English subtitles for clip: File:12-15-15- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: All right,
good afternoon, everybody.

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I do not have any
remarks at the top,

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so we can go straight
to your questions.

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Josh, do you want to start?

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The Press: Sure.

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Thanks, Josh.

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Let's start with this threat
received by the schools in L.A.

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that caused a
shutdown this morning.

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What can you tell us, if
anything, about that threat?

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And has the President
been engaged with school

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officials or other public
officials in California

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this morning?

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Mr. Earnest: Josh, I can
tell you that the President

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has been informed of a
decision that was made by

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local authorities
in Los Angeles,

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based on information
that they had received.

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Josh, I do think this
illustrates something that's

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important for people
to understand,

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which is that ultimately
it's local first responders

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who are responsible
for taking the lead and

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protecting their
communities.

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After all, these
professionals are most aware

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of the unique
characteristics of their

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community, and understand
what factors will influence

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the best way to
protect the community.

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And this is true when
there's a natural disaster,

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and we talk about the role
that the federal government

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has in supporting
local officials who are

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responsible for
the response.

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This is also true when
talking about strengthening

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relationships between local
communities and local law

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enforcement; that the role
of the federal government is

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to support those
conversations where necessary.

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But the President convened
this Task Force on

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21st Century Policing, where we
had law enforcement experts,

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legal experts, academics and
others come together around

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a set of recommendations
that are then,

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and have been, shared
with local law enforcement

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agencies across the country.

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Those recommendations cannot
be imposed on local law

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enforcement agencies,
but rather we can use our

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resources in the federal
government to draw on the

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expertise of people
all across the country,

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and share that information
with local authorities.

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But ultimately it's
local authorities who are

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responsible for deciding how
best those recommendations

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can be implemented
in their community.

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And I think you have another
example of the important

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role that state and local
law enforcement and first

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responders have in
protecting communities

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across the country.

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The Press: Officials in New
York received what they're

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describing is essentially
the same threat,

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and quickly determined it
was a hoax and decided not

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to close the schools down.

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So does the White House feel
that the decision that was

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made by authorities in Los
Angeles was appropriate?

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And is there any federal
guidance that's given to

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schools about -- you know,
you get threats all the

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time, here are the ones
where you need to take

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specific action?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, I'm
not going to stand here at

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this podium and second-guess
the decisions that are made

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by local law enforcement
officials in any community

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across the country.

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Ultimately, these
individuals are making these

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decisions based on
information that they've

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received and based on their
knowledge of what they

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believe is in the best
interest of their community.

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And obviously they would
know better than anyone else.

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I can tell you that as
these local law enforcement

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agencies are making these
decisions and considering

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these decisions, they do
so with the support and

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assistance of federal
agencies

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-- in this case, the FBI.

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I know that there have been
conversations between law

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enforcement officials in
southern California and the

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FBI in this matter.

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But again, this is
ultimately a decision that

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was made by officials
in Los Angeles.

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The Press: As we've been
discussing homeland security

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in the wake of Paris
and California,

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the President has talked a
number of times about not

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giving into fear and not
allowing extremists to

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change the way that
we live our lives.

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I'm wondering if you can
talk broadly about what

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advice the White House
offers citizens about how to

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strike the balance,
particularly around the

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holidays, between vigilance
and resolve not to give into

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fears of terrorism.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, the
most important thing in the

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mind of the President is
keeping

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the American people safe.

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And we certainly do want
to encourage everyone

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to be vigilant.

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That includes the
citizens of our country.

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We encourage them, if
they see something,

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they should say something.

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That advice, of course,
continues to be operative.

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And we encourage local
law enforcement and state

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officials to be vigilant as
they go about their basic

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business of protecting
the American people.

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At the same time, the
President is resolute in his

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refusal to allow this
country and our citizens

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to be terrorized.

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And there are several things
that the President

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is doing about that.

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Obviously, the first is we
have engaged this aggressive

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campaign to counter ISIL,
to degrade and ultimately

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destroy that organization.

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That's an indication, and
should be an indication,

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to you and to the American
public that the President

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and the federal government
are cognizant of the risks

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and are taking appropriate
steps to protect

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the American people.

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This is, after all, the
President's top priority.

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And I think that as people
go about their business and

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go about the kind of holiday
routines that many people

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rightly look forward
to, that people can have

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confidence that our law
enforcement professionals

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that are on duty
24 hours a day,

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seven days a week are
actually doing the work

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that's necessary
to keep us safe.

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And they will
remain vigilant,

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and they continue to use
every element of the power

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and authority of the
greatest country in the

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world to protect
our citizens.

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And that is part of
what should give people

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confidence that they can go
about their holiday routine.

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The Press: And
one other topic.

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I wanted to get your
reaction to this new

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Saudi-led coalition that is
going to be working against

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the Islamic State.

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Can you describe how
that's going to work,

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overlapping significantly
with the U.S.-led coalition?

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And does the U.S. have any

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concerns about
having Saudi Arabia heading

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the operation, fueling the
kind of Sunni-Shia tensions

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that we've seen at play in
Iraq and elsewhere

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in the Middle East?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, the
first thing that's important

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for people to understand is
that this coalition that was

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announced by the Saudis was
not solely directed at ISIL,

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but rather to extremist and
terrorist threats that are

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threatening all the
members of that coalition.

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So it's certainly
broader than ISIL.

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I think the second thing is
-- and you've heard me say

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on a number of occasions,
as recently as yesterday --

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that we believe that there
are additional steps and

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greater investments that can
be made by members of our

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anti-ISIL coalition to
fighting terrorism and

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speaking out, particularly
when it comes to countering

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ISIL's online
radicalization efforts.

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And I understand based
on the way that this was

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described by the
Saudis yesterday,

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that that is a central
part of this particular

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coalition's activities.

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Finally, I would point out
that the Saudis went to

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great lengths to also make
clear that this is not a

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substitute or a replacement
for the 65-member anti-ISIL

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coalition that was built and
is being led by

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the United States of America.

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Saudi Arabia has made
important contributions to

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that coalition effort, and
we anticipate that they will

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continue to do so.

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Julia.

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The Press: Josh, a team of
sanctions monitors issued a

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report today that said that
the October 10th missile

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that Iran launched was
in violation of the U.N. ban.

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Does this amp up the
pressure for

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the United States to issue more
sanctions on Iran?

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Or is that -- would such a
move be seen as potentially

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complicating the
nuclear deal?

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Mr. Earnest: Julie, I
believe that the reference

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that you're making is to a
document that is leaked

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from the U.N. this morning.

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I'm certainly not going
to get ahead of any

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announcements that are made
by this panel of experts.

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I would note, however,
that the United States,

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through our Ambassador
to the United Nations,

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Samantha Power, raised our
concerns about this October

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10th medium-range ballistic
missile launch back

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on October 21st.

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And in raising
those concerns,

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Ambassador Power described
that launch as another clear

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violation of United
Nations sanctions.

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So it should be quite clear
that this is something that

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we've been concerned
about for a while.

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And we consider this to
be a serious matter that

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undermines
regional stability.

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That's precisely why the
United States has raised

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this issue and pressed it
so aggressively before the

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Security Council.

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What we also noted at the
time is that a number of the

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individuals who were
connected to that launch are

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already subject to
significant sanctions

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by the United States.

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But I certainly wouldn't
rule out additional steps if

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our national security
officials determine that

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additional sanctions would
be useful in countering

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this activity.

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I would say that probably
the most important thing,

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however, that can be done
is for other countries to

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respond to the call that the
United States has repeatedly

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made to more intensively
focus our efforts on

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countering Iran's
ballistic missile program.

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And there are a variety of
things that we can do that

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relate to
intelligence sharing,

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in terms of stopping the
flow of some technology and

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contraband into Iran that
we know is used to advance

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their ballistic
missile program.

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And I would note that
this does underscore the

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significance of the historic
international agreement that

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was reached earlier this
year that will ensure that

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Iran does not obtain
a nuclear weapon.

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There are obvious
concerns that people have,

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legitimately, about what
role these kinds of tests

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could have in advancing
Iran's nuclear weapons program.

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That's why it's so important
that we're able to,

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in a verifiable way,
determine that Iran is not,

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in fact, developing
a nuclear weapon.

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The Press: So at
this point in time,

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are you any more hesitant to
issue sanctions to respond

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to this kind of behavior
because of the fear that it

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would jeopardize
the nuclear deal?

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Or are you saying that
sanctions are on the table

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just as they always are?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, as
we've made clear from the

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beginning, the international
agreement to prevent Iran

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from obtaining a nuclear
weapon was a high priority,

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but separate from the wide
range of other concerns that

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we had with Iran's behavior,
including

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their ballistic missile program.

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So like I said, if
our national security

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professionals, including
our sanctions experts at the

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Treasury Department,
determine that additional

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sanctions would be useful in
countering Iran's ballistic

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missile program, then I'm
confident that the President

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wouldn't stand in the way
of those sanctions

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moving forward.

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I'll just note that I would
anticipate that there are a

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number of people on Capitol
Hill who are raising

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concerns about the
development of Iran's

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nuclear program, and
suggesting that the U.S.

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government -- specifically
the Obama administration --

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should take steps
to counter it.

