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MR. GIBBS: Good afternoon. Let me take 10 seconds to get organized.
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Let me quickly go through a
week ahead for your planning.
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The President will spend the
weekend in Washington and has
no scheduled public events.
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On Monday the President will
sign the Family Smoking
Prevention and Tobacco Control
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Act in the Rose Garden.
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On Tuesday the President
will meet with the President
of Chile at the White House.
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On Wednesday the President will
hold a town hall meeting here at
the White House in the East Room
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on health care, which
will be broadcast on
ABC during prime time.
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On Thursday
the President --
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Q: Do you know what time?
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MR. GIBBS: I believe
it's taped at 8:00 p. m. and broadcast at 10:00 p. m. ,
if I'm not mistaken.
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Q: Coverage? Are the rest of the press in there as well?
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MR. GIBBS: I assume so.
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I assume we'll put a
pool in there at least.
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On Thursday the President
will participate in a
service event in Washington.
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The President will also host a
small group of Senate and House
members from both sides of the
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aisle at the White House
for an immigration meeting.
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The meeting is to continue the
conversation with the hopes of
beginning the debate in earnest later this year.
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In the evening the President
will host a picnic for members
of Congress and their families on the South Lawn.
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And next Friday the President
will meet with German Chancellor
Merkel here at the White House. Ms. Loven.
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Q: The House resolution, it asks
for a direct condemnation of the
government in Iran's use of
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violence against protestors.
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And that kind of direct
condemnation has not come from
the White House this week.
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Can you comment
on the resolution?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, obviously, we
welcome the resolution and we
believe despite the question
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that it echoes the
words of President Obama
throughout the week.
I think he --
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Q: But you've been
saying that you hope they don't
use violence and directly -- it
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may be a small
difference, but it's a big
difference to some people.
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the
President was pretty clear
on Monday in the avail with Berlusconi.
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Q: He said he was
troubled by violence.
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He didn't say they
shouldn't do it or directly
criticize them for doing it.
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MR. GIBBS: That's not
the way I read it.
I think when the --
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Q: I have the --
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MR. GIBBS: I have the same transcript right here.
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I think when the President sits
in the Oval Office and says
he's: deeply troubled by what
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I've seen on television, and
the American people are rightly
troubled by that; I think when
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the President discusses as he
did with President Lee that
something has happened in Iran,
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where there's a questioning
of the kinds of antagonistic
postures toward the
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international community that
have taken place in the past,
and there are people who want to
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see greater openness, greater
debate, and want to see greater
democracy -- I stand strongly
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with the universal principle
that people's voices should be
heard and not be suppressed.
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I think the language in the
resolution is very consistent
with the language that the President has used.
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Q: It makes direct
criticism of the government,
which he has not done.
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MR. GIBBS: We can
quibble on this.
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I think the President has
been clear in standing up for
the universal principles and deploring violence.
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Q: So comment on the resolution?
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MR. GIBBS: As I said
earlier, we welcome it.
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It's consistent with what
the President has said.
Yes, sir.
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Q: Robert, continuing on that
theme, what is the White House
and the President's reaction to
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the supreme leader of Iran
warning to protestors to stop
protesting and calling on --
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saying that leaders will be
held responsible for bloodshed?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the
President addressed that also on
Monday, that he believes, as we
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have said throughout the week
and as I've said throughout the
week, those who wish to have
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their voices heard should be
able to do that -- to do that
without fear of violence; that
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that is an important universal
principle that should be upheld.
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And I think he
strongly supports that.
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Q: So would he criticize
or condemn this particular
statement from the supreme leader?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the
President has been clear on what
he believes: that he believes
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strongly that people should have
their voices heard, that clearly
there is, as he said on Tuesday,
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a ferment in Iran that is
bringing about change.
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I will say, as the President has
said, we're not going to be used
as political foils and political
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footballs in a debate that's
happening by Iranians in Iran.
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There are many people in
the leadership that would
love us to get involved.
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Q: The leadership of Iran?
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MR. GIBBS: Yes.
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And would love to trot
out the same old foils
they have for many years.
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That's not what
we're going to do.
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Q: Let me ask you one
non-Iran question.
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Do you have a reaction to the
indictment of Allen Stanford?
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MR. GIBBS: I would certainly --
I obviously would point
you for details to the
Department of Justice.
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But I think whether it's this
indictment or previous
indictments that we have seen
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over the course of many months
-- I know we've talked
specifically about Mr. Madoff --
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there are those whose outsized
greed robbed millions of people
of their savings and created
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part of a culture that led us to
parts of the economic disaster
that we've seen in this country.
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I think the President has tried
to address some of that in
different proposals as well as
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financial regulatory reform.
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And we hope that those
that have lost their
savings will see justice.
Yes, sir.
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Q: Earlier this year the special
inspector general for TARP, Neil
Barofsky, tried to get documents relating to AIG.
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The Treasury Department rebuffed
that request, although
ultimately I think they did turn
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over the documents -- but the
Treasury Department sought a
ruling from the Justice
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Department on just how
independent Neil Barofsky's
office is supposed to be.
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Please explain from the
administration's perspective
what exactly is going on here
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and why it appears as though the
Treasury Department is pushing
back against an independent
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inspector general.
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MR. GIBBS: Obviously, Jake,
the President believes that
inspectors general fulfill a
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unique and important role
in ensuring that programs
operate with efficiency.
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No attorney-client
privilege on any of this
stuff has been invoked.
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No documents sought have
been or are being withheld.
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The DOJ review is not related to
any particular investigation.
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It is sorting out the
legal issues relating to
the creation of the office.
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Q: Right, but could
you explain -- could you
actually answer my question?
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I understand the talking points
you've been given, but can you
answer my question, which is,
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why would the Treasury
Department push back against the
inspector general trying to get the documents --
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MR. GIBBS: Well, again --
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Q: I understand the --
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MR. GIBBS: I would point you to DOJ on the specifics on the specifics of that,
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and point you to the fact that the documents haven't been withheld.
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Q: But Robert, we're only, what,
150-some days into this --
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MR. GIBBS: A hundred and
fifty one.
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Q: A hundred and fifty one
days into this presidency.
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Already the President has
fired one inspector general,
and his Treasury Department is
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challenging the independence of
a different inspector general.
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Can you understand why people
who believed the President when
he talked about the desire to be
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held accountable and the need
for transparency would say --
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MR. GIBBS: Jake, we outline the reasons why the inspector
general for the Corporation of
National Service, acted upon by
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the bipartisan board,
recommended that
he not be retained. I think we've discussed that.
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I know you've discussed that
with the staff in many ways, and
there are issues that are being
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sorted out in terms of the
creation of different offices,
but no documents are being withheld.
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Q: Right, but why did the
Treasury Department push back?
