early promises.
1012
00:47:09,026 --> 00:47:13,663
Now, what's also true is you
demonstrate your commitment
1013
00:47:13,664 --> 00:47:16,300
to these kinds of principles
not just in the matter of
1014
00:47:16,300 --> 00:47:19,770
weeks or months, but over a
sustained period of time.
1015
00:47:19,770 --> 00:47:21,905
So we're going to continue
to watch closely the
1016
00:47:21,905 --> 00:47:24,174
commitment of the Iraqi
central government to
1017
00:47:24,174 --> 00:47:25,842
unifying the country.
1018
00:47:25,842 --> 00:47:32,216
But there is no doubt
that an inclusive central
1019
00:47:32,216 --> 00:47:37,421
government in Baghdad is
integral to their ability to
1020
00:47:37,421 --> 00:47:38,955
deal with the ISIL problem.
1021
00:47:38,956 --> 00:47:40,357
There is no
denying that fact.
1022
00:47:40,357 --> 00:47:43,227
And that's why the
administration is going to
1023
00:47:43,227 --> 00:47:47,998
continue to be supportive
of steps that the Iraqi
1024
00:47:47,998 --> 00:47:51,268
government takes to try
to unify that country.
1025
00:47:51,268 --> 00:47:52,970
The Press: Last question.
1026
00:47:52,970 --> 00:47:55,973
The new plan yesterday, or
the retooled plan envisions
1027
00:47:55,973 --> 00:48:00,644
trying to tighten the border
of Syria and Turkey to
1028
00:48:00,644 --> 00:48:03,479
prevent the flow of -- or
at least slow the flow of
1029
00:48:03,480 --> 00:48:05,415
foreign fighters.
1030
00:48:05,415 --> 00:48:08,418
There are many who are
familiar with that situation
1031
00:48:08,418 --> 00:48:11,388
who believe the Erdogan
government has given the U.S.
1032
00:48:11,388 --> 00:48:14,156
almost no assistance, has
turned a blind eye to this
1033
00:48:14,157 --> 00:48:18,128
entire issue, people who
are very close to it.
1034
00:48:18,128 --> 00:48:19,930
There was obviously a
parliamentary election that
1035
00:48:19,930 --> 00:48:21,832
was a setback for the
Erdogan government earlier
1036
00:48:21,832 --> 00:48:23,066
this week.
1037
00:48:23,066 --> 00:48:24,468
There's talk about a
coalition government.
1038
00:48:24,468 --> 00:48:26,569
In general, does this
administration believe that
1039
00:48:26,570 --> 00:48:30,073
election result will make
Erdogan more or less
1040
00:48:30,073 --> 00:48:33,477
compliant as this new phase
of trying to stop foreign
1041
00:48:33,477 --> 00:48:35,112
fighters begins?
1042
00:48:35,112 --> 00:48:36,680
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think we'll see, Major.
1043
00:48:36,680 --> 00:48:39,283
And I think the President
took this on pretty directly
1044
00:48:39,283 --> 00:48:42,185
in the news conference that
he did in Germany on Monday,
1045
00:48:42,185 --> 00:48:45,221
where he indicated that
there's more that we would
1046
00:48:45,222 --> 00:48:48,959
like to see Turkey do to
coordinate with our broader
1047
00:48:48,959 --> 00:48:50,794
international coalition
to shut down the flow of
1048
00:48:50,794 --> 00:48:55,165
foreign fighters to
ISIL and to Syria.
1049
00:48:55,165 --> 00:48:56,767
The Press: By more,
you mean something.
1050
00:48:56,767 --> 00:49:01,171
Mr. Earnest: Well, there are
steps that Turkey has taken
1051
00:49:01,171 --> 00:49:02,739
to demonstrate their
willingness to be
1052
00:49:02,739 --> 00:49:04,808
constructive here, but
there is a lot more that we
1053
00:49:04,808 --> 00:49:07,311
believe they can
and should do.
1054
00:49:07,311 --> 00:49:07,911
Kevin.
1055
00:49:07,911 --> 00:49:08,779
The Press: Josh, thanks.
1056
00:49:08,779 --> 00:49:10,447
I want to kind of follow
up on something Major was
1057
00:49:10,447 --> 00:49:14,685
talking about, and refer you
to another military leader
1058
00:49:14,685 --> 00:49:16,987
who obviously is intimately
aware of what's been
1059
00:49:16,987 --> 00:49:19,356
happening on the ground
vis-à-vis the battle with ISIS.