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Well, one thing that they
could do is they could

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00:11:22,848 --> 00:11:23,848
actually confirm
Adam Szubin,

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00:11:23,849 --> 00:11:27,349
who is the financial expert
at the Treasury Department,

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00:11:27,353 --> 00:11:29,393
who has been blocked
for more than a year by

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00:11:29,388 --> 00:11:31,628
Republicans -- many of whom
are complaining about Iran's

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00:11:31,624 --> 00:11:34,024
missile program -- they
are actually preventing the

253
00:11:34,026 --> 00:11:36,026
confirmation of the
individual who would be

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00:11:36,028 --> 00:11:39,168
responsible for imposing the
sanctions against Iran and

255
00:11:39,165 --> 00:11:41,165
their ballistic
missile program.

256
00:11:41,167 --> 00:11:43,167
So I recognize that I
keep coming up to this,

257
00:11:43,169 --> 00:11:45,169
but I think it is an
indication of how central

258
00:11:45,171 --> 00:11:48,441
Mr. Szubin is to our
counterterrorism strategy

259
00:11:48,441 --> 00:11:50,611
and to our strategy to
counter Iran's

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00:11:50,609 --> 00:11:51,909
ballistic missile program.

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00:11:51,911 --> 00:11:56,011
That is why it is
inexcusable for Republicans

262
00:11:56,015 --> 00:12:00,055
to, once again, continue
to block the nomination of

263
00:12:00,052 --> 00:12:03,092
somebody that even they
admit is eminently qualified

264
00:12:03,089 --> 00:12:04,089
for the job.

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00:12:04,090 --> 00:12:06,090
He's somebody who's served
in both Democratic and

266
00:12:06,092 --> 00:12:07,092
Republican administrations.

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00:12:07,093 --> 00:12:09,963
And they have no legitimate
justification for why this

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00:12:09,962 --> 00:12:13,962
financial expert is
prevented from taking steps

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00:12:13,966 --> 00:12:15,966
that we know would enhance
the national security

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00:12:15,968 --> 00:12:17,108
of the United States.

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00:12:17,103 --> 00:12:20,043
I think it is an indication
of just how petty their

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00:12:20,039 --> 00:12:23,439
partisan agenda looks when
we're talking about issues

273
00:12:23,442 --> 00:12:27,042
as significant
as, for example,

274
00:12:27,046 --> 00:12:32,056
countering Iran's
ballistic missile program.

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00:12:32,051 --> 00:12:36,621
The Press: On Congress, with
the budget deadline seeming

276
00:12:36,622 --> 00:12:38,892
on the horizon, that that
horizon seems to be moving

277
00:12:38,891 --> 00:12:41,331
little by little, there's
been discussions on the Hill

278
00:12:41,327 --> 00:12:46,737
of Republicans being able
to lift the ban on crude oil

279
00:12:46,732 --> 00:12:49,602
exports in exchange for
Democrats getting some of

280
00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:52,442
what they want on
clean renewable energy.

281
00:12:52,438 --> 00:12:53,978
Is that something
-- first of all,

282
00:12:53,973 --> 00:12:57,343
can you tell us how far that
deal might be locked down,

283
00:12:57,343 --> 00:12:59,943
and would the White House
consider a budget that

284
00:12:59,945 --> 00:13:02,685
includes both
of those sides?

285
00:13:02,681 --> 00:13:05,651
Mr. Earnest: I have seen the
reporting on this that has

286
00:13:05,651 --> 00:13:07,151
further expanded since we
discussed this issue

287
00:13:07,153 --> 00:13:09,453
even yesterday.

288
00:13:09,455 --> 00:13:11,325
However, at this point, I'm
not going to weigh in on the

289
00:13:11,323 --> 00:13:13,763
ongoing negotiations
on Capitol Hill.

290
00:13:13,759 --> 00:13:17,159
What I'll do is I'll
just merely restate what

291
00:13:17,163 --> 00:13:19,163
opposition on this
issue has been,

292
00:13:19,165 --> 00:13:22,605
which is that we oppose
legislation that would

293
00:13:22,601 --> 00:13:27,171
require the lifting of the
federal ban on crude oil in

294
00:13:27,173 --> 00:13:29,173
the United States.

295
00:13:30,676 --> 00:13:34,216
And our objections are
primarily procedural.

296
00:13:34,213 --> 00:13:37,013
This is authority that is
vested in the executive

297
00:13:37,016 --> 00:13:40,086
branch and we believe that
we've got the authority to

298
00:13:40,085 --> 00:13:42,085
make the best decision.

299
00:13:44,089 --> 00:13:46,089
So that's our
position on the issue,

300
00:13:46,091 --> 00:13:48,891
but I'm not going to get
into sort of how this is

301
00:13:48,894 --> 00:13:50,764
being discussed
or negotiated,

302
00:13:50,763 --> 00:13:52,803
or even if it's being
discussed or negotiated in

303
00:13:52,798 --> 00:13:56,538
the context of the
budget agreement.

304
00:13:56,535 --> 00:13:57,465
Chris.

305
00:13:57,469 --> 00:13:58,739
The Press: Josh,
over the weekend,

306
00:13:58,737 --> 00:14:00,737
Marco Rubio indicated on
"Meet the Press" he would

307
00:14:00,739 --> 00:14:02,779
appoint justices to the
Supreme Court who would

308
00:14:02,775 --> 00:14:05,775
reverse the ruling in
favor of same-sex marriage.

309
00:14:05,778 --> 00:14:08,148
The President's support for
that decision is well-known,

310
00:14:08,147 --> 00:14:10,017
but would he use it as
a litmus test for any

311
00:14:10,015 --> 00:14:11,655
vacancies in the Court for
the remaining year

312
00:14:11,650 --> 00:14:13,390
of the administration?

313
00:14:13,385 --> 00:14:15,525
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris,
I think in the context

314
00:14:15,521 --> 00:14:20,161
particularly of his two
nominees to the Supreme Court,

315
00:14:20,159 --> 00:14:24,099
both Justice
Sotomayor and Justice Kagan,

316
00:14:24,096 --> 00:14:26,166
the President has been quite
clear about the kind of

317
00:14:26,165 --> 00:14:31,075
criteria that he uses in
nominating highly qualified

318
00:14:31,070 --> 00:14:34,210
individuals to the highest
court in the land for a

319
00:14:34,206 --> 00:14:35,976
lifetime appointment.

320
00:14:35,975 --> 00:14:40,275
So he's been clear that
there are litmus tests,

321
00:14:40,279 --> 00:14:45,689
but I think for insight
into how the President makes

322
00:14:45,684 --> 00:14:51,154
those decisions, I think you
can carefully consider the

323
00:14:51,156 --> 00:14:55,096
experience and rĂŠsumĂŠs and,
at this point, frankly,

324
00:14:55,094 --> 00:14:58,664
performance of the two
justices that he has appointed.

325
00:14:58,664 --> 00:15:00,364
The Press: Those
two justices,

326
00:15:00,366 --> 00:15:02,366
they were in the majority
for both the decision

327
00:15:02,368 --> 00:15:05,138
against the Defense of
Marriage Act in 2013 and the

328
00:15:05,137 --> 00:15:07,477
more recent decision against
the state marriage bans

329
00:15:07,473 --> 00:15:08,473
this year.

330
00:15:08,474 --> 00:15:12,714
So should we read
their appointment as a

331
00:15:12,711 --> 00:15:15,011
confirmation that there
is a litmus test that the

332
00:15:15,014 --> 00:15:18,214
President considers with
regard to same-sex marriage

333
00:15:18,217 --> 00:15:19,487
in his judicial appointees?

334
00:15:19,485 --> 00:15:20,815
Mr. Earnest: No, I
wouldn't read it that way.

335
00:15:20,819 --> 00:15:25,329
I would just read it as that
their approach to resolving

336
00:15:25,324 --> 00:15:31,394
these issues in the legal
system is consistent with

337
00:15:31,397 --> 00:15:33,797
the way the President
believes those decisions

338
00:15:33,799 --> 00:15:36,839
should be made by lifetime
appointees to the highest

339
00:15:36,835 --> 00:15:37,905
court in the land.

340
00:15:37,903 --> 00:15:38,973
The Press: Is the President
aware of Marco Rubio's

341
00:15:38,971 --> 00:15:41,011
comments and his aim to
reverse

342
00:15:41,006 --> 00:15:42,206
the Supreme Court decision?

343
00:15:42,207 --> 00:15:43,577
And does he object to it?

344
00:15:43,575 --> 00:15:45,475
Mr. Earnest: I don't know if
he is aware of his specific

345
00:15:45,477 --> 00:15:47,477
comments, but if he
were informed of them,

346
00:15:47,479 --> 00:15:49,519
I'm confident he would
not be surprised.

347
00:15:49,515 --> 00:15:51,215
Justin.

348
00:15:51,216 --> 00:15:53,586
The Press: I want to go back
on the CR quickly and that

349
00:15:53,585 --> 00:15:57,025
discussion again of
kind of a short-term,

350
00:15:57,022 --> 00:15:58,522
couple-day extension.

351
00:15:58,524 --> 00:16:01,024
I know that the President
signed one of those already.

352
00:16:01,026 --> 00:16:04,366
Is there a point of
no return at which the

353
00:16:04,363 --> 00:16:06,303
President is actually
going to say, no,

354
00:16:06,298 --> 00:16:11,408
we're not doing this anymore
-- you said days not weeks?