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I understand ultimately they
gave the documents, but why did
they not --
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MR. GIBBS: I don't have anything from Treasury.
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I can certainly look
and see what legal issues
they were concerned about.
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Q: Is the precedent that -- do
you believe, does the President
believe that the inspector
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general should be able to get
whatever documents
he needs to --
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MR. GIBBS: The inspector general has gotten
those documents.
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Q: With a struggle.
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MR. GIBBS: Jake, I don't know
how -- more to say that the
inspector -- the answer to your
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question is the inspector
general has the documents that
the inspector general wanted.
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Q: Well, either the Treasury
Department respects the office
of this inspector general or it doesn't.
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MR. GIBBS: Well, Jake,
we can go back and forth on
your question and my answer.
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I think I've answered
the question. Helen.
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Q: Is the President going
to drop the public option in
lieu of the opposition on the
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conservatives on the
Hill --
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MR. GIBBS: No.
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Q: -- including the Democrats?
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MR. GIBBS: No.
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Q: He's going to fight for it?
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MR. GIBBS: The President
believes strongly that for the
uninsured entering the market
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there has to be choice
and competition.
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The American people,
coincidently, believe that too.
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The President believes it's an
important aspect of any health
care reform plan that has to go through Congress. Yes, sir.
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Q: Robert, in light of the
Ayatollah's comments and just
the overall climate in Iran, is
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it more difficult now for the
administration to have any kind
of significant dialogue with
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Iran over the nuclear issue?
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MR. GIBBS: The President and
the team don't believe so.
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This is -- again, we've
talked about this, our
interests remain the same.
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We're concerned about the
Islamic Republic living up to
its responsibilities as it
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relates to nuclear weapons.
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Q: But if they're saying
-- the Ayatollah is
saying, you know, the U.S.
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is giving mixed messages or
the President, specifically -- I
mean, how will that complicate the dialogue?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I don't think
anybody should be under the
illusion that any of this will
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be easy, but our interests
remain the same, I think the
interests of the world remain the same.
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I think, again, we have a pretty
good sense of what not engaging
with Iran, what the results of
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that are, in the number
of several thousand
spinning centrifuges.
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The President discussed the
notion that we have to do things
differently and I think you see,
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as we've said, we've seen at
least the ferment, as the
President said, of productive change in Iran.
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Q: And I'm wondering if --
you know, the fact that the
President has said he doesn't
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want to meddle in the election
there, is it not possible to
have very strong language in
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support of the Iranian
people without meddling?
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MR. GIBBS: Oh, it is
-- the President did it
on Monday and Tuesday.
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Q: But some would believe
that it's not strong enough.
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I know there
are some Republicans that didn't
believe it was strong enough.
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There are some Republicans
that did believe
it was strong enough.
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Q: But is it possible for
him to have stronger language
without taking sides?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the
President feels comfortable with
the strong language that he
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employed on Monday and Tuesday
to discuss this very situation.
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But, Dan, let me repeat again,
there are people in Iran that
would love for us to get involved.
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There are people in Iran who
would love not to make it about
one side in Iran versus another,
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but to make this about Iran
versus the West or Iran versus
the United States of America.
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It worked great for years. The President is not going to do that.
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I think many others, Democrat
and Republican, have discussed
the wisdom in that stance and
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the President is quite
comfortable with where he is.
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Q: Can I just follow, Robert?
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MR. GIBBS: Yes.
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Q: As far as Iran is concerned,
President has been reaching to
everyone in that part of the
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world, including his speech in
Turkey, his speech in Cairo, and
here a very clear message as far
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as democracy and
changes in those part of
the world was concerned.
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You think President's voices are
being heard and his message,
because what he was expecting
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that we care for you, but you
work with us and we will work with you and changes must come
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in that part of the world
just like in the U. S. or elsewhere.
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MR. GIBBS: I think that the
actions that the administration
has taken and the voice of this
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President in reaching out,
whether it was interviews early
in the administration, messages
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to the people, directly to the
people of Iran, the speech in
Cairo -- I do think that people
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have heard the
President's message.
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The President understands that
five months of activity or an
interview, a message and a
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speech aren't going to
change everything overnight.
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But I think the President feels
confident that we're making
progress in that region of the world.
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Q: One more, please?
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MR. GIBBS: Let me go with Chip.
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Q: Maybe I missed this and
maybe it's redundant, but I
just want to get it clarified.
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Does the President
condemn the actions of
the Iranian government?
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MR. GIBBS: He has
condemned the violence. He's condemned --
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Q: But does
he condemn the actions of the
Ayatollah --
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MR. GIBBS: Well, the violence is being conducted
by the government, right?
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The Revolutionary Guard -- the
pictures that we saw on Monday
that the President reacted to, that was them.
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Q: So he's clearly condemning
the government of Iran?
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MR. GIBBS: I think if you look
at what he said throughout the
week, it's clear.
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Q: On health care, some dire
reports out there -- I'm sure
they're much more dire than you
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think they ought to be -- but
there have been delays up there.
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There are a lot of Democrats who
say that the price tag now is
just eye-popping, especially in
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light of the CBO analysis.
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And there are -- and Republicans
feel they're getting tremendous
traction here on the cost issue
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and that the tide is
turning in their favor.
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Is this coming off the
rails to any degree?
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MR. GIBBS: No. I'm reminded that in five short months of the administration, about every six weeks I'm asked
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if the current initiative
is heading off the rails;
if something has unwound.
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We did it with the recovery
plan, we did it with our budget,
we did it with the recent supplemental --
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Q: But this is much bigger and more difficult than
any of those.
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MR. GIBBS: I would love to have
posited that in response to one
of your questions in, say, early
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January, mid-March, or
just a few weeks ago
in the supplemental.
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Look, Chip, there is a
legislative process that takes
time to wind its way through. This is an issue --
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Q: What inning are we in? What inning are we in on health care?
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MR. GIBBS: Early, right?
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Maybe second?
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You still got plenty of
time to get a beer and a
hot dog before last call.
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(Laughter.)
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Q: They don't have hot dogs.
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MR. GIBBS: Yes, I was
going to say maybe a better
alternative than a hot dog.
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I'm going to get a hot dog.
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But look, I think we had an
introduction of a bill in the
House today -- or a release of a
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piece of legislation in the
House today that upholds the
President's goal of cutting
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costs, increasing the quality
of health care in America,
broadening accessibility.
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The health committee that
Senator Dodd is leading right
now is marking up a bill and making progress.
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I think we continue to put one
foot in front of the other in
the march toward health care reform.
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But as I've said before, there's
a reason this is an issue that's
been debated back and forth for 40 years.