1060
00:49:19,356 --> 00:49:22,025
General Michael Flynn who
was on with Neil Cavuto
1061
00:49:22,025 --> 00:49:23,860
yesterday, said some
pretty interesting things.
1062
00:49:23,860 --> 00:49:27,064
Among them, he was asked if
he thought ISIS was winning
1063
00:49:27,064 --> 00:49:29,866
and he said, "Yes, I think
ISIS is achieving the
1064
00:49:29,866 --> 00:49:31,868
objectives they have
set out to achieve.
1065
00:49:31,868 --> 00:49:35,005
I think they feel probably
very emboldened, they feel
1066
00:49:35,005 --> 00:49:36,973
pretty good."
1067
00:49:36,973 --> 00:49:39,241
I'm just curious, when you
hear something like that
1068
00:49:39,242 --> 00:49:41,578
from someone who is so
intimately aware of what's
1069
00:49:41,578 --> 00:49:45,148
happening there in Iraq,
how do you absorb that?
1070
00:49:45,148 --> 00:49:46,383
Do you dismiss it outright?
1071
00:49:46,383 --> 00:49:48,752
Or do you simply take
information like that and
1072
00:49:48,752 --> 00:49:50,754
say, well, that's somewhat
of a reflection of
1073
00:49:50,754 --> 00:49:51,755
what's happening.
1074
00:49:51,755 --> 00:49:53,757
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin, I
think that we've been very
1075
00:49:53,757 --> 00:49:55,759
blunt about what our
assessment is of the
1076
00:49:55,759 --> 00:49:57,094
situation on the
ground there.
1077
00:49:57,094 --> 00:49:59,262
And specifically, there have
been areas where we've made
1078
00:49:59,262 --> 00:50:02,933
some important progress, and
that includes retaking the
1079
00:50:02,933 --> 00:50:05,736
Anbar town of Baghdadi to
retaking -- driving ISIL out
1080
00:50:05,736 --> 00:50:10,006
of Tikrit.
1081
00:50:10,006 --> 00:50:12,375
Even thinking back to last
summer, there was a rapid
1082
00:50:12,376 --> 00:50:15,112
advance of ISIL fighters
across the desert in Iraq
1083
00:50:15,112 --> 00:50:17,114
where they appeared to be
encroaching on Erbil, and
1084
00:50:17,114 --> 00:50:19,216
that was an offensive
that was blunted.
1085
00:50:19,216 --> 00:50:22,652
And principally by working
with Kurdish security forces
1086
00:50:22,652 --> 00:50:25,188
and being backed by
coalition military airpower,
1087
00:50:25,188 --> 00:50:27,424
they haven't just blunted
that offensive but they've
1088
00:50:27,424 --> 00:50:29,759
started to roll back
many of those gains.
1089
00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:33,029
So at the same time, we've
also been pretty forthright
1090
00:50:33,029 --> 00:50:35,599
in acknowledging that there
have been areas where we and
1091
00:50:35,599 --> 00:50:38,468
the Iraqis have sustained
setbacks, and Ramadi is the
1092
00:50:38,468 --> 00:50:40,537
best example of that.
1093
00:50:40,537 --> 00:50:42,538
But that is the nature
of any kind of military
1094
00:50:42,539 --> 00:50:44,841
conflict and it's certainly
been the nature of this
1095
00:50:44,841 --> 00:50:46,042
conflict as well.
1096
00:50:46,042 --> 00:50:50,247
And what the President
has directed his national
1097
00:50:50,247 --> 00:50:52,281
security team to focus on is
to make sure that we have a
1098
00:50:52,282 --> 00:50:55,819
strategy that reflects that
environment on the ground.
1099
00:50:55,819 --> 00:51:00,724
And that's why you saw this
announcement yesterday about
1100
00:51:00,724 --> 00:51:05,996
the decision to open up an
additional Iraqi base in
1101
00:51:05,996 --> 00:51:11,401
Anbar Province where
American military personnel
1102
00:51:11,401 --> 00:51:15,071
would go about carrying out
a mission to train, advise
1103
00:51:15,071 --> 00:51:17,040
and assist Iraqi fighters.