355
00:16:11,403 --> 00:16:12,003
Mr. Earnest: There is.

356
00:16:12,004 --> 00:16:13,304
Hopefully we will
not reach it.

357
00:16:13,305 --> 00:16:15,405
(laughter)

358
00:16:15,407 --> 00:16:16,477
The Press: Do you want t
elaborate on when that is?

359
00:16:16,475 --> 00:16:17,145
(laughter)

360
00:16:17,142 --> 00:16:19,382
Is it Christmas day?

361
00:16:19,378 --> 00:16:19,848
Mr. Earnest: No.

362
00:16:19,845 --> 00:16:22,615
I mean, I think I wouldn't
describe it more than I

363
00:16:22,614 --> 00:16:26,554
already have, which is that
Democrats and Republicans in

364
00:16:26,552 --> 00:16:29,652
Congress have been given
ample time to reach a

365
00:16:29,655 --> 00:16:32,125
bipartisan budget agreement
that is clearly within the

366
00:16:32,124 --> 00:16:35,394
interests of our economy and
consistent with the need to

367
00:16:35,394 --> 00:16:37,594
adequately fund both our
national security and

368
00:16:37,596 --> 00:16:39,236
economic priorities.

369
00:16:39,231 --> 00:16:41,571
So we've been clear about
what they need to do.

370
00:16:41,567 --> 00:16:44,407
They have been given
ample time to do it.

371
00:16:44,403 --> 00:16:47,303
And as you point out,
they've even been given a

372
00:16:47,306 --> 00:16:49,146
few days of extra
time to do it.

373
00:16:49,141 --> 00:16:51,741
So there's no excuse
for this deal not being

374
00:16:51,744 --> 00:16:56,614
completed here pretty quick,
and hopefully

375
00:16:56,615 --> 00:16:58,455
that will get done.

376
00:16:58,450 --> 00:17:01,050
I mean, based on the
reporting from all of you,

377
00:17:01,053 --> 00:17:04,293
it does appear that they
are on track to announce an

378
00:17:04,289 --> 00:17:07,989
agreement here
relatively soon.

379
00:17:07,993 --> 00:17:10,993
That obviously would be
welcome news, but we'll see.

380
00:17:10,996 --> 00:17:12,566
The Press: And if they
needed a couple extra days?

381
00:17:12,564 --> 00:17:13,764
Mr. Earnest: Yes, and that's
what we've always been clear

382
00:17:13,766 --> 00:17:15,506
about -- that if there was
an agreement reached and if

383
00:17:15,501 --> 00:17:17,871
there were just a couple of
days that were needed for

384
00:17:17,870 --> 00:17:22,710
the legislative process
to play itself out,

385
00:17:22,708 --> 00:17:25,648
that the President would
agree to a short-term

386
00:17:25,644 --> 00:17:27,714
extension to give Congress
the time they needed to pass

387
00:17:27,713 --> 00:17:29,283
an agreement that's
already been reached.

388
00:17:29,281 --> 00:17:31,621
The Press: It's also been
reported -- and I know we're

389
00:17:31,617 --> 00:17:33,617
venturing into the territory
that we just went where you

390
00:17:33,619 --> 00:17:36,989
don't want to comment on
rumors -- but the repeal of

391
00:17:36,989 --> 00:17:41,389
the Cadillac tax will be
included in the omnibus.

392
00:17:41,393 --> 00:17:42,863
That's something that you've
been a little bit stronger

393
00:17:42,861 --> 00:17:46,961
even than on some of
these other topics.

394
00:17:46,965 --> 00:17:48,065
When I asked you
about it last week,

395
00:17:48,066 --> 00:17:50,706
you said you'd "strongly
oppose" the notion for

396
00:17:50,702 --> 00:17:53,842
repealing the Cadillac tax,
and it would also kind of

397
00:17:53,839 --> 00:17:56,379
take a big blow to the
President's argument that

398
00:17:56,375 --> 00:17:58,345
his signature health care
achievement saves

399
00:17:58,343 --> 00:17:59,413
the government money.

400
00:17:59,411 --> 00:18:01,511
So I'm wondering, is that
kind of a cross that you're

401
00:18:01,513 --> 00:18:03,983
willing to die on
on this omnibus?

402
00:18:03,982 --> 00:18:08,122
Mr. Earnest: I won't
speculate about how it is

403
00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:10,320
included in the
ongoing budget talks,

404
00:18:10,322 --> 00:18:15,462
or even how it's being
included in the budget talks.

405
00:18:15,461 --> 00:18:18,831
Our steadfast opposition to
the repeal of the so-called

406
00:18:18,831 --> 00:18:21,331
Cadillac tax
remains in effect,

407
00:18:21,333 --> 00:18:24,133
and that's been our
position for years now.

408
00:18:24,136 --> 00:18:28,636
And I recognize that that is
a source of some irritation,

409
00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:32,810
even among some people who
are broadly supportive of

410
00:18:32,811 --> 00:18:34,581
the President's agenda.

411
00:18:34,580 --> 00:18:39,420
But our view on this is
rooted in the fact that we

412
00:18:39,418 --> 00:18:44,458
know that the application of
the Cadillac tax would have

413
00:18:44,456 --> 00:18:50,426
the effect of giving
employers an incentive

414
00:18:50,429 --> 00:18:51,429
to raise wages.

415
00:18:51,430 --> 00:18:56,940
That, right now, a fancy
health care plan -- even one

416
00:18:56,935 --> 00:19:00,135
that is excessively
larded with benefits that,

417
00:19:00,138 --> 00:19:05,008
in some cases, people never
even use -- is a way for

418
00:19:05,010 --> 00:19:07,810
employers to offer
compensation that doesn't

419
00:19:07,813 --> 00:19:12,823
actually benefit in
full their employees.

420
00:19:12,818 --> 00:19:16,758
So there is an incentive
that's built in here to

421
00:19:16,755 --> 00:19:19,895
ensure that people have
access to high-quality

422
00:19:19,892 --> 00:19:23,332
health insurance, but
also giving employers an

423
00:19:23,328 --> 00:19:25,328
incentive to actually turn
their attention

424
00:19:25,330 --> 00:19:26,330
to raising wages.

425
00:19:26,331 --> 00:19:27,331
That's a good thing.

426
00:19:27,332 --> 00:19:29,702
And that's been a central
priority of our economic

427
00:19:29,701 --> 00:19:31,701
strategy since the
President's first day

428
00:19:31,703 --> 00:19:32,703
in office.

429
00:19:32,704 --> 00:19:34,704
And so this is broadly
consistent with that

430
00:19:34,706 --> 00:19:36,906
strategy, and broadly
consistent with the strategy

431
00:19:36,909 --> 00:19:39,049
of the people who generally
support the President's agenda.

432
00:19:39,044 --> 00:19:41,914
So this is an area where
we do have -- that is the

433
00:19:41,914 --> 00:19:43,584
subject of some
disagreement.

434
00:19:43,582 --> 00:19:46,752
But it's also why I feel
confident in saying to you

435
00:19:46,752 --> 00:19:49,652
that we continue to strongly
oppose the repeal of the

436
00:19:49,655 --> 00:19:50,725
so-called Cadillac tax.

437
00:19:50,722 --> 00:19:52,722
The Press: One last
thing, quickly.

438
00:19:52,724 --> 00:19:56,524
Secretary Kerry met with
President Putin today in Russia.

439
00:19:56,528 --> 00:19:58,728
I know you did a preview
yesterday and so I won't ask

440
00:19:58,730 --> 00:20:00,470
you to repeat kind
of all that stuff,

441
00:20:00,465 --> 00:20:03,105
but I'm wondering if there
are any new updates on

442
00:20:03,101 --> 00:20:06,541
Syria, the Russia-Turkey
relationship,

443
00:20:06,538 --> 00:20:08,708
or the Ukraine.

444
00:20:08,707 --> 00:20:11,377
Mr. Earnest: Well, as
I was walking out here,

445
00:20:11,376 --> 00:20:13,616
I know that Secretary Kerry
and President Putin were

446
00:20:13,612 --> 00:20:16,412
wrapping up their meeting
and prepared to have a news

447
00:20:16,415 --> 00:20:18,915
conference in Moscow to
discuss their meeting.

448
00:20:18,917 --> 00:20:22,257
So I'd direct your attention
out there for the latest

449
00:20:22,254 --> 00:20:24,094
update on their meeting.

450
00:20:24,089 --> 00:20:26,089
That way I don't have to
repeat all the things

451
00:20:26,091 --> 00:20:27,091
I said yesterday.

452
00:20:27,092 --> 00:20:29,092
The Press: Back on
th no-export ban,

453
00:20:29,094 --> 00:20:31,364
I know you said that the
President opposes lifting

454
00:20:31,363 --> 00:20:33,863
it, but would the President
veto a funding bill

455
00:20:33,865 --> 00:20:34,865
that lifts it?

456
00:20:34,866 --> 00:20:37,606
Mr. Earnest: I've avoided
sort of walking through all

457
00:20:37,603 --> 00:20:39,903
the things that we
would consider or veto,

458
00:20:39,905 --> 00:20:41,805
or just be annoyed
with but sign anyway --

459
00:20:41,807 --> 00:20:42,977
(laughter)

460
00:20:42,975 --> 00:20:47,575
-- in terms of the
inclusion in the omnibus.