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Again, I think some of
the most important things that
came out of CBO this week were
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underscoring -- I know this
doesn't get a lot of news
attention because there's no
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conflict -- but underscoring the
notion that the President has
outlined a series of steps that
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CBO believes must be taken in
order to deal with the rising
costs of health care as it
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relates to the
government's budget.
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We think those are all positive
developments and we have -- I
think if you look back at some
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of the efforts that have been
done over the past few decades,
we have stakeholders that are
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involved in this that are on
occasion split up and on
different sides and shooting
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back and forth at each
other that are all at the
table working on this.
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So I wouldn't call it a
game in the second inning. Chuck.
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Q: I want to follow
up on the Iran stuff.
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You said nothing would change --
you know, sort of, nothing is
going to change sort of what the
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President wants to do in a
policy toward Iran and having to
do with the nuclear situation.
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Does the administration believe
there should be consequences,
though, in any future dialogue
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that is started, or whatever,
based on the actions that the
Iranian government has taken in this time period?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I
don't want to get ahead
of any of the dialogue.
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I think the President has
been clear in underscoring
and deploring the violence.
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But as I've said,
Chuck, we still have U. S.
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interests on many issues including the one on
nuclear weapons.
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Q: So what message
does that send? I mean, one of the things that you guys --
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MR. GIBBS: The message that it sends is we're very clear about dealing with their nuclear weapons.
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Q: Even if it means dealing with
a regime that you think may have
stolen an election, may have
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started violence, may
have pushed back -- set back
freedom, potential for freedom?
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MR. GIBBS: This is about --
well, I think the President and
the international community
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understand the importance of
dealing with what they all
believe is the danger of Iran
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possessing a nuclear weapon.
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Q: Are you going to look
to the United Nations for some
international capacity to sort
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of condemn -- if there is --
because of this violence that
you now say that we should --
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that you guys have condemned
the Iranian government --
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should there be some sort of U.N. action that maybe does this?
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MR. GIBBS: I have not talked to
anybody on our team at the U. N.
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I think what you see --
I think you see the size
of marches increase.
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I think you see the
passion increase.
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But I don't know of any steps
that are happening at the U. N.
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Q: Quickly on immigration. He said something today in his speech at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, that he wanted
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to seek comprehensive
immigration reform.
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In his hundred-day press
conference he talked about -- he
seemed to step back from that.
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So what's changed since --
before he said, "We want to
enforce some laws on the books,
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then we'll start looking
at trying to do some more.
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I think
that --
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Q: I mean, has something
changed since the hundred-day --
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MR. GIBBS: No, I think
the meeting next week will
continue this process.
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But as we've said before, Chuck,
we know there's -- we know the
votes aren't there right now. This is a --
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Q: And that's
what's dictating the timetable.
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(Laughter.)
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MR. GIBBS: I'll point you ad
nauseum to any number of the
questions on health care that
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might -- I mean, yes, if
we can't seek 50 plus one,
it will be tough to pass.
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No, I mean, to be more serious,
I think there's a seriousness in
an effort, but in understanding
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that in -- I think in 2005 and
2006, even in 2007, there was
not a majority yet to do this.
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We want to work with those, both
in favor and support of those
previous efforts, to see where
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we can get comprehensive
immigration reform to pass.
Yes, ma'am.
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Q: Back on health
care for a moment.
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The Senate Finance Committee is
trying to bring the total costs
of the bill down to a trillion
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dollars or less, and I
understand the White House
supports that goal, as well.
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Are you willing to make the
tradeoffs that would be needed
specifically in order to bring the costs down?
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Forget about the pay-for, but
just to bring the actual costs
down you're going to have to
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turn back the benefit package,
turn back the number of people
who qualify for subsidies, the
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size of the subsidies; that's
how you bring the costs down.
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Is that a tradeoff that
you're willing to make?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I think we
continue to watch what's going
on as the finance committee
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works through this process.
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I would mention that the
President has put, I think at
last count, $950 billion on the
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table as -- you're shaking your
head -- it's actually --
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Q: No, but that's not really relevant to my question.
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My question is, how do you pay
for it; my question is, how
much do you need to pay for?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, but you did
talk about pay-fors, right?
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And if we're going to talk about
-- if you're going to talk about
trimming the cost down to a
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trillion, then I'm going to
tell you that $950 billion
has been put on the table.
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I actually think $950 billion
of a trillion is actually
a relevant part of the conversation to have.
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The President believes
it's a relevant part
of the conversation.
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He's talked about the
fact that this plan has
to be deficit-neutral.
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I think in many ways that's a
good portion of the answer.
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The President isn't going to
sign a health care bill -- I
know you're shaking your head,
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let me just try to finish this.
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The President is not going to
sign a health care bill that
increases the size of the deficit.
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In fact, the budget
resolution won't allow
him to do that, right? Right.
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So $950 billion is indeed
relevant because having a series
and an amount of money in order
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to pay for that bill equaling
the cost of that bill will be
part of what has to happen in
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order to get that
through the process.
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00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:15,200
Q: I probably didn't ask the
question clearly enough.
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What I was trying to ask was not
how are you going to pay for it,
are you serious about paying for it.
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You've spoken to
that extensively. What I'm saying is in order to bring --
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MR. GIBBS: Hoping,
persuasive -- but yes, go ahead.
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(Laughter.)
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Q: I said --
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MR. GIBBS:
I was pressing my luck.
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Q: I said I don't disagree --
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MR. GIBBS: I put $950
billion on persuasive.
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Q: I don't disagree that
you have put $950 billion
of offsets on the table.
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My question is, in order to get
the price of the bill down to $1
trillion from an estimated, what
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the last finance
markup was, over
$1.6 trillion --
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in order to bring
that cost down, there are
consequences which are reducing
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the benefit package,
reducing the subsidies.
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And I want to know whether
those are tradeoffs that the
White House is willing to make.
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(Cell phone rings.)
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MR. GIBBS: Yes.
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We are -- whose phone is that?
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All right, I'm kind of itchy
here on Friday, I would love
to take somebody's phone.
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(Laughter.)
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Obviously this whole process
is going to be about how do we
get something that is paid for
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and gets through the
legislative process.
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I think the President
has discussed this
throughout the campaign.
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And I don't know what the
structure, in all honesty, of
what is contained in the finance
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committee's markup package of
what -- all the details of what
that benefit looks like, the
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degree to which it goes out in
terms of incidence of --
percentage of your income above some percentage of poverty.
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But there's no doubt that these
are exactly the types of
tradeoffs and decisions that are
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going to have to be made
throughout this process in order
to get something -- whether it's
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-- regardless of what that
ultimate number is -- and,
again, the President has been
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very forceful in saying that
that number has to be paid for,
and that in looking for those
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resources we have to take the
steps necessary, as we talked
about a little earlier ago, to
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bend the curve on the
government's cost of health care
in the future; that if we're not
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taking those steps, then we're
not getting health care reform.