1104
00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:21,511
And that's what they're
prepared to do, and that's
1105
00:51:21,511 --> 00:51:23,747
consistent with our
assessment of what's
1106
00:51:23,747 --> 00:51:26,515
happening on the ground and
consistent with the kinds of
1107
00:51:26,516 --> 00:51:29,152
strategic choices the
President believes are most
1108
00:51:29,152 --> 00:51:30,420
likely to yield success.
1109
00:51:30,420 --> 00:51:32,756
The Press: I've heard you
use the expression "train"
1110
00:51:32,756 --> 00:51:34,758
primarily, although today,
you say, "train,
1111
00:51:34,758 --> 00:51:35,759
advise and assist."
1112
00:51:35,759 --> 00:51:38,595
The Pentagon, for the most
part, has simply been saying
1113
00:51:38,595 --> 00:51:39,895
they are there to advise.
1114
00:51:39,896 --> 00:51:43,433
Is there any space between
the two descriptions, or is
1115
00:51:43,433 --> 00:51:46,403
it all one fell swoop of a
description of what they'll
1116
00:51:46,403 --> 00:51:49,406
be doing on the 450
additional U.S. personnel?
1117
00:51:49,406 --> 00:51:53,543
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
what I can say is that the
1118
00:51:53,543 --> 00:51:57,047
mission that the President
authorized is a mission to
1119
00:51:57,047 --> 00:52:01,885
train, advise and assist
those forces that are
1120
00:52:01,885 --> 00:52:03,787
fighting under the command
and control of the Iraqi
1121
00:52:03,787 --> 00:52:05,288
central government.
1122
00:52:05,288 --> 00:52:08,425
And that means both members
of the Iraqi security
1123
00:52:08,425 --> 00:52:12,429
forces; it also means those
Sunni tribal fighters that
1124
00:52:12,429 --> 00:52:15,532
had been recruited into the
fight to fight under the
1125
00:52:15,532 --> 00:52:17,534
command and control of the
Iraqi central government.
1126
00:52:17,534 --> 00:52:19,536
And that's what
their mission is.
1127
00:52:19,536 --> 00:52:21,538
And that's the way that it's
been described by both the
1128
00:52:21,538 --> 00:52:23,607
Pentagon and the White House
and the State Department,
1129
00:52:23,607 --> 00:52:24,608
for that matter.
1130
00:52:24,608 --> 00:52:27,043
And it's consistent with
what we have broadly said
1131
00:52:27,043 --> 00:52:29,045
about the commitment of
the United States and our
1132
00:52:29,045 --> 00:52:31,114
coalition partners to
support the efforts of the
1133
00:52:31,114 --> 00:52:34,284
Iraqis to take the fight on
the ground to ISIL in their
1134
00:52:34,284 --> 00:52:35,285
own country.
1135
00:52:35,285 --> 00:52:37,821
The Press: Lastly, I'd like
to ask you about the idea of
1136
00:52:37,821 --> 00:52:41,558
using grants, essentially to
help diversity some
1137
00:52:41,558 --> 00:52:42,559
affluent areas.
1138
00:52:42,559 --> 00:52:43,660
I was reading
about that today.
1139
00:52:43,660 --> 00:52:45,895
Can you tell me what the
President's position is on
1140
00:52:45,896 --> 00:52:49,065
that and why that seems like
a good idea to sort of give
1141
00:52:49,065 --> 00:52:51,701
communities, if nothing
else, an opportunity to
1142
00:52:51,701 --> 00:52:52,602
advance and move up?
1143
00:52:52,602 --> 00:52:53,670
Mr. Earnest: Are you
talking about the U.N.
1144
00:52:53,670 --> 00:52:54,504
Stabilization Fund?
1145
00:52:54,504 --> 00:52:55,372
The Press: Yes.
1146
00:52:55,372 --> 00:52:57,908
Mr. Earnest: The idea here
is essentially that there is
1147
00:52:57,908 --> 00:53:00,610
more support that we
need to offer those Iraqi
1148
00:53:00,610 --> 00:53:05,115
communities that have driven
out ISIL and that if we want
1149
00:53:05,115 --> 00:53:07,783
to make sure that we
can prevent ISIL from
1150
00:53:07,784 --> 00:53:09,786
encroaching on those cities,
we don't need to just be
1151
00:53:09,786 --> 00:53:13,189
able to provide security to
those cities or those towns
1152
00:53:13,189 --> 00:53:15,325
-- we do -- we also need
to make sure that we're
1153
00:53:15,325 --> 00:53:18,495
building up the capacity of
local governance structures
1154
00:53:18,495 --> 00:53:20,830
to govern those areas.