461
00:20:47,579 --> 00:20:50,319
Our position on the export
ban is pretty clear.

462
00:20:50,315 --> 00:20:53,485
We do not support
legislation that would lift it.

463
00:20:53,485 --> 00:20:58,355
But we've also acknowledged
that an omnibus bill is

464
00:20:58,357 --> 00:21:00,427
going to have to be a
compromise proposal.

465
00:21:00,425 --> 00:21:03,495
So I'm confident that there
will be things that will be

466
00:21:03,495 --> 00:21:06,835
included in the omnibus
bill that we don't support.

467
00:21:06,832 --> 00:21:08,832
I don't know if the lifting
of the export ban will be

468
00:21:08,834 --> 00:21:14,704
among them, but our position
on this is pretty clear.

469
00:21:14,706 --> 00:21:17,276
The Press: And on
a different topic,

470
00:21:17,275 --> 00:21:19,945
our latest poll shows that
support for Donald Trump

471
00:21:19,945 --> 00:21:22,315
increased since he called
for a ban on Muslims.

472
00:21:22,314 --> 00:21:25,584
A majority of Republicans
and 36 percent of the public

473
00:21:25,584 --> 00:21:27,724
overall support
his proposal.

474
00:21:27,719 --> 00:21:30,459
How do you explain this
level of support for an idea

475
00:21:30,455 --> 00:21:32,225
that you've said should
disqualify him

476
00:21:32,224 --> 00:21:33,924
from being President?

477
00:21:33,925 --> 00:21:37,495
Mr. Earnest: Well, it
certainly is a principle and

478
00:21:37,496 --> 00:21:42,566
a value statement that runs
in direct conflict to not

479
00:21:42,567 --> 00:21:45,937
just the President's
priorities,

480
00:21:45,937 --> 00:21:48,707
but also the values that are
central to the founding

481
00:21:48,707 --> 00:21:50,147
of this nation.

482
00:21:50,142 --> 00:21:53,982
This nation was founded
by people who were fleeing

483
00:21:53,979 --> 00:21:56,249
persecution and looking for
a place where they could

484
00:21:56,248 --> 00:21:58,248
freely practice
their religion.

485
00:22:01,486 --> 00:22:04,286
This is basic to what it
means to be an American.

486
00:22:04,289 --> 00:22:06,289
And I can't account
for the polls;

487
00:22:06,291 --> 00:22:11,961
there are some sophisticated
and articulate individuals

488
00:22:11,963 --> 00:22:15,203
who work for ABC who can
do the polling analysis.

489
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:20,010
But all I can say from here
is that it is quite clear to

490
00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:25,375
me that those kind
of comments, and,

491
00:22:25,377 --> 00:22:29,277
in some cases, those policy
positions that are shared by

492
00:22:29,281 --> 00:22:32,051
some of the Republican
candidates for President --

493
00:22:32,050 --> 00:22:33,890
it's not just
Mr. Trump alone,

494
00:22:33,885 --> 00:22:37,155
but other people in his
party who are advocating the

495
00:22:37,155 --> 00:22:42,495
kinds of things that stand
in stark contrast to the

496
00:22:42,494 --> 00:22:44,494
basic founding values
of this country.

497
00:22:44,496 --> 00:22:46,566
And that's disappointing.

498
00:22:46,565 --> 00:22:48,365
It certainly is divisive.

499
00:22:48,366 --> 00:22:49,366
It's a little cynical.

500
00:22:49,367 --> 00:22:54,837
But it's something that I
continue to have confidence

501
00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,910
does not reflect the values
of the vast majority

502
00:22:58,910 --> 00:22:59,910
of Americans.

503
00:22:59,911 --> 00:23:01,911
The Press: And does the
President plan to watch

504
00:23:01,913 --> 00:23:03,913
the debate tonight?

505
00:23:03,915 --> 00:23:06,485
Mr. Earnest: Well, as some
of your colleagues know,

506
00:23:06,485 --> 00:23:08,685
the President has another
important engagement this

507
00:23:08,687 --> 00:23:10,687
evening that will
prevent him from --

508
00:23:10,689 --> 00:23:11,689
(laughter)

509
00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:13,690
-- spending as much time in
front of the television this

510
00:23:13,692 --> 00:23:14,692
evening as he
ordinarily would.

511
00:23:14,693 --> 00:23:18,263
But I know the President is
very much looking forward to

512
00:23:18,263 --> 00:23:20,103
this evening's festivities.

513
00:23:20,098 --> 00:23:21,098
Jim.

514
00:23:21,099 --> 00:23:23,099
The Press: Just to follow
up on your comments about

515
00:23:23,101 --> 00:23:25,971
Donald Trump, was the
President responding to

516
00:23:25,971 --> 00:23:27,611
Donald Trump in some of the
things he's been talking

517
00:23:27,606 --> 00:23:30,476
about, during his
remarks today?

518
00:23:30,475 --> 00:23:34,345
Was that a response of
sorts to "Trumpism"?

519
00:23:34,346 --> 00:23:35,546
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, I
think as I've said in the

520
00:23:35,547 --> 00:23:38,817
past, the comments that you
heard from the President

521
00:23:38,817 --> 00:23:44,127
today do stand in stark
contrast to the rhetoric and

522
00:23:44,122 --> 00:23:49,632
divisiveness that will most
surely be on display on the

523
00:23:49,628 --> 00:23:54,228
debate stage tonight in
Las Vegas on your network.

524
00:23:54,232 --> 00:23:57,602
But the things that the
President talked about today

525
00:23:57,602 --> 00:24:03,672
are also firmly in line with
the kind of vision for the

526
00:24:03,675 --> 00:24:06,975
country that the President
has long given voice to.

527
00:24:06,978 --> 00:24:10,218
And it's because of his
success in advocating and

528
00:24:10,215 --> 00:24:13,655
fighting for those values,
and articulating them in a

529
00:24:13,652 --> 00:24:18,292
way that has attracted the
strong support of Democrats

530
00:24:18,290 --> 00:24:20,290
and Republicans in the
context of an election in

531
00:24:20,292 --> 00:24:24,632
2008 and an election in 2012
that the President's ability

532
00:24:24,629 --> 00:24:27,199
to be an advocate for those
basic values are the reason

533
00:24:27,199 --> 00:24:29,639
that he is sitting in the
office that he's sitting in

534
00:24:29,634 --> 00:24:31,304
today and I'm standing at
the podium that I'm standing

535
00:24:31,303 --> 00:24:33,103
at right now.

536
00:24:33,104 --> 00:24:38,244
So this isn't -- it's not as
if the President went out of

537
00:24:38,243 --> 00:24:40,813
his way to describe
these values.

538
00:24:40,812 --> 00:24:42,812
These are the kinds of
things the President

539
00:24:42,814 --> 00:24:43,814
has long fought for.

540
00:24:43,815 --> 00:24:47,515
The Press: And apparently in
the last several minutes --

541
00:24:47,519 --> 00:24:48,989
I don't know if this
qualifies as breaking news.

542
00:24:48,987 --> 00:24:50,527
Perhaps it's something
you expected,

543
00:24:50,522 --> 00:24:53,662
but Senator McCain is
introducing legislation that

544
00:24:53,658 --> 00:24:57,058
would require DHS to review
social media and public

545
00:24:57,062 --> 00:25:00,732
databases in foreign
background checks.

546
00:25:00,732 --> 00:25:06,042
Is that a concept that
the White House opposes?

547
00:25:06,037 --> 00:25:07,777
Is willing to look at?

548
00:25:07,772 --> 00:25:09,542
Might support?

549
00:25:09,541 --> 00:25:10,911
How would you describe that?

550
00:25:10,909 --> 00:25:13,149
Because as we were
discussing yesterday,

551
00:25:13,144 --> 00:25:17,454
it just sort of -- I guess
it strains the capacity for

552
00:25:17,449 --> 00:25:20,349
the American people to
understand why businesses

553
00:25:20,352 --> 00:25:22,852
would look at Facebook pages
when they're considering

554
00:25:22,854 --> 00:25:25,594
hiring employees and yet the
federal government doesn't

555
00:25:25,590 --> 00:25:29,260
look at Facebook pages and
the social media content

556
00:25:29,261 --> 00:25:32,661
when it comes to accepting
people into the country.

557
00:25:32,664 --> 00:25:34,104
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
the first thing, Jim,

558
00:25:34,099 --> 00:25:37,539
and just as a factual
matter, that's not true.

559
00:25:37,535 --> 00:25:39,505
The Department of Homeland
Security has been clear that

560
00:25:39,504 --> 00:25:41,144
there are a number of pilot
programs that have been

561
00:25:41,139 --> 00:25:45,649
implemented for
over a year now.

562
00:25:45,644 --> 00:25:47,044
The Press: Pilot programs
would not be across the

563
00:25:47,045 --> 00:25:48,615
board, though, right?

564
00:25:48,613 --> 00:25:49,443
Mr. Earnest: They wouldn't
be across the board --

565
00:25:49,447 --> 00:25:51,047
that's why they're
pilot programs.