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So all of those things are what
I think will be -- will take up
Congress's time and the
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President's time in
the next few weeks. Yes, sir.
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Q: On tobacco and this
legislation he's going to sign
on Monday, to what extent can we
331
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expect him to fold his own
experience into what he's going
to say, his own experience with smoking?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, I anticipate
he'll have -- he'll
mention that in the remarks.
333
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You know, as we talked about
last week when the President
discussed his pleasure in seeing
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00:27:13,934 --> 00:27:22,364
a bill that has wound its way
through a legislative process
for more than a decade to land
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00:27:22,367 --> 00:27:29,837
on the President's desk for his
signature -- he understands the
struggles of millions of
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Americans with tobacco.
Yes, sir.
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00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:36,100
Q: When will the President
sign the war supplemental?
338
00:27:36,100 --> 00:27:39,670
MR. GIBBS: I don't have an
answer on -- I don't know that
we've received the legislation
339
00:27:39,667 --> 00:27:45,237
yet, but it will be -- I don't
anticipate that it will take
long after we receive it.
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Q: On Iran, Republican
Leader John Boehner
said today that the U.S.
341
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should lead an international
embargo on gasoline sales to
Iran as a way to encourage the
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government not to use
violence against protestors.
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Does the President think that's
a good idea, or are there other
concrete steps the U.S. could take to --
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MR. GIBBS: I didn't see those comments before I came out here.
345
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We can have somebody
look into that.
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Sanctions is something
we've discussed.
347
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The President authored a bill
that I can get you the details
on, that as I recall was blocked
348
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last year by a Republican to
put some stronger sanctions on
Iran, and we'll get you some information on that.
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Q: But do you think that
sanctions now are an appropriate
response to the way the Iranian
350
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government is behaving
towards protestors?
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MR. GIBBS: Well, you know, I
think the President -- well,
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I don't want to get into the tit-for-tat on that right now. Major.
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Q: Just to follow up on that
quickly, when you said,
"Sanctions are something we've
354
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discussed," you mean
generally -- not in the
context of this crisis?
355
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MR. GIBBS: Yes, I'm sorry. Yes, thank you, yes.
356
00:29:00,467 --> 00:29:01,467
Q: Yes, I just wanted
to clarify that.
357
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All right, I've got three
topics, but one question
on each, I promise.
358
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MR. GIBBS: Okay.
359
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Hey, don't tell me.
360
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(Laughter.)
361
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Q: Does the White House
believe the Congressional Budget
Office is an effective and
362
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reliable arbiter of the scoring
of health care proposals and
does it have any --
363
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MR. GIBBS: To you it certainly does.
364
00:29:15,300 --> 00:29:16,630
(Laughter.)
365
00:29:16,633 --> 00:29:19,363
Q: -- sort of say about the
House Speaker and Chris Dodd,
who were significant players in
366
00:29:19,367 --> 00:29:25,837
this debate, both in the last 48
hours criticized CBO's
methodology and the scoring that has come up --
367
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MR. GIBBS: Well, but remember -- and I haven't seen the exact comments, but remember that --
and I think even
368
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Q: The Speaker said
she's frustrated because the
369
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CBO, in her words, always comes
up with a "worst case scenario.
370
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" And Dodd has said he's never
understood why we have to please
the CBO instead of ourselves as legislators.
371
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Is there -- and I just wondered
if the White House is satisfied
with that kind of commentary.
372
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MR. GIBBS: Maybe some of that
frustration is the fact that
right now CBO is looking at
373
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older proposals
or half measures.
374
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I think the Dodd legislation
that originally was scored
wasn't a final product.
375
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I don't think there were savings
mechanisms in there about
bending the cost of health care.
376
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But look, the President, as I
said pretty clearly today, the
President is going to look for
377
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health care reform
that's fully paid for.
378
00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,500
Q: By the measurement of the
Congressional Budget Office.
379
00:30:20,500 --> 00:30:23,330
MR. GIBBS: Unless or until
somebody comes up with
something different, yes.
380
00:30:23,333 --> 00:30:30,003
Q: On North Korea, under the
sanctions, any member nation
that wishes to enforce either
381
00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:36,830
the tracking of a suspect vessel
or its inspection or shepherding
that vessel to port must obtain
382
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the permission from its own
government at the political
and military level.
383
00:30:39,967 --> 00:30:48,497
That's the language within 1874. Has the President been asked for permission for the U.S Navy to board --
384
00:30:48,500 --> 00:30:49,130
MR. GIBBS: Not that I'm
aware of.
385
00:30:49,133 --> 00:30:51,033
Q: Okay.
386
00:30:51,033 --> 00:30:58,733
And is there anything about the
cargo on this vessel that leads
you to believe that request is likely to come?
387
00:30:58,734 --> 00:31:03,964
MR. GIBBS: I don't want to get
into that sort of specificity.
388
00:31:03,967 --> 00:31:05,637
Q: Okay. Last topic.
389
00:31:05,633 --> 00:31:08,733
The prayer breakfast today
reminded me of something the
President said during the
390
00:31:08,734 --> 00:31:12,964
campaign, that he would hope to
or he probably would have a
church selected for his and the
391
00:31:12,967 --> 00:31:15,367
girls' and Michelle's
attendance in January.
392
00:31:15,367 --> 00:31:19,967
We're now in June -- can you
update us on either the
President's churchgoing habits
393
00:31:19,967 --> 00:31:22,797
or his process in
selecting a church?
394
00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:33,030
MR. GIBBS: I know they're
continuing to look for a
permanent place, mindful of many things.
395
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Q: Such as?
396
00:31:37,433 --> 00:31:41,503
MR. GIBBS: What it does when a
President decides to walk out of
this building and walk into a
397
00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:52,000
different building and disrupt
worshippers that are attending
for their own personal reasons.
398
00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:56,370
I think that is certainly --
that's not an exhaustive list,
but certainly one of the things
399
00:31:56,367 --> 00:32:00,637
that the President has
on his mind about that.
400
00:32:00,633 --> 00:32:02,703
Q: Anything else that he
has on his mind about it?
401
00:32:02,700 --> 00:32:11,770
MR. GIBBS: Yes, I think there's
wanting to ensure that he finds
a church that he, Michelle, and
402
00:32:11,767 --> 00:32:13,137
the girls feel most
comfortable in.
403
00:32:13,133 --> 00:32:14,333
Q: Robert, following
on that --
404
00:32:14,333 --> 00:32:15,263
Q: Does he use the chapel in Camp David?
405
00:32:15,266 --> 00:32:16,896
MR. GIBBS: He does.
406
00:32:16,900 --> 00:32:17,770
Q: Robert, a follow on church?
407
00:32:17,767 --> 00:32:20,297
MR. GIBBS: Sure.