1155
00:53:20,830 --> 00:53:24,401
And again, our strategy is
predicated on this idea that
1156
00:53:24,401 --> 00:53:28,504
we want to build up the
capacity of Iraqis to do for
1157
00:53:28,505 --> 00:53:32,108
themselves what we will not
do for them, and that is to
1158
00:53:32,108 --> 00:53:35,312
govern and provide security
for the communities and
1159
00:53:35,312 --> 00:53:36,580
their country.
1160
00:53:36,580 --> 00:53:39,249
The Press: Lastly, when you
say "we want to help them
1161
00:53:39,249 --> 00:53:42,519
win their fight for their
country" and others argue
1162
00:53:42,519 --> 00:53:46,323
sometimes, well, you're not
in it to win it -- is that a
1163
00:53:46,323 --> 00:53:48,725
frustration for the White
House when you hear that?
1164
00:53:48,725 --> 00:53:51,761
Because it seems to me
you're trying to help them,
1165
00:53:51,761 --> 00:53:53,763
but you're not trying
to win it yourself.
1166
00:53:53,763 --> 00:53:54,764
Is that what
you're telling me?
1167
00:53:54,764 --> 00:53:56,733
Mr. Earnest: What I'm
telling you, Kevin, is that
1168
00:53:56,733 --> 00:53:59,502
the fight against ISIL is
one that the Iraqi people
1169
00:53:59,502 --> 00:54:01,204
must do for themselves.
1170
00:54:01,204 --> 00:54:04,007
They can do that with the
strong support of the United
1171
00:54:04,007 --> 00:54:06,009
States and our coalition
partners, and there are a
1172
00:54:06,009 --> 00:54:08,011
variety of ways that we can
support them, whether it's
1173
00:54:08,011 --> 00:54:11,081
with military coalition
airstrikes, or offering
1174
00:54:11,081 --> 00:54:14,718
training, advising, and
assisting of Iraqi fighters
1175
00:54:14,718 --> 00:54:17,020
that are operating under the
Iraqi central government.
1176
00:54:17,020 --> 00:54:20,090
It also is engaging in an
effort to shut down the flow
1177
00:54:20,090 --> 00:54:24,227
of foreign fighters that are
filling the ranks of ISIL.
1178
00:54:24,227 --> 00:54:27,196
It also is undertaking
efforts with our coalition
1179
00:54:27,197 --> 00:54:29,966
partners to try to shut down
ISIL's efforts to finance
1180
00:54:29,966 --> 00:54:30,967
their operations.
1181
00:54:30,967 --> 00:54:33,703
All of those are things that
will eventually benefit the
1182
00:54:33,703 --> 00:54:37,407
Iraqis as they fight a war
that they must fight
1183
00:54:37,407 --> 00:54:39,976
for themselves.
1184
00:54:39,976 --> 00:54:40,710
Angela.
1185
00:54:40,710 --> 00:54:42,012
The Press: Thanks, Josh.
1186
00:54:42,012 --> 00:54:45,715
The President obviously had
some sharp words to say
1187
00:54:45,715 --> 00:54:48,451
about Greece in his press
conference on Monday.
1188
00:54:48,451 --> 00:54:49,586
And today, U.N.
1189
00:54:49,586 --> 00:54:51,187
President Donald Tusk seems
to have finally reached a
1190
00:54:51,187 --> 00:54:54,691
tipping point on Greece --
his very, very harsh words.
1191
00:54:54,691 --> 00:54:57,593
And the IMF negotiating team
left Brussels with no deal.
1192
00:54:57,594 --> 00:55:00,196
Are we likely to hear any
more from the President
1193
00:55:00,196 --> 00:55:01,364
on Greece?
1194
00:55:01,364 --> 00:55:03,166
Is there anything he's
doing behind the scenes?
1195
00:55:03,166 --> 00:55:05,735
And what does he see as
his role in that crisis?
1196
00:55:05,735 --> 00:55:07,537
Mr. Earnest: Angela, I don't
anticipate that you'll
1197
00:55:07,537 --> 00:55:09,906
necessarily see the
President weigh in on this
1198
00:55:09,906 --> 00:55:11,674
again -- although, it's
certainly possible that one
1199
00:55:11,675 --> 00:55:13,376
of you could ask him.