566
00:25:51,049 --> 00:25:55,189
But they are part of an
effort by the Department of

567
00:25:55,186 --> 00:25:59,086
Homeland Security to
consider the best way to

568
00:25:59,090 --> 00:26:02,030
factor that kind of
information

569
00:26:02,027 --> 00:26:06,027
into a background check.

570
00:26:06,031 --> 00:26:12,601
And the Department of
Homeland Security has been,

571
00:26:12,604 --> 00:26:18,014
at the direct order of the
President of the United

572
00:26:18,009 --> 00:26:20,009
States, has been working
with the State Department to

573
00:26:20,011 --> 00:26:23,351
review the K-1 visa program.

574
00:26:23,348 --> 00:26:26,488
And they've acknowledged
that part of that review is

575
00:26:26,484 --> 00:26:30,084
to consider ways to
incorporate the use of

576
00:26:30,088 --> 00:26:34,658
social media vetting in
their screening programs.

577
00:26:34,659 --> 00:26:39,469
So I think what I will do
is we'll leave it to the

578
00:26:39,464 --> 00:26:43,434
experts to determine the
best way to strengthen the

579
00:26:43,435 --> 00:26:46,135
security of our
screening programs.

580
00:26:46,137 --> 00:26:49,077
That is, after all, the
President's top priority.

581
00:26:49,074 --> 00:26:55,044
And they will be able to
best assess the optimal way

582
00:26:55,046 --> 00:26:58,016
to incorporate the
review of, for example,

583
00:26:58,016 --> 00:27:01,156
social media postings in
that screening process.

584
00:27:01,152 --> 00:27:03,992
The Press: And so going
with what you're saying,

585
00:27:03,989 --> 00:27:06,089
so it's already within the
authority of the Department

586
00:27:06,091 --> 00:27:08,391
of Homeland
Security to do this?

587
00:27:08,393 --> 00:27:11,093
In other words, you don't
need legislation in order to

588
00:27:11,096 --> 00:27:12,496
mandate this to occur?

589
00:27:12,497 --> 00:27:15,197
Could the President,
via an executive order,

590
00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,000
direct the Department of
Homeland Security across the

591
00:27:17,002 --> 00:27:19,602
board to look at social
media when it comes to

592
00:27:19,604 --> 00:27:21,804
accepting newcomers
into the country,

593
00:27:21,806 --> 00:27:24,276
whether they be through
refugee programs

594
00:27:24,275 --> 00:27:26,445
or other programs?

595
00:27:26,444 --> 00:27:27,244
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I think, Jim,

596
00:27:27,245 --> 00:27:29,685
the other thing to keep in
mind here is that if there

597
00:27:29,681 --> 00:27:32,721
are members of Congress that
have some new ideas for work

598
00:27:32,717 --> 00:27:34,617
they believe the Department
of Homeland Security should

599
00:27:34,619 --> 00:27:38,319
do, ostensibly that is
paired with an increase in

600
00:27:38,323 --> 00:27:40,363
the kind of resources
that would be necessary to

601
00:27:40,358 --> 00:27:43,698
fulfill those work requests.

602
00:27:43,695 --> 00:27:47,065
Obviously if Senator McCain
were under the view that

603
00:27:47,065 --> 00:27:49,205
this was important enough
for him to pass legislation

604
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,340
on, then surely he would
believe that this would be

605
00:27:51,336 --> 00:27:53,176
important enough to fund.

606
00:27:53,171 --> 00:27:54,841
But I haven't looked at the
entirety of his proposal and

607
00:27:54,839 --> 00:27:57,239
so I'm not sure exactly how
he has factored that into

608
00:27:57,242 --> 00:27:59,612
his proposal.

609
00:27:59,611 --> 00:28:00,341
The Press: But does
the President

610
00:28:00,345 --> 00:28:01,075
have that authority?

611
00:28:01,079 --> 00:28:03,049
Could he tell the Department
of Homeland Security,

612
00:28:03,048 --> 00:28:04,548
look at social media?

613
00:28:04,549 --> 00:28:08,089
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm
not sure why any specific

614
00:28:08,086 --> 00:28:10,356
legislation would be
required to take a step

615
00:28:10,355 --> 00:28:11,385
like that.

616
00:28:11,389 --> 00:28:14,789
The Press: And I guess it's
my understanding also that

617
00:28:14,793 --> 00:28:17,063
within any moment
now, or any day now,

618
00:28:17,062 --> 00:28:18,962
we're going to get new
guidelines from the

619
00:28:18,963 --> 00:28:21,603
Department of Homeland
Security in terms of a new

620
00:28:21,599 --> 00:28:23,739
terror alert system or
revamped terror alert

621
00:28:23,735 --> 00:28:26,005
system, or changes to
the terror alert system.

622
00:28:26,004 --> 00:28:27,974
And I'm just curious if
there's anything you can

623
00:28:27,972 --> 00:28:29,242
offer in terms of a preview.

624
00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,210
I know you may not want
to steal their thunder if

625
00:28:31,209 --> 00:28:32,509
they're announcing this
tomorrow or whatever,

626
00:28:32,510 --> 00:28:38,150
but what is the President's
view of the old color-coded

627
00:28:38,149 --> 00:28:41,019
program that did get
people's attention,

628
00:28:41,019 --> 00:28:43,659
although it was mocked from
time to time -- when is it a

629
00:28:43,655 --> 00:28:47,225
yellow, when is it an
orange, and so forth?

630
00:28:47,225 --> 00:28:49,665
You do notice more
"see something,

631
00:28:49,661 --> 00:28:51,701
say something" signs
these days, it seems,

632
00:28:51,696 --> 00:28:53,596
since Paris and California.

633
00:28:53,598 --> 00:28:55,498
Do we need more
of those signs?

634
00:28:55,500 --> 00:28:56,970
I guess, what are the
President's thoughts?

635
00:28:56,968 --> 00:28:59,608
Because I would assume
he would have some.

636
00:28:59,604 --> 00:29:02,474
Has he had some input into
this process in terms of

637
00:29:02,474 --> 00:29:04,574
what he would like to see?

638
00:29:04,576 --> 00:29:05,546
What can you tell us?

639
00:29:05,543 --> 00:29:07,413
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
can tell you that the

640
00:29:07,412 --> 00:29:11,082
color-coded terror threat
system that was put in place

641
00:29:11,082 --> 00:29:15,852
in the previous
administration was discarded

642
00:29:15,854 --> 00:29:18,124
in the early days of this
administration in favor of a

643
00:29:18,123 --> 00:29:20,693
different alert system.

644
00:29:20,692 --> 00:29:24,092
And the Department of
Homeland Security has been

645
00:29:24,095 --> 00:29:26,765
looking, for at least
several months now,

646
00:29:26,764 --> 00:29:30,904
at ways that that current
reformed system could be

647
00:29:30,902 --> 00:29:33,072
made even more effective.

648
00:29:33,071 --> 00:29:38,241
And the idea is that the
system should be able to

649
00:29:38,243 --> 00:29:41,613
incorporate additional
information that could be

650
00:29:41,613 --> 00:29:43,883
useful if shared
with the public.

651
00:29:43,882 --> 00:29:47,782
And so the challenge that
DHS has been grappling with

652
00:29:47,785 --> 00:29:52,825
is how to essentially codify
this system to incorporate

653
00:29:52,824 --> 00:29:57,994
reforms that would allow for
more effective and direct

654
00:29:57,996 --> 00:29:58,996
communication
with the public.

655
00:29:58,997 --> 00:30:01,137
So this is something they've
been working on and I would

656
00:30:01,132 --> 00:30:04,202
anticipate that there
will be some reforms and

657
00:30:04,202 --> 00:30:07,302
adjustments to this program
that will be announced here

658
00:30:07,305 --> 00:30:08,305
in the next few days.

659
00:30:08,306 --> 00:30:10,306
The Press: I don't
mean to belabor this,

660
00:30:10,308 --> 00:30:11,908
but has the President
had some input into this?

661
00:30:11,910 --> 00:30:13,480
Has he said, here's what I'd
like to see

662
00:30:13,478 --> 00:30:14,248
and that sort of thing?

663
00:30:14,245 --> 00:30:15,445
Mr. Earnest: I believe that
the President has had a

664
00:30:15,446 --> 00:30:17,746
discussion with the
Secretary of Homeland

665
00:30:17,749 --> 00:30:22,019
Security about the need
for these kinds of reforms,

666
00:30:22,020 --> 00:30:25,790
but I think the President
has a lot of confidence in

667
00:30:25,790 --> 00:30:27,790
the experts at the
Department of Homeland

668
00:30:27,792 --> 00:30:29,932
Security to orient these
programs in a way that's

669
00:30:29,928 --> 00:30:32,068
consistent with the national
security interests

670
00:30:32,063 --> 00:30:33,933
of the United States.

671
00:30:33,932 --> 00:30:34,732
Jordan.

672
00:30:34,732 --> 00:30:35,332
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

673
00:30:35,333 --> 00:30:37,203
I want to ask about TPP.

674
00:30:37,202 --> 00:30:39,902
Speaker Ryan sounded a bit
more optimistic this morning

675
00:30:39,904 --> 00:30:42,004
about the prospects for a
vote next year

676
00:30:42,006 --> 00:30:43,506
than Leader McConnell did.