408
00:32:20,300 --> 00:32:22,170
Q: Is the President, since he
has not found a church home here
in Washington yet, is he -- is a
409
00:32:22,166 --> 00:32:28,196
minister being brought in to
the White House on Sundays to
have a service with the family?
410
00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,000
And is that also
happening at Camp David?
411
00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:39,730
MR. GIBBS: Well, as I've just
said to Major, the President has
been and very much enjoys the
412
00:32:39,734 --> 00:32:42,834
chapel and the chaplain
up at Camp David.
413
00:32:42,834 --> 00:32:45,264
I don't know that anybody
has been brought in here.
414
00:32:45,266 --> 00:32:49,796
Q: And also real fast on
something, the Senate has
unanimously passed a symbolic
415
00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:56,000
resolution apologizing for
slavery and racial segregation,
and sent the measure to the House.
416
00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:00,900
This being the first black
President -- Bill Clinton did
not apologize for slavery;
417
00:33:00,900 --> 00:33:06,300
George W. Bush said he would not do it as Africans were also involved in the slave trade.
418
00:33:06,300 --> 00:33:10,570
Does this President think
that that's something
that should indeed happen?
419
00:33:10,567 --> 00:33:17,767
MR. GIBBS: Well, I have not
spoken with him specifically
about the Senate resolution and
420
00:33:17,767 --> 00:33:20,297
I'd want to get
his view on that.
421
00:33:20,300 --> 00:33:25,500
Q: Okay, well, what is the
President's thought about
slavery, especially since he invoked --
422
00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:26,100
MR. GIBBS: Opposed.
423
00:33:26,100 --> 00:33:27,130
(Laughter.)
424
00:33:27,133 --> 00:33:27,733
Q: Excuse me?
425
00:33:27,734 --> 00:33:29,134
MR. GIBBS: Opposed.
426
00:33:29,133 --> 00:33:31,763
Q: Especially since --
427
00:33:31,767 --> 00:33:34,037
MR.
GIBBS: April, you just asked
me what the President's view on slavery was.
428
00:33:34,033 --> 00:33:35,563
What did you think
I was going to say?
429
00:33:35,567 --> 00:33:36,797
(Laughter.)
430
00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,630
Q: You didn't let me finish my
431
00:33:39,633 --> 00:33:42,003
-- MR. GIBBS: Okay, look, this
is a very serious topic --
432
00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:42,900
Q: Yes, thank you.
433
00:33:42,900 --> 00:33:46,300
MR. GIBBS: -- I just
want to note that that
was your question. Go ahead, I'm sorry.
434
00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:47,800
Q: Okay, but I want to finish
the statement --
435
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:52,530
MR. GIBBS: And it does drive me crazy when one doesn't get a chance to finish
436
00:33:52,533 --> 00:33:56,733
their entire statement before
somebody else -- I'm sorry, I'm off track, go ahead.
437
00:33:56,734 --> 00:33:58,464
(Laughter.)
438
00:33:58,467 --> 00:34:00,837
It is Friday, guys; I'm just
trying to have a little fun.
439
00:34:00,834 --> 00:34:05,864
Q: Anyway, you know, especially
dealing with this issue of
slavery, especially since he
440
00:34:05,867 --> 00:34:12,837
invoked the issue of slavery
over a year ago in his
Philadelphia speech on race, is
441
00:34:12,834 --> 00:34:15,364
it something that this White
House could indeed tackle?
442
00:34:15,367 --> 00:34:19,497
Bill Clinton tackled it and
tabled it in his second term
443
00:34:19,500 --> 00:34:21,900
when he dealt with
the race initiative.
Is this something --
444
00:34:21,900 --> 00:34:23,770
MR. GIBBS:
Tackled and tabled what? I'm sorry.
445
00:34:23,767 --> 00:34:27,267
Q: The apology --
the possibility of an
apology for slavery.
446
00:34:27,266 --> 00:34:31,666
MR. GIBBS: Well, one,
I don't know if this is even
something that -- just purely
447
00:34:31,667 --> 00:34:40,497
legislatively, I don't know if
the resolution per se ultimately
comes here or not for signature.
448
00:34:40,500 --> 00:34:42,500
I don't know the answer to that.
449
00:34:42,500 --> 00:34:50,130
Look, I think the President
has spoken on any number of
occasions about the stain that
450
00:34:50,133 --> 00:35:01,203
slavery left on this country,
that throughout our history we
have sought to better perfect
451
00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:08,330
our union and have had
many bumps along the way.
452
00:35:08,333 --> 00:35:19,403
And one of the most significant
of those stains is that of
slavery; that it is clearly
453
00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:22,600
something that we
continue to struggle with.
454
00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:33,700
The President obviously hopes
that we can make progress on
race relations and that we all
455
00:35:33,700 --> 00:35:39,330
have a deeper and
better understanding of
backgrounds and beliefs. Yes, sir.
456
00:35:39,333 --> 00:35:43,833
Q: We've heard senior
administration officials say
that what's happening in Iran is not about us.
457
00:35:43,834 --> 00:35:48,134
And we've also heard them say
that they've never seen anything
like this in Iran before.
458
00:35:48,133 --> 00:35:54,203
Does the White House think that
the President's outreach to the
Muslim world, in Cairo or to
459
00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:59,600
Iran specifically in the New
Year's greeting, is influencing
events in Iran right now?
460
00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:09,730
MR. GIBBS: I think --
I wouldn't in any way seek for
the administration to take the
461
00:36:09,734 --> 00:36:13,204
credit for what
we're seeing in Iran.
462
00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:21,330
I don't know that -- as you
said, I'm not sure that anybody,
even a week ago or so would have
463
00:36:21,333 --> 00:36:28,733
expected to see the courageous
images that we're seeing now.
464
00:36:28,734 --> 00:36:37,564
I will say that I think that
there are those in Iran and
those throughout the Middle East
465
00:36:37,567 --> 00:36:48,037
that have noticed a different
way of operating by this
country, and that they've seen
466
00:36:48,033 --> 00:36:55,033
-- and I think we've seen some
improved relations, and I think
we've also seen some improvement
467
00:36:55,033 --> 00:37:02,833
in the way this country is
thought of by many countries
in that region of the world.
468
00:37:02,834 --> 00:37:12,004
And I think that's tremendously
important not because we all
have to feel better, but because
469
00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:21,330
there are very important foreign
policy and strategic interests
that we've discussed a lot in that region of the world.
470
00:37:21,333 --> 00:37:33,063
I do think that I think you are
seeing in Iran -- I think you're
definitely witnessing something extraordinary.
471
00:37:33,066 --> 00:37:45,896
I think you're witnessing
something that many people might
not have presumed or imagined,
472
00:37:45,900 --> 00:37:50,970
like I said, just a few -- even
a few weeks or a few days ago.