1200
00:55:13,376 --> 00:55:17,514
But our view -- and it's a
view that we have pretty
1201
00:55:17,514 --> 00:55:22,218
consistently articulated --
is that we want all sides to
1202
00:55:22,218 --> 00:55:25,422
continue to focus on finding
pragmatic solutions that
1203
00:55:25,422 --> 00:55:28,558
will allow Greece to
chart a path to recovery.
1204
00:55:28,558 --> 00:55:33,163
Now, that also means that
Greece must pursue some of
1205
00:55:33,163 --> 00:55:34,330
the kinds of structural
reforms that they've
1206
00:55:34,330 --> 00:55:37,333
committed to.
1207
00:55:37,333 --> 00:55:40,103
And this is part of the --
this is the essence of the
1208
00:55:40,103 --> 00:55:43,873
negotiation that's ongoing
right now between Greece and
1209
00:55:43,873 --> 00:55:46,009
their creditors.
1210
00:55:46,009 --> 00:55:48,712
And the role of the United
States -- and this is
1211
00:55:48,712 --> 00:55:54,818
something that Secretary Lew
has been leading on the part
1212
00:55:54,818 --> 00:55:59,122
of the United States -- is
to encourage all sides to
1213
00:55:59,122 --> 00:56:05,462
come to an agreement in
order to prevent some kind
1214
00:56:05,462 --> 00:56:08,431
of broader default that
would destabilize the global
1215
00:56:08,431 --> 00:56:11,034
economy and have a possible
negative impact on the
1216
00:56:11,034 --> 00:56:12,702
U.S. economy.
1217
00:56:12,702 --> 00:56:15,972
So Secretary Lew, over the
last couple of weeks, has
1218
00:56:15,972 --> 00:56:19,342
met with his G7 finance
minister counterparts to
1219
00:56:19,342 --> 00:56:21,544
discuss this issue;
Secretary Lew had the
1220
00:56:21,544 --> 00:56:24,881
opportunity to talk to Prime
Minister Tsipras of Greece
1221
00:56:24,881 --> 00:56:27,484
about some of these issues.
1222
00:56:27,484 --> 00:56:30,286
But that essentially is
our view of the situation.
1223
00:56:30,286 --> 00:56:32,689
The Press: On a lighter
question, the President
1224
00:56:32,689 --> 00:56:35,325
taped an interview earlier
today with -- I get this
1225
00:56:35,325 --> 00:56:37,192
right -- Extra TV.
1226
00:56:37,193 --> 00:56:38,862
It airs at
apparently 2:07 a.m.
1227
00:56:38,862 --> 00:56:41,531
Eastern time tonight,
tomorrow morning.
1228
00:56:41,531 --> 00:56:43,366
Just curious, how does this
fit into the
1229
00:56:43,366 --> 00:56:44,968
communications strategy?
1230
00:56:44,968 --> 00:56:47,504
Who is the President trying
to reach by doing that kind
1231
00:56:47,504 --> 00:56:48,304
of show?
1232
00:56:48,304 --> 00:56:48,972
(laughter)
1233
00:56:48,972 --> 00:56:49,706
Mr. Earnest: Insomniacs.
1234
00:56:49,706 --> 00:56:51,508
(laughter)
1235
00:56:51,508 --> 00:56:53,109
The Press: You said it.
1236
00:56:53,109 --> 00:56:56,479
Mr. Earnest: The fact is
that this is part of our
1237
00:56:56,479 --> 00:57:00,415
sustained effort to try to
use a variety of channels to
1238
00:57:00,416 --> 00:57:02,919
communicate with the
American public.
1239
00:57:02,919 --> 00:57:06,022
And there's an opportunity
-- I would encourage you to
1240
00:57:06,022 --> 00:57:07,490
take a look at
the interview.
1241
00:57:07,490 --> 00:57:09,491
Maybe there's a way for you
to get it from a different
1242
00:57:09,492 --> 00:57:12,228
market so you don't have
to stay up until 2:07 a.m.
1243
00:57:12,228 --> 00:57:15,064
here in East Coast.