677
00:30:43,508 --> 00:30:46,008
So I'm wondering, does the
White House view Speaker Ryan

678
00:30:46,010 --> 00:30:48,710
as a partner in getting
TPP passed next year?

679
00:30:48,713 --> 00:30:51,983
And has the President had
any conversations recently

680
00:30:51,983 --> 00:30:53,853
with the Speaker about
advancing that piece of

681
00:30:53,851 --> 00:30:55,691
legislation next year?

682
00:30:55,687 --> 00:30:57,427
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jordan,
the White House was able to

683
00:30:57,422 --> 00:30:59,962
work effectively with both
Leader McConnell and

684
00:30:59,958 --> 00:31:03,528
Speaker Ryan earlier this summer
in passing

685
00:31:03,528 --> 00:31:06,098
Trade Promotion Authority legislation.

686
00:31:06,097 --> 00:31:10,297
Speaker Ryan, of course,
was then the Chairman

687
00:31:10,301 --> 00:31:12,471
of the House Ways and
Means Committee.

688
00:31:12,470 --> 00:31:14,770
He didn't serve in the
august position

689
00:31:14,772 --> 00:31:16,772
that he currently holds.

690
00:31:16,774 --> 00:31:20,144
But he was an effective
partner in advancing that

691
00:31:20,144 --> 00:31:22,144
legislation earlier
this summer,

692
00:31:22,146 --> 00:31:24,686
and we would envision a
process of working closely

693
00:31:24,682 --> 00:31:27,522
with the Republican leaders
in both the House and the

694
00:31:27,518 --> 00:31:32,228
Senate to try to advance
congressional approval of

695
00:31:32,223 --> 00:31:34,223
the Trans-Pacific
Partnership agreement that

696
00:31:34,225 --> 00:31:36,895
was recently completed.

697
00:31:36,894 --> 00:31:40,794
I will say that our view
continues to be that our

698
00:31:40,798 --> 00:31:43,538
argument has been
strengthened by the fact

699
00:31:43,534 --> 00:31:46,874
that we now have a deal
for Congress to consider.

700
00:31:46,871 --> 00:31:49,311
Previously, we were
making the argument that

701
00:31:49,307 --> 00:31:51,307
Republicans in Congress
should entrust the

702
00:31:51,309 --> 00:31:54,009
Democratic President to
go and negotiate this

703
00:31:54,012 --> 00:31:59,782
agreement, and that included
reaching a 60-vote threshold

704
00:31:59,784 --> 00:32:02,384
knowing that we had the
strong opposition of a

705
00:32:02,387 --> 00:32:04,387
substantial majority of
Democrats and Republicans in

706
00:32:04,389 --> 00:32:05,719
both Houses of Congress.

707
00:32:05,723 --> 00:32:08,363
The situation now is
somewhat different.

708
00:32:08,359 --> 00:32:10,929
Now we actually have a
specific agreement for

709
00:32:10,928 --> 00:32:16,298
Congress to consider and
they have the details of

710
00:32:16,301 --> 00:32:19,641
18,000 tax cuts that
they can dig through.

711
00:32:19,637 --> 00:32:21,637
There are now a lot of
reasons to be strongly

712
00:32:21,639 --> 00:32:26,479
supportive of
this agreement.

713
00:32:26,477 --> 00:32:30,077
And now that we have
essentially a predicate for

714
00:32:30,081 --> 00:32:32,621
people who have previously
supported the ability of the

715
00:32:32,617 --> 00:32:34,617
administration to
negotiate this agreement,

716
00:32:34,619 --> 00:32:37,019
that should add some
momentum to our ability

717
00:32:37,021 --> 00:32:38,691
to pass this.

718
00:32:38,690 --> 00:32:41,660
Because of the passage of
Trade Promotion Authority,

719
00:32:41,659 --> 00:32:44,299
there is a more clearly
defined legislative track or

720
00:32:44,295 --> 00:32:46,665
legislative path for this
agreement through both

721
00:32:46,664 --> 00:32:49,064
Houses, which should
speed passage.

722
00:32:49,067 --> 00:32:51,907
And that includes no longer
needing to meet a 60-vote

723
00:32:51,903 --> 00:32:53,303
threshold in the Senate.

724
00:32:53,304 --> 00:32:56,804
So we have some built-up
momentum behind this.

725
00:32:56,808 --> 00:32:59,908
And we're optimistic that
this is something that can

726
00:32:59,911 --> 00:33:03,181
and should get done
in a timely fashion.

727
00:33:03,181 --> 00:33:06,381
Now, there obviously will
be ample time for members of

728
00:33:06,384 --> 00:33:08,384
Congress to consider the
details of this agreement.

729
00:33:08,386 --> 00:33:10,756
This was one of the sticking
points in trying to advance

730
00:33:10,755 --> 00:33:12,995
trade promotion
authority legislation,

731
00:33:12,990 --> 00:33:15,690
was members of Congress
clamoring to see all of the

732
00:33:15,693 --> 00:33:16,763
available details.

733
00:33:16,761 --> 00:33:21,131
And that clamor has now
subsided that we have put

734
00:33:21,132 --> 00:33:24,232
the final agreement online
for everyone to consider.

735
00:33:24,235 --> 00:33:27,005
And I assume that part of
the reason that that clamor

736
00:33:27,004 --> 00:33:32,044
has died down is it's now
obvious how significant

737
00:33:32,043 --> 00:33:34,843
the benefits are.

738
00:33:34,846 --> 00:33:36,846
So we continue to be
optimistic that this is

739
00:33:36,848 --> 00:33:39,588
something that Congress can
and should do

740
00:33:39,584 --> 00:33:40,584
in a timely fashion.

741
00:33:40,585 --> 00:33:43,125
And we'll work closely with
Speaker Ryan

742
00:33:43,121 --> 00:33:45,121
and Leader McConnell to get it done.

743
00:33:45,123 --> 00:33:47,223
The Press: Has the President
spoken with either of those

744
00:33:47,225 --> 00:33:50,095
leaders about setting --
the preliminary talks about

745
00:33:50,094 --> 00:33:52,034
setting the
groundwork for a vote?

746
00:33:52,029 --> 00:33:55,699
And has he communicated
in any way with Leader McConnell

747
00:33:55,700 --> 00:33:58,040
about his remarks
about not sending the bill

748
00:33:58,035 --> 00:33:59,635
up next year?

749
00:33:59,637 --> 00:34:01,877
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any specific congressional

750
00:34:01,873 --> 00:34:03,673
conversations to tell you
about as it relates

751
00:34:03,674 --> 00:34:05,574
to this specific matter.

752
00:34:05,576 --> 00:34:06,646
But I can tell you that
the White House has been in

753
00:34:06,644 --> 00:34:10,284
regular touch with Capitol
Hill about the agreement,

754
00:34:10,281 --> 00:34:12,521
and I can assure you that
Ambassador Froman's office

755
00:34:12,517 --> 00:34:15,457
has been in close touch with
Capitol Hill about approving

756
00:34:15,453 --> 00:34:17,493
this agreement.

757
00:34:17,488 --> 00:34:19,788
You'll recall that senior
members of the President's

758
00:34:19,791 --> 00:34:21,791
team here at the White House
met with business leaders

759
00:34:21,793 --> 00:34:24,263
who are quite enthusiastic
about seeing prompt

760
00:34:24,262 --> 00:34:28,102
legislative action to
approve the agreement and

761
00:34:28,099 --> 00:34:31,639
move down the track of
implementing it so that

762
00:34:31,636 --> 00:34:34,336
American businesses and
American workers can begin

763
00:34:34,338 --> 00:34:37,408
reaping the
significant benefits.

764
00:34:37,408 --> 00:34:38,308
Margaret.

765
00:34:38,309 --> 00:34:39,679
The Press: Josh, is the
White House aware of threats

766
00:34:39,677 --> 00:34:44,447
against any other school
districts in the U.S.?

767
00:34:44,449 --> 00:34:46,049
Mr. Earnest: Margaret, I
don't have any specific

768
00:34:46,050 --> 00:34:49,290
threat information to
share with you from here.

769
00:34:49,287 --> 00:34:51,127
Again, if the intelligence
community or the Department

770
00:34:51,122 --> 00:34:53,392
of Homeland Security
determines that there is

771
00:34:53,391 --> 00:34:55,391
threat information that
should be shared with the

772
00:34:55,393 --> 00:34:58,033
American public,
then they will do so.

773
00:34:58,029 --> 00:35:05,539
Obviously, the federal
Homeland Security officials

774
00:35:05,536 --> 00:35:08,436
and federal law enforcement
officials are in close touch

775
00:35:08,439 --> 00:35:12,679
with school districts
and local officials in

776
00:35:12,677 --> 00:35:14,677
communities all across the
country just as a matter

777
00:35:14,679 --> 00:35:16,049
of course.

778
00:35:16,047 --> 00:35:18,917
And we value that
relationship because in some

779
00:35:18,916 --> 00:35:25,886
cases there can be federal
resources and federal

780
00:35:25,890 --> 00:35:28,660
expertise that can be
brought to bear to assist

781
00:35:28,659 --> 00:35:31,929
local authorities as they
assess information that they

782
00:35:31,929 --> 00:35:34,999
may have received, or work
to determine the appropriate

783
00:35:34,999 --> 00:35:38,339
response to those threats.