473
00:37:50,967 --> 00:37:57,397
And I think part of that is sort
of what we discussed earlier,
and that is I think there are
474
00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:05,370
those in Iran that see the
United States of America not as
it has been described to them,
475
00:38:05,367 --> 00:38:13,397
not as those have wanted
their people to believe.
476
00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:18,970
I think that is a positive
development for this country
and for the entire world.
477
00:38:18,967 --> 00:38:19,597
Q: A quick follow-up.
478
00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:28,130
Do you have any idea how the Cairo speech was consumed in Iran? In other words, was it shown on --
479
00:38:28,133 --> 00:38:30,633
MR. GIBBS: I can have those
guys pull and see if we have
480
00:38:30,633 --> 00:38:39,103
stuff in terms of some of the
social networking sites, or what
media it might have been shown in --
481
00:38:39,100 --> 00:38:40,330
Q: Farsi one of
the SMS --
482
00:38:40,333 --> 00:38:43,933
MR. GIBBS: Yes, yes. So let me see if we can get you some stats on that. Yes, sir.
483
00:38:43,934 --> 00:38:48,704
Q: Just briefly, back on health
care and the struggles of trying
to figure out how to pay for
484
00:38:48,700 --> 00:38:52,070
what it is that is
ultimately agreed on.
485
00:38:52,066 --> 00:38:58,166
Obviously there's been some
talk, at least among some of the
Democrats, of additional taxes,
486
00:38:58,166 --> 00:39:04,666
various things that
-- and also the discussion of
taxing the employer benefits.
487
00:39:04,667 --> 00:39:08,437
The Republicans, it probably
won't surprise you to hear, are
accusing Democrats of preparing
488
00:39:08,433 --> 00:39:13,103
a tax fest to pay for
the President's plan,
which is not affordable.
489
00:39:13,100 --> 00:39:14,730
What's your reaction to that?
490
00:39:14,734 --> 00:39:19,934
MR. GIBBS: Well, I mean, Mark,
I think if you -- if I'm not
mistaken, I can think of at
491
00:39:19,934 --> 00:39:27,534
least one Republican off the top
of my head that talked about
changing the tax benefits for the exclusion.
492
00:39:27,533 --> 00:39:32,763
I think if I sat at Google for
about five minutes I could
probably get you several dozen.
493
00:39:32,767 --> 00:39:37,697
I think one of the major reform
bills that's up there right now
that's been written by Senator
494
00:39:37,700 --> 00:39:48,700
Burr includes, if not
a complete ending of the
exclusion, some cap of it.
So maybe they --
495
00:39:48,700 --> 00:39:52,530
Q: The RNC is
specifically suggesting that
some of these taxes are going to
496
00:39:52,533 --> 00:39:56,103
break the President's pledge of
not taxing the middle class.
497
00:39:56,100 --> 00:40:04,000
MR. GIBBS: I think the President
was pretty clear on that in an
interview earlier this week
498
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:06,970
relating to financial
regulation.
499
00:40:06,967 --> 00:40:12,667
I think the President believes,
as he said in that interview,
that he's put forward a course
500
00:40:12,667 --> 00:40:22,567
of action that he thinks is
best able at this point to
put that skin in the game.
501
00:40:22,567 --> 00:40:26,437
The bulk of that is changing
the way we pay for health care.
502
00:40:26,433 --> 00:40:34,403
It's injecting -- it's taking
subsidies out of -- for Medicare
middle men, and it's going back
503
00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:38,100
to the charitable deduction
rates of the Reagan era.
504
00:40:38,100 --> 00:40:45,830
So I think there are -- the
President feels confident about
what he's put on the table.
505
00:40:45,834 --> 00:40:50,204
Let me just go back to it -- I
think I read this earlier, but
wondered what the President said
506
00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:53,570
earlier this week: "I do believe
that something has happened in
Iran where there's a questioning
507
00:40:53,567 --> 00:40:58,437
of the kinds of antagonistic
postures toward the
international community that
508
00:40:58,433 --> 00:41:03,263
have taken place in the past and
that there are people who want
to see greater openness, greater
509
00:41:03,266 --> 00:41:07,996
debate, and want to see
a greater democracy. " Yes, sir.
510
00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:15,870
Q: Back on North Korea. Has the U. S. reached out to any other countries, as far as helping in tracking that wayward freighter
511
00:41:15,867 --> 00:41:23,367
out there that -- and is the
U. S. looking at options beyond the U. N. resolution or possibly boarding it one day?
512
00:41:23,367 --> 00:41:30,897
MR. GIBBS: Well, again,
I don't want to get into
operational specificity.
513
00:41:30,900 --> 00:41:40,200
As Ambassador Rice said here
just one week ago, we sought
from the United Nations and the
514
00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:49,930
international community strict
sanctions on the movement of --
possible movement of this type
515
00:41:49,934 --> 00:41:56,504
of material, and we're fully
committed to implementing what's
in those resolutions right now
516
00:41:56,500 --> 00:42:02,200
and changing, hopefully, the
course of some behavior.
Yes, sir.
517
00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:07,570
Q: Robert, what kind of
outreach was there to the House
in shaping the Iran resolution?
518
00:42:07,567 --> 00:42:15,697
MR. GIBBS: I assume some people
talked -- were in conversations,
but I don't know to what degree.
519
00:42:15,700 --> 00:42:17,330
Q: But definitely --
520
00:42:17,333 --> 00:42:19,463
MR. GIBBS:
I assume that --
521
00:42:19,467 --> 00:42:20,497
Q: Somebody in the
White House --
522
00:42:20,500 --> 00:42:21,900
MR. GIBBS: I assume so, yes.
523
00:42:21,900 --> 00:42:23,230
Q: And on immigration.
524
00:42:23,233 --> 00:42:29,063
What the President talked about
this morning sounded similar to
what was discussed in the summer of '07.
525
00:42:29,066 --> 00:42:33,196
You said the votes
aren't there for it now.
How do you get --
526
00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:39,030
MR. GIBBS:
Well, I think you get there
through the continuation of this
527
00:42:39,033 --> 00:42:45,563
dialogue and see if you can come
up with ultimately -- I mean,
obviously, look, if you put up
528
00:42:45,567 --> 00:42:51,197
just what was out there we're
going to have to look through
that and other ideas.
529
00:42:51,200 --> 00:42:54,770
And I think the President looks
forward to -- keep in mind that
there will be people at the
530
00:42:54,767 --> 00:43:01,567
White House next week that
don't agree with where the
President and others are.
531
00:43:01,567 --> 00:43:05,397
There are going to be final
invitations having gone out.
532
00:43:05,400 --> 00:43:11,330
There are going to be members
from both sides of the aisle
next week to discuss it. Yes.