1244
00:57:15,064 --> 00:57:17,066
But this is something --
this is an opportunity for
1245
00:57:17,066 --> 00:57:19,067
the President to deliver
a message about just how
1246
00:57:19,068 --> 00:57:21,070
valuable the Affordable Care
Act has been not just to the
1247
00:57:21,070 --> 00:57:24,140
16 million Americans who
got health care after the
1248
00:57:24,140 --> 00:57:26,142
Affordable Care Act, but
from the millions, hundreds
1249
00:57:26,142 --> 00:57:29,412
of millions of Americans who
have benefitted from the
1250
00:57:29,412 --> 00:57:31,413
critically important
consumer protections that
1251
00:57:31,414 --> 00:57:33,416
were included in the
Affordable Care Act.
1252
00:57:33,416 --> 00:57:35,418
And that's everything from
ensuring that women can't be
1253
00:57:35,418 --> 00:57:37,420
charged more for their
health insurance just
1254
00:57:37,420 --> 00:57:38,421
because they're a woman.
1255
00:57:38,421 --> 00:57:40,423
You can't be discriminated
against because you have a
1256
00:57:40,423 --> 00:57:41,424
preexisting condition.
1257
00:57:41,424 --> 00:57:43,793
And you no longer have to be
worried about hitting your
1258
00:57:43,793 --> 00:57:46,196
lifetime limit that would
essentially result in the
1259
00:57:46,196 --> 00:57:48,298
insurance company kicking
you off your insurance
1260
00:57:48,298 --> 00:57:50,232
because you got really sick.
1261
00:57:50,233 --> 00:57:51,234
April.
1262
00:57:51,234 --> 00:57:53,236
The Press: Josh, I want to
ask you about a question and
1263
00:57:53,236 --> 00:57:56,471
the White House response
to the GOP threatening to
1264
00:57:56,472 --> 00:57:59,475
withhold $700 million in
funding for the State
1265
00:57:59,475 --> 00:58:02,645
Department because they feel
that information is not
1266
00:58:02,645 --> 00:58:05,448
being given quick enough
and effectively enough in
1267
00:58:05,448 --> 00:58:08,585
reference to Hillary
Clinton's documentation.
1268
00:58:08,585 --> 00:58:10,420
Mr. Earnest: April, I think
what it does is it just
1269
00:58:10,420 --> 00:58:12,155
calls into question
the sincerity of those
1270
00:58:12,155 --> 00:58:14,624
Republicans who are
advocating for additional
1271
00:58:14,624 --> 00:58:15,725
security at U.S.
1272
00:58:15,725 --> 00:58:17,727
diplomatic facilities
around the world.
1273
00:58:17,727 --> 00:58:19,962
The fact is if they believe
that's a priority, then you
1274
00:58:19,963 --> 00:58:24,033
would think that they would
want to ensure that those
1275
00:58:24,033 --> 00:58:26,069
security operations and
those security measures are
1276
00:58:26,069 --> 00:58:29,239
properly and fully funded.
1277
00:58:29,239 --> 00:58:31,474
I'm no budgetary expert,
but it seems hard for me to
1278
00:58:31,474 --> 00:58:34,143
believe that taking that big
of a chunk out of the State
1279
00:58:34,143 --> 00:58:36,746
Department's budget is not
going to have an impact on
1280
00:58:36,746 --> 00:58:38,615
the safety and
security at U.S.
1281
00:58:38,615 --> 00:58:40,582
diplomatic facilities
around the globe.
1282
00:58:40,583 --> 00:58:42,719
After all, the only reason
that they claim that they've
1283
00:58:42,719 --> 00:58:44,921
engaged in this debate --
I've suggested that politics
1284
00:58:44,921 --> 00:58:49,725
are chiefly to blame -- they
claim that they care about
1285
00:58:49,726 --> 00:58:53,596
making security for our
diplomats a priority.
1286
00:58:53,596 --> 00:58:55,598
But if they actually cared
about that they wouldn't be
1287
00:58:55,598 --> 00:58:57,600
threatening to withhold
funding for security
1288
00:58:57,600 --> 00:58:58,835
for our diplomats.
1289
00:58:58,835 --> 00:59:00,169
So anyway, I guess
that's my reaction.
1290
00:59:00,169 --> 00:59:03,673
The Press: Thank you
for your reaction.
1291
00:59:03,673 --> 00:59:05,841
Seven hundred million
dollars is a lot of money.
1292
00:59:05,842 --> 00:59:07,110
You say safety and security.
1293
00:59:07,110 --> 00:59:10,113
Specifically, would it
really -- would it actually
1294
00:59:10,113 --> 00:59:13,316
take security officers away
from embassies, away from
1295
00:59:13,316 --> 00:59:14,917
diplomats and things
of that nature?