784
00:35:38,336 --> 00:35:40,806
The Press: I understand you
don't want to comment on the

785
00:35:40,805 --> 00:35:43,645
specific case, since the
situation is ongoing out in L.A.

786
00:35:43,641 --> 00:35:49,081
But broadly speaking, what
does it signify here that an

787
00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:51,720
email can shut down one of
the largest school districts

788
00:35:51,716 --> 00:35:53,816
in the United States?

789
00:35:53,818 --> 00:35:56,258
That level of fear and the
impact it's had

790
00:35:56,254 --> 00:35:59,194
is pretty significant.

791
00:35:59,190 --> 00:36:02,260
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what is significant here is

792
00:36:02,260 --> 00:36:05,560
the challenge that local
officials face in remaining

793
00:36:05,563 --> 00:36:08,463
vigilant based on the
threats that they are aware

794
00:36:08,466 --> 00:36:11,966
of and in some cases
have received themselves,

795
00:36:11,969 --> 00:36:17,939
while also making sure
that they are steadfast in

796
00:36:17,942 --> 00:36:20,012
refusing to be terrorized.

797
00:36:20,011 --> 00:36:23,711
And this is why the
administration is so

798
00:36:23,714 --> 00:36:25,714
conscientious about ensuring
that we're doing everything

799
00:36:25,716 --> 00:36:28,886
we can to support local
authorities as they consider

800
00:36:28,886 --> 00:36:30,886
these kinds of threats, and
as they consider steps that

801
00:36:30,888 --> 00:36:33,288
they should take in
response to them.

802
00:36:33,291 --> 00:36:36,291
But ultimately, this is a
decision that is best made

803
00:36:36,294 --> 00:36:40,934
and rightly made by local
officials who know and

804
00:36:40,932 --> 00:36:42,932
understand their
community the best.

805
00:36:42,934 --> 00:36:44,934
The Press: So when you're
emphasizing "local, "

806
00:36:44,936 --> 00:36:47,936
are you signaling that
this shouldn't be a federal

807
00:36:47,939 --> 00:36:52,209
matter in terms of terror
concerns in terms of a

808
00:36:52,209 --> 00:36:54,149
higher threat level here?

809
00:36:54,145 --> 00:36:54,645
Mr. Earnest: No.

810
00:36:54,645 --> 00:36:57,415
What I'm suggesting is that
-- just as a factual matter,

811
00:36:57,415 --> 00:37:00,615
this is a decision that was
made by local officials.

812
00:37:00,618 --> 00:37:02,458
But there certainly is
an important role for the

813
00:37:02,453 --> 00:37:04,453
federal government
-- in this case,

814
00:37:04,455 --> 00:37:06,995
the FBI -- to play in
supporting local officials

815
00:37:06,991 --> 00:37:08,991
as they consider this
threat information,

816
00:37:08,993 --> 00:37:10,993
as they evaluate the
significance of it,

817
00:37:10,995 --> 00:37:12,965
and as they determine what
steps need to be taken to

818
00:37:12,964 --> 00:37:15,704
ensure the safety
of the public.

819
00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:17,700
But ultimately, when
it comes to making the

820
00:37:17,702 --> 00:37:19,872
decision, it's a decision
that's made by local officials.

821
00:37:19,870 --> 00:37:21,610
The Press: This
week -- I mean,

822
00:37:21,606 --> 00:37:24,276
if you put it in the context
of this week what we expect

823
00:37:24,275 --> 00:37:25,915
to hear from the President,
what we have heard from the

824
00:37:25,910 --> 00:37:29,780
President in terms of what
seems to be an effort to

825
00:37:29,780 --> 00:37:35,190
reassure Americans, it does
appear that at this level

826
00:37:35,186 --> 00:37:37,686
the White House has
recognized that there is a

827
00:37:37,688 --> 00:37:40,828
certain level of concern
about national security that

828
00:37:40,825 --> 00:37:44,725
seems to be trumping so
many other issues that are

829
00:37:44,729 --> 00:37:46,499
pressing right now.

830
00:37:46,497 --> 00:37:48,867
How do you see that?

831
00:37:48,866 --> 00:37:51,506
Should national security be
the number-one concern

832
00:37:51,502 --> 00:37:53,872
among Americans right now?

833
00:37:53,871 --> 00:37:55,211
Because if you
look at the polls,

834
00:37:55,206 --> 00:37:57,076
it's really kind of
rocketing to the top,

835
00:37:57,074 --> 00:38:00,914
certainly for politicians
out there running for office.

836
00:38:00,911 --> 00:38:02,051
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President touched on

837
00:38:02,046 --> 00:38:04,516
this in his address to the
nation in the Oval Office,

838
00:38:04,515 --> 00:38:09,785
where he noted that the
attacks in Paris and the

839
00:38:09,787 --> 00:38:13,057
terror attack that we saw
in San Bernardino both

840
00:38:13,057 --> 00:38:15,797
literally and figuratively
hits close to home.

841
00:38:15,793 --> 00:38:18,493
And it, of course, raises
natural and understandable

842
00:38:18,496 --> 00:38:23,166
concerns that people might
have about the threat posed

843
00:38:23,167 --> 00:38:26,607
by violent extremists.

844
00:38:26,604 --> 00:38:28,104
That is understandable.

845
00:38:28,105 --> 00:38:31,475
We see a similar reaction
in the aftermath of some of

846
00:38:31,475 --> 00:38:33,345
these mass shootings.

847
00:38:33,344 --> 00:38:36,314
And whether that's in
Colorado Springs or in

848
00:38:36,313 --> 00:38:39,353
Oregon, or even
in Charleston.

849
00:38:39,350 --> 00:38:43,050
And that kind of, sort of
visceral human response I

850
00:38:43,054 --> 00:38:45,194
think is a natural one.

851
00:38:45,189 --> 00:38:46,459
It's an understandable one.

852
00:38:46,457 --> 00:38:48,897
And we certainly do want
to encourage vigilance.

853
00:38:48,893 --> 00:38:52,333
But at the same time, it's
important for people to

854
00:38:52,329 --> 00:38:57,069
recognize that the chief aim
of the violent extremists

855
00:38:57,068 --> 00:39:02,008
that are operating --
whether it's overseas or

856
00:39:02,006 --> 00:39:04,076
here in the United States
-- is to try to terrorize

857
00:39:04,075 --> 00:39:08,115
people and to
instill fear in them,

858
00:39:08,112 --> 00:39:11,582
and to provoke
an overreaction.

859
00:39:11,582 --> 00:39:14,422
That is their most
effective weapon.

860
00:39:14,418 --> 00:39:17,558
And it's why the
President has,

861
00:39:17,555 --> 00:39:22,395
again -- time and again
reiterated his commitment to

862
00:39:22,393 --> 00:39:24,593
ensuring that we're not
going to give into fear,

863
00:39:24,595 --> 00:39:26,795
we're not going to
give into terrorism,

864
00:39:26,797 --> 00:39:31,237
we're not going to allow
the actions of violent

865
00:39:31,235 --> 00:39:34,635
extremists -- whether
they're motivated by a

866
00:39:34,638 --> 00:39:39,008
perversion of Islam or
something else -- to instill

867
00:39:39,009 --> 00:39:41,579
fear all across
the countryside.

868
00:39:41,579 --> 00:39:43,579
It doesn't mean we're
not going to vigilant,

869
00:39:43,581 --> 00:39:44,581
because we surely are.

870
00:39:44,582 --> 00:39:46,922
And we've talked quite a bit
in the last few days about

871
00:39:46,917 --> 00:39:50,017
the significant and
serious steps that this

872
00:39:50,020 --> 00:39:53,390
administration has taken
to both countering violent

873
00:39:53,390 --> 00:39:55,690
extremism and, in
the case of ISIL,

874
00:39:55,693 --> 00:39:58,933
building an international
coalition to destroy them.

875
00:39:58,929 --> 00:40:03,839
But this is -- we're talking
about some basic human

876
00:40:03,834 --> 00:40:05,104
emotions here.

877
00:40:05,102 --> 00:40:09,772
And it's understandable that
emotions are going to factor

878
00:40:09,774 --> 00:40:12,314
into this response.

879
00:40:12,309 --> 00:40:14,409
But again, it's -- but it
does illustrate why it's

880
00:40:14,411 --> 00:40:17,151
important that we
not give in to fear.

881
00:40:17,148 --> 00:40:18,218
The Press: Can I ask you
about the President's

882
00:40:18,215 --> 00:40:20,215
speech today?

883
00:40:20,217 --> 00:40:25,127
He spoke passionately about
immigration, about refugees.

884
00:40:25,122 --> 00:40:29,732
And specifically, he made
an analogy between -- or he

885
00:40:29,727 --> 00:40:34,127
compared the Syrian refugees
today to the Jews

886
00:40:34,131 --> 00:40:36,701
fleeing World War II.

887
00:40:36,700 --> 00:40:39,470
And that's very
powerful imagery.

888
00:40:39,470 --> 00:40:43,370
What is the President
doing in terms of perhaps

889
00:40:43,374 --> 00:40:45,944
reviewing the number of
Syrian refugees that this

890
00:40:45,943 --> 00:40:47,813
country is going
to be accepting,

891
00:40:47,812 --> 00:40:51,052
since it is a relatively
small fraction of the number

892
00:40:51,048 --> 00:40:51,878
around the world?