533
00:43:11,333 --> 00:43:15,403
Q: There's The Wall Street
Journal report that President
Obama wants to include civil
534
00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:18,430
unions to be counted
in the census.
535
00:43:18,433 --> 00:43:20,863
Can you talk about that? Is that something the President wants?
536
00:43:20,867 --> 00:43:25,737
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think,
obviously, as we've discussed,
the President and the
537
00:43:25,734 --> 00:43:32,134
administration are committed
to a fair and accurate
count of all Americans.
538
00:43:32,133 --> 00:43:42,303
And as the piece said, we're in
the midst of determining the
best way to ensure that gay and
539
00:43:42,300 --> 00:43:44,530
lesbian couples are
accurately counted.
540
00:43:44,533 --> 00:43:48,163
Q: And just to follow up on John
Berry's call that we had the
other day when the President
541
00:43:48,166 --> 00:43:53,766
signed the memorandum, he talked
about the need for a specific
number of votes to fulfill the
542
00:43:53,767 --> 00:43:57,097
President's campaign promise
of repealing "don't ask,
don't tell" and the Defense of
543
00:43:57,100 --> 00:44:00,870
Marriage Act, and he kept
saying 60 votes in the Senate.
544
00:44:00,867 --> 00:44:06,167
But is the White House talking
to Republicans that might
favor the repeal of this? I know there are a few.
545
00:44:06,166 --> 00:44:14,166
MR. GIBBS: Yes, look, I think
the administration -- well,
obviously, for math purposes,
546
00:44:14,166 --> 00:44:19,836
we're going to have to have
a coalition of people that
believe, on each of those
547
00:44:19,834 --> 00:44:25,064
interests, that the policy
isn't serving our nation well.
548
00:44:25,066 --> 00:44:30,166
And the President is
committed to making progress
on both of those issues. Steve.
549
00:44:30,166 --> 00:44:33,436
Q: Robert, back on the question
of this apology for slavery.
550
00:44:33,433 --> 00:44:37,703
The Senate resolution also
includes a disclaimer of sorts.
551
00:44:37,700 --> 00:44:40,930
It said, "This should never be
used to argue for reparations.
552
00:44:40,934 --> 00:44:45,234
" The Congressional Black Caucus
is very unhappy about that; it
may not win their support when
553
00:44:45,233 --> 00:44:46,563
it goes back to the House.
554
00:44:46,567 --> 00:44:49,097
Does the President think
reparations should be ruled out?
555
00:44:49,100 --> 00:44:55,670
MR. GIBBS: The President has not
and does not favor reparations. Yes, sir.
556
00:44:55,667 --> 00:45:02,467
Q: Thank you. In the spirit of the discussion on Iran, have the Russians shared with you the results of
557
00:45:02,467 --> 00:45:08,867
their own discussion with the
Iranian leader who they hosted
recently in their own country?
558
00:45:08,867 --> 00:45:12,737
MR. GIBBS: I don't know the
answer to that, whether NSC had
discussed --
559
00:45:12,734 --> 00:45:16,504
Q: I really wanted to ask you about the upcoming
trip to Russia.
560
00:45:16,500 --> 00:45:21,500
And I know it's probably too
early, but can you talk in
general about how the President
561
00:45:21,500 --> 00:45:29,070
gets ready for such trips,
how early he starts, what
the preparations involve?
562
00:45:29,066 --> 00:45:32,296
Is there any input from
the outside -- outside
of the White House?
563
00:45:32,300 --> 00:45:42,030
MR. GIBBS: Well, the process in
many ways for this upcoming and
important trip to Moscow started
564
00:45:42,033 --> 00:45:49,903
not long after, and in some
cases working on specific
initiatives, before the G20 in late March.
565
00:45:49,900 --> 00:45:57,200
Obviously, we have a robust
agenda with which we hope
to discuss, particularly
566
00:45:57,200 --> 00:46:04,530
surrounding making --
restarting arms control talks.
567
00:46:04,533 --> 00:46:13,163
And hopefully, by the end of
the year coming to an agreement
about some specific numbers to
568
00:46:13,166 --> 00:46:20,836
eliminate nuclear -- begin to
take some steps to eliminate
even further nuclear weapons
569
00:46:20,834 --> 00:46:28,034
that each side has toward the
President's goal ultimately
of a nuclear-free world.
570
00:46:28,033 --> 00:46:35,533
Q: I've seen comments in the
press suggesting that it's still
a different type of a visit,
571
00:46:35,533 --> 00:46:39,733
going to Moscow, than going to
Europe, for instance, or even
going to the Arab world as he has done recently.
572
00:46:39,734 --> 00:46:44,034
Is it really for you? Is it any different in terms of preparations, in terms of --
573
00:46:44,033 --> 00:46:52,233
MR. GIBBS: No, I think -- look, I think everybody understands
the importance of the issues
that are going to be discussed.
574
00:46:52,233 --> 00:46:57,663
I think in many ways the
preparation -- the preparation
is not that much different.
575
00:46:57,667 --> 00:47:08,437
We certainly hope that we can
make some substantive progress
on issues that we know are of importance to both sides. David.
576
00:47:08,433 --> 00:47:09,803
Q: And lastly, when did --
577
00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:12,370
MR. GIBBS: Maybe we have to move you up to the first row, if you keep asking more questions.
578
00:47:12,367 --> 00:47:13,737
(Laughter.)
579
00:47:13,734 --> 00:47:18,404
Q: When did they last
talk, the two Presidents?
580
00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:22,600
MR. GIBBS: I don't know that
they've spoken since the G20.
581
00:47:22,600 --> 00:47:35,470
I mean, I know, obviously,
General Jones has spoken with
his counterpart; Mike McFaul has had many discussions.
582
00:47:35,467 --> 00:47:39,137
But I don't believe
the two Presidents have
spoken since that date.
583
00:47:39,133 --> 00:47:46,303
Q: In the past week, has the
President spoken to any
outside-the-government experts on Iran? And, if so, who?
584
00:47:46,300 --> 00:47:50,600
MR. GIBBS: I can check. I don't know that -- I don't --
585
00:47:50,600 --> 00:47:53,400
Q: Has he spoken to anybody on the subject?
586
00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:59,100
MR. GIBBS: Outside
the government? I don't know the answer to that, but I can certainly check. Yes, sir.
587
00:47:59,100 --> 00:48:03,830
Q: Earlier in the week, the
President said that he felt the
supreme leader was aware that
588
00:48:03,834 --> 00:48:08,664
the people of Iran were
concerned about the election --
I think it's a fair summary of what you said.
589
00:48:08,667 --> 00:48:13,467
Is that still the case, given
that the supreme leader said in
his speech that Ahmadinejad had
590
00:48:13,467 --> 00:48:16,597
won by 11 million votes, and
that the Iranians have spoken?