1296
00:59:14,918 --> 00:59:17,020
Mr. Earnest: I'm not sure
of the precise budgetary impact.
1297
00:59:17,020 --> 00:59:18,888
I think what I've said is
that -- what I was trying to
1298
00:59:18,888 --> 00:59:20,890
convey is it's hard to
imagine it wouldn't have
1299
00:59:20,890 --> 00:59:23,459
some kind of impact on the
efforts to provide security
1300
00:59:23,459 --> 00:59:25,495
at diplomatic installations
around the world.
1301
00:59:25,495 --> 00:59:26,663
But for those kinds of
details, I'd refer you to
1302
00:59:26,663 --> 00:59:27,463
the State Department.
1303
00:59:27,463 --> 00:59:28,865
The Press: Thanks, Josh.
1304
00:59:28,865 --> 00:59:30,633
Mr. Earnest: Bill Press,
I'll give you the last one.
1305
00:59:30,633 --> 00:59:32,669
The Press: I'll take a
couple of quick ones.
1306
00:59:32,669 --> 00:59:35,337
First, who are the top three
leading candidates for the
1307
00:59:35,338 --> 00:59:36,472
new Librarian of Congress?
1308
00:59:36,472 --> 00:59:37,907
(laughter)
1309
00:59:37,907 --> 00:59:39,909
Mr. Earnest: That's
a good question.
1310
00:59:39,909 --> 00:59:40,843
I don't have any personnel
announcements to make at
1311
00:59:40,843 --> 00:59:43,379
this time.
1312
00:59:43,379 --> 00:59:50,319
But maybe that's something
-- well, I was going to
1313
00:59:50,320 --> 00:59:51,621
suggest that might be
something you could check
1314
00:59:51,621 --> 00:59:52,889
out later.
1315
00:59:52,889 --> 00:59:54,424
The Press: Ooooh --
1316
00:59:54,424 --> 00:59:55,525
Mr.
Earnest: See, I tried to
1317
00:59:55,525 --> 00:59:59,295
stop, and you guys
were all goading me.
1318
00:59:59,295 --> 01:00:02,899
(laughter)
1319
01:00:02,899 --> 01:00:03,499
The Press: You were
looking forward to that.
1320
01:00:03,499 --> 01:00:03,966
(laughter)
1321
01:00:03,967 --> 01:00:04,834
Mr. Earnest: Yes, well,
it just came to me.
1322
01:00:04,834 --> 01:00:07,203
(laughter)
1323
01:00:07,203 --> 01:00:08,538
The Press: Let's go back
to the trade for a second.
1324
01:00:08,538 --> 01:00:12,408
The Democratic members that
I've talked to say that the
1325
01:00:12,408 --> 01:00:15,912
vote on Medicare is not as
simple as you described it
1326
01:00:15,912 --> 01:00:17,513
at the top of the briefing.
1327
01:00:17,513 --> 01:00:21,817
Yes, there's a process by
which once they vote to cut
1328
01:00:21,818 --> 01:00:24,253
Medicare, then there's a
process by which their vote
1329
01:00:24,253 --> 01:00:25,254
won't really count.
1330
01:00:25,254 --> 01:00:28,424
So that leaves them in the
position of going to voters
1331
01:00:28,424 --> 01:00:32,161
next year and saying, yes, I
voted to cut Medicare, but I
1332
01:00:32,161 --> 01:00:34,163
was promised that
vote wouldn't count.
1333
01:00:34,163 --> 01:00:36,232
Is that a fair place
to put Democrats?
1334
01:00:36,232 --> 01:00:38,835
Mr. Earnest: That's not a
fair description of what
1335
01:00:38,835 --> 01:00:40,570
exactly would
happen on the floor.
1336
01:00:40,570 --> 01:00:43,373
And I am, by no means, a
legislative expert, but I
1337
01:00:43,373 --> 01:00:45,241
asked this direct question
to somebody who is a
1338
01:00:45,241 --> 01:00:47,310
legislative expert
on our staff.
1339
01:00:47,310 --> 01:00:49,779
And what they were able to
confirm to me is, based on
1340
01:00:49,779 --> 01:00:52,448
the way the rule is
structured -- I'm looking at
1341
01:00:52,448 --> 01:00:54,917
some self-described
legislative experts down
1342
01:00:54,917 --> 01:00:58,921
here -- the way that the
rule is structured, that it
1343
01:00:58,921 --> 01:01:02,125
would not force Democrats
to take a vote that could
1344
01:01:02,125 --> 01:01:05,895
legitimately be described
as cutting Medicare.
1345
01:01:05,895 --> 01:01:07,964
The Press: That's not what
these Democratic members,
1346
01:01:07,964 --> 01:01:09,766
who are experts, told me.
1347
01:01:09,766 --> 01:01:11,467
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say
that this is actually the
1348
01:01:11,467 --> 01:01:12,835
nature of a number of the
conversations that we're
1349
01:01:12,835 --> 01:01:14,670
having with members of
Congress on Capitol Hill to
1350
01:01:14,670 --> 01:01:17,340
make sure that they actually
understand the way that this
1351
01:01:17,340 --> 01:01:20,043
rule works, and the way that
they understand how their
1352
01:01:20,043 --> 01:01:21,344
vote can be described.
1353
01:01:21,344 --> 01:01:22,945
They have strongly
held views on this.
1354
01:01:22,945 --> 01:01:24,781
That's certainly
understandable.
1355
01:01:24,781 --> 01:01:28,317
That's why -- because of
the aggressive advocacy of
1356
01:01:28,317 --> 01:01:31,087
Leader Pelosi and because of
the reasonableness, frankly,
1357
01:01:31,087 --> 01:01:34,390
of Speaker Boehner in this
instance, that they went to
1358
01:01:34,390 --> 01:01:38,194
great lengths to address
this particular concern.
1359
01:01:38,194 --> 01:01:40,196
The Press: And one with
strong views on that,
1360
01:01:40,196 --> 01:01:42,799
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro,
told members, "If you vote
1361
01:01:42,799 --> 01:01:46,002
for this you could
lose your job.
1362
01:01:46,002 --> 01:01:46,636
Period.
1363
01:01:46,636 --> 01:01:47,537
End of story."
1364
01:01:47,537 --> 01:01:48,671
Is she wrong?
1365
01:01:48,671 --> 01:01:50,106
Mr. Earnest: What the
President has said is that
1366
01:01:50,106 --> 01:01:51,974
members of Congress should
be more concerned about the
1367
01:01:51,974 --> 01:01:54,143
jobs of Americans
than their own jobs.
1368
01:01:54,143 --> 01:01:58,081
And that's exactly why the
President has sought to
1369
01:01:58,081 --> 01:02:00,149
advance this trade
legislation, because he
1370
01:02:00,149 --> 01:02:02,151
believes it is clearly
in the best interest of
1371
01:02:02,151 --> 01:02:04,720
middle-class families and
middle-class workers.
1372
01:02:04,720 --> 01:02:06,988
And that's particularly true
when we're talking about
1373
01:02:06,989 --> 01:02:09,192
trade adjustment
assistance legislation.
1374
01:02:09,192 --> 01:02:11,761
As I mentioned earlier,
those members of Congress
1375
01:02:11,761 --> 01:02:15,364
who vote against this trade
adjustment assistance bill
1376
01:02:15,364 --> 01:02:18,000
are adding their name to the
death certificate for trade
1377
01:02:18,000 --> 01:02:19,202
adjustment assistance.
1378
01:02:19,202 --> 01:02:21,204
Trade adjustment assistance
will expire at the end of
1379
01:02:21,204 --> 01:02:23,773
the year, and Speaker
Boehner has made clear --
1380
01:02:23,773 --> 01:02:26,943
again, he has made clear,
and I think for good reason
1381
01:02:26,943 --> 01:02:29,312
-- most Republicans don't
support trade adjustment
1382
01:02:29,312 --> 01:02:32,080
assistance -- he's made
clear that this is the best
1383
01:02:32,081 --> 01:02:34,517
chance that Democrats will
have, probably the only
1384
01:02:34,517 --> 01:02:37,419
chance Democrats will have,
to renew this critically
1385
01:02:37,420 --> 01:02:39,789
important piece of
legislation before it expires.
1386
01:02:39,789 --> 01:02:42,291
And that's the nature of
the conversations that are
1387
01:02:42,291 --> 01:02:44,293
ongoing at the White
House here today.
1388
01:02:44,293 --> 01:02:45,294
All right?
1389
01:02:45,294 --> 01:02:46,261
Thanks, everybody.