591
00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:20,670
MR. GIBBS: Well, look, I think
the international community and
the United States continues to
592
00:48:20,667 --> 00:48:28,437
have concern about
the way in which the
election was conducted.
593
00:48:28,433 --> 00:48:39,603
And I think that concern is
pretty well held by the hundreds
of thousands of people that
594
00:48:39,600 --> 00:48:43,530
continue to seek
some sort of justice. Yes, sir.
595
00:48:43,533 --> 00:48:49,163
Q: Was the President
disappointed to hear the supreme
leader coming out -- he's saying
596
00:48:49,166 --> 00:48:55,536
that his opinion is closer to
those of Ahmadinejad; they're
closer to Ahmadinejad's opinion
597
00:48:55,533 --> 00:49:00,763
than to those of Rafsanjani, the
reformist who backed Mousavi?
598
00:49:00,767 --> 00:49:05,637
MR. GIBBS: Well, again,
I don't want to get
into a back and forth.
599
00:49:05,633 --> 00:49:18,333
I think the President continues
to be concerned about ensuring
that those that seek the justice
600
00:49:18,333 --> 00:49:20,903
that I was just speaking about
had the opportunity to do that.
601
00:49:20,900 --> 00:49:23,330
But I don't want to get into
a comparison about --
602
00:49:23,333 --> 00:49:27,963
Q: Does he still believe there are different centers
of power in Iran?
603
00:49:27,967 --> 00:49:32,997
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think we're
witnessing the fact that there
are different belief structures
604
00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:36,470
and different centers in Iran. Yes, ma'am.
605
00:49:36,467 --> 00:49:40,667
Q: You actually -- just to
follow up on something you
had discussed in yesterday's briefing.
606
00:49:40,667 --> 00:49:47,267
Can you speak to the U. S.' s or the White House's confidence in Saudi Arabia's relocation program with
607
00:49:47,266 --> 00:49:51,936
detainees that (inaudible)
terror suspects over there?
608
00:49:51,934 --> 00:49:54,634
And kind of on that same
subject, has the White House or
has the President been having
,00:49:59.633
discussions with anyone from Saudi Arabia, officials of the
609
00:49:59,633 --> 00:50:03,933
country, about taking I think it was the Yemeni detainees that are --
610
00:50:03,934 --> 00:50:14,404
MR. GIBBS: I believe that
we have had discussions with the
611
00:50:14,400 --> 00:50:20,130
Yemeni government, and have had
discussions at different levels
with the Saudi government about
612
00:50:20,133 --> 00:50:29,803
that program and about detainees
that are -- some that have been
transferred, and some that are
613
00:50:29,800 --> 00:50:33,130
still held at Guantanamo Bay.
614
00:50:33,133 --> 00:50:42,833
Obviously I think the President
believes that -- and has said
repeatedly, he is not going to
615
00:50:42,834 --> 00:50:50,064
make a decision to -- on
anything related to Guantanamo
that would threaten the security of our country.
616
00:50:50,066 --> 00:50:53,336
But I don't want to get
into any depth about some
of those discussions.
617
00:50:53,333 --> 00:50:55,863
Q: But did that come up in his
conversations --
618
00:50:55,867 --> 00:51:00,137
MR. GIBBS: Discussing Guantanamo definitely came up. Yes, ma'am.
619
00:51:00,133 --> 00:51:05,763
Q: I wondered, did the
President watch Ayatollah
Khomeini's speech? And then --
620
00:51:05,767 --> 00:51:07,597
MR. GIBBS:
Not that I know of.
621
00:51:07,600 --> 00:51:11,070
Q: And then I also wanted to
ask about the House resolution.
622
00:51:11,066 --> 00:51:13,566
You've said repeatedly that the U.S. isn't going to get involved
623
00:51:13,567 --> 00:51:16,037
in it, but when more than 400 members of the people's
624
00:51:16,033 --> 00:51:22,703
representatives make a
clear statement about
it, isn't that the U. S. getting involved?
625
00:51:22,700 --> 00:51:27,030
MR. GIBBS: Well, no, I think,
again, let's -- the resolution
expresses the support of all
626
00:51:27,033 --> 00:51:33,833
Iranian citizens who embrace the
values of freedom, human rights,
civil liberties, and the rule of law.
627
00:51:33,834 --> 00:51:36,204
That's the sort
of topic sentence.
628
00:51:36,200 --> 00:51:43,430
I think the President has
spoken out throughout the past
week on the universal principle
629
00:51:43,433 --> 00:51:46,463
contained in each
of those values.
630
00:51:46,467 --> 00:52:02,437
And I don't think that
expressing support for the
ferment or expressing outrage in
631
00:52:02,433 --> 00:52:10,303
the violence is meddling
in the Iranian process. Yes, ma'am.
632
00:52:10,300 --> 00:52:14,430
Q: I just wondered if
you could clarify, as far
as health care tradeoffs.
633
00:52:14,433 --> 00:52:22,563
When you did say that you're
willing to reduce health care
benefits and subsidies, are you
634
00:52:22,567 --> 00:52:27,067
in any way also including health
care tax benefits and subsidies?
635
00:52:27,066 --> 00:52:27,866
MR. GIBBS: I'm sorry?
636
00:52:27,867 --> 00:52:32,637
Q: Are you in any way
willing to consider reducing
health care tax benefits?
637
00:52:32,633 --> 00:52:39,533
MR. GIBBS: Well, we've done this
like 15 times and I think the
President spoke pretty clearly
638
00:52:39,533 --> 00:52:49,333
to this in that interview that
I discussed a minute ago on
financial regulation earlier in the week. Yes, sir.
639
00:52:49,333 --> 00:52:56,103
Q: Thanks. If we could go back to inspector general issue.
640
00:52:56,100 --> 00:53:02,000
Senator Grassley issued two
letters yesterday and since then
he's been really pushing the
641
00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:03,830
AmeriCorps issue.
642
00:53:03,834 --> 00:53:07,104
But he issued two letters to
both the Treasury Department
and the International Trade
643
00:53:07,100 --> 00:53:10,800
Commission regarding
their inspector general.
644
00:53:10,800 --> 00:53:18,530
And could someone infer that
there is a trend in the
administration towards inspector general based on --
645
00:53:18,533 --> 00:53:21,933
MR. GIBBS:
If they inferred it, it would
be an incorrect inference.
646
00:53:21,934 --> 00:53:22,604
Q: Thank you, Robert.
647
00:53:22,600 --> 00:53:23,870
MR. GIBBS: Thank you.
648
00:53:23,867 --> 00:53:24,797
Q: Happy Father's Day.
649
00:53:24,800 --> 00:53:26,430
MR. GIBBS: Happy Father's
Day to all you guys.