893
00:40:51,882 --> 00:40:53,982
It's just some 10,000 or so.

894
00:40:53,984 --> 00:40:55,324
Is that number
going to go up?

895
00:40:55,319 --> 00:40:57,919
Mr. Earnest: Well, 10,000
did reflect a significant

896
00:40:57,922 --> 00:41:00,192
increase from the levels
that were admitted

897
00:41:00,191 --> 00:41:01,421
to this country before.

898
00:41:01,425 --> 00:41:04,165
I think the other part of
this -- there are two other

899
00:41:04,161 --> 00:41:05,201
factors here that
are relevant.

900
00:41:05,196 --> 00:41:07,266
The first is --
three, actually.

901
00:41:07,264 --> 00:41:09,764
The first is that the United
States continues to be the

902
00:41:09,767 --> 00:41:13,637
largest donor of
humanitarian assistance to

903
00:41:13,637 --> 00:41:14,807
this response effort.

904
00:41:14,805 --> 00:41:16,805
There are more than $4
billion -- I think we're now

905
00:41:16,807 --> 00:41:18,807
approaching $5 billion
in assistance that's been

906
00:41:18,809 --> 00:41:20,809
provided by the United
States to countries in the

907
00:41:20,811 --> 00:41:22,911
region that are trying to
meet the basic humanitarian

908
00:41:22,913 --> 00:41:26,453
needs of Syrians
fleeing violence.

909
00:41:26,450 --> 00:41:28,450
The other thing that the
administration has been

910
00:41:28,452 --> 00:41:30,452
doing is leading an
international effort to try

911
00:41:30,454 --> 00:41:33,194
to bring an end to the
political turmoil inside of

912
00:41:33,190 --> 00:41:36,830
Syria that has contributed
to so much violence and

913
00:41:36,827 --> 00:41:37,997
instability in that country.

914
00:41:37,995 --> 00:41:40,495
It's that violence and
instability that people from

915
00:41:40,497 --> 00:41:42,197
Syria are fleeing.

916
00:41:42,199 --> 00:41:45,869
So trying to address that
root cause is a priority.

917
00:41:45,870 --> 00:41:48,970
But we've also seen that
ISIL has tried to capitalize

918
00:41:48,973 --> 00:41:54,543
on this instability to
essentially carry out a

919
00:41:54,545 --> 00:41:57,685
reign of terror against
a substantial number --

920
00:41:57,681 --> 00:42:00,821
hundreds of thousands
of innocent civilians.

921
00:42:00,818 --> 00:42:05,458
And the President has been
vigilant about building an

922
00:42:05,456 --> 00:42:08,626
international coalition
to destroy

923
00:42:08,626 --> 00:42:10,426
that terrorist organization.

924
00:42:10,427 --> 00:42:14,867
So I think the response has
been robust on the part of

925
00:42:14,865 --> 00:42:15,865
the United States.

926
00:42:15,866 --> 00:42:18,766
It's indicative of the
preeminent role that the

927
00:42:18,769 --> 00:42:21,439
United States has
historically and continues

928
00:42:21,438 --> 00:42:23,708
to play in the world.

929
00:42:23,707 --> 00:42:29,777
It is in part at least
motivated by the moral

930
00:42:29,780 --> 00:42:34,450
questions that are
raised by all of this,

931
00:42:34,451 --> 00:42:40,991
and that moral question is
essentially -- we're blessed

932
00:42:40,991 --> 00:42:43,061
with so many resources
in this country,

933
00:42:43,060 --> 00:42:45,860
what are we going to do to
respond to our fellow human

934
00:42:45,863 --> 00:42:48,433
beings who are in need?

935
00:42:48,432 --> 00:42:51,272
And I think our response to
that question

936
00:42:51,268 --> 00:42:52,608
has been quite forceful.

937
00:42:52,603 --> 00:42:53,773
The Press: But
precisely to that point,

938
00:42:53,771 --> 00:42:54,971
when the President was
talking about the U.S.

939
00:42:54,972 --> 00:42:59,242
being a haven, literally,
for people fleeing war,

940
00:42:59,243 --> 00:43:01,243
and the White House
had said at least

941
00:43:01,245 --> 00:43:04,085
10,000 refugees -- is that
number going to go up?

942
00:43:04,081 --> 00:43:06,021
Are we going to take
more Syrians in?

943
00:43:06,016 --> 00:43:07,586
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that there is a process

944
00:43:07,584 --> 00:43:09,024
that's underway at
the State Department.

945
00:43:09,019 --> 00:43:10,489
It, of course, has to
be balanced against our

946
00:43:10,487 --> 00:43:12,357
national security interests
and the need to protect the

947
00:43:12,356 --> 00:43:15,096
safety and security of
the American people.

948
00:43:15,092 --> 00:43:21,232
But the President has talked
about how a well-functioning

949
00:43:21,231 --> 00:43:22,701
immigration system does
enhance

950
00:43:22,700 --> 00:43:24,370
our national security system.

951
00:43:24,368 --> 00:43:27,208
And it certainly contributes
to the strength of our

952
00:43:27,204 --> 00:43:30,704
country overall, and that's
one that the President

953
00:43:30,708 --> 00:43:31,708
has strong supported.

954
00:43:31,709 --> 00:43:33,709
I don't have any
announcements about a higher

955
00:43:33,711 --> 00:43:37,011
number at this point, but
there are certainly a range

956
00:43:37,014 --> 00:43:39,054
of other things that the
United States can do and has

957
00:43:39,049 --> 00:43:42,819
done to respond
to this situation.

958
00:43:42,820 --> 00:43:44,890
I think the other
relevant statistic here,

959
00:43:44,888 --> 00:43:48,328
Margaret -- and you know
this as well as anyone --

960
00:43:48,325 --> 00:43:50,025
that when it
comes to the

961
00:43:50,027 --> 00:43:52,897
U.N. refugee resettlement
program,

962
00:43:52,896 --> 00:43:55,696
that the United States
actually resettles more of

963
00:43:55,699 --> 00:43:56,769
those refugees
through that

964
00:43:56,767 --> 00:44:00,107
U.N. program than every other
country in the world combined.

965
00:44:00,104 --> 00:44:02,604
And again, I think that is
consistent with both our

966
00:44:02,606 --> 00:44:07,416
values as a country and
a response to the moral

967
00:44:07,411 --> 00:44:11,181
questions that are
central to all of this.

968
00:44:11,181 --> 00:44:11,811
Kevin.

969
00:44:11,815 --> 00:44:12,485
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

970
00:44:12,483 --> 00:44:14,323
If I could just follow
up just real quickly on

971
00:44:14,318 --> 00:44:16,058
something Margaret
was asking about.

972
00:44:16,053 --> 00:44:18,153
Has that $5 billion
been set aside,

973
00:44:18,155 --> 00:44:20,295
or has it been
distributed already?

974
00:44:20,290 --> 00:44:21,890
And where can we get sort
of a tick-tock

975
00:44:21,892 --> 00:44:23,762
of where that money went?

976
00:44:23,761 --> 00:44:25,231
Mr. Earnest: This is
something that the State

977
00:44:25,229 --> 00:44:27,329
Department can follow
up with you on.

978
00:44:27,331 --> 00:44:29,331
And I'll see if we can get
somebody here to follow up

979
00:44:29,333 --> 00:44:30,333
with you.

980
00:44:30,334 --> 00:44:32,804
These are payments that,
over the last several years,

981
00:44:32,803 --> 00:44:36,973
the United States has
paid to the U.N., to other

982
00:44:36,974 --> 00:44:39,174
humanitarian organizations,
and in some cases,

983
00:44:39,176 --> 00:44:41,976
directly to other countries.

984
00:44:41,979 --> 00:44:42,679
The Press: Turkey --

985
00:44:42,679 --> 00:44:44,519
Mr. Earnest: Turkey,
Jordan, Lebanon,

986
00:44:44,515 --> 00:44:46,415
other countries that
are housing hundreds of

987
00:44:46,417 --> 00:44:47,387
thousands and,
in some cases,

988
00:44:47,384 --> 00:44:49,484
millions of Syrians
fleeing violence.

989
00:44:49,486 --> 00:44:50,486
The Press: Gotcha.

990
00:44:50,487 --> 00:44:51,487
I want to stay on dollars.

991
00:44:51,488 --> 00:44:54,988
The Fed is widely expected
to raise interest rates

992
00:44:54,992 --> 00:44:57,932
tomorrow for the
first time since 2006,

993
00:44:57,928 --> 00:44:59,468
maybe a quarter of a point.

994
00:44:59,463 --> 00:45:01,563
I know you don't want
to get ahead of that,

995
00:45:01,565 --> 00:45:02,695
you don't want to
impact markets,

996
00:45:02,699 --> 00:45:05,799
but I wonder if you could
talk about the psychology

997
00:45:05,803 --> 00:45:07,873
behind rate hikes.

998
00:45:07,871 --> 00:45:10,871
People, and consumer
confidence in particular,

999
00:45:10,874 --> 00:45:15,584
is impacted -- whether it's
the White House or the Fed.

1000
00:45:15,579 --> 00:45:19,379
I just would like to know if
raising the rate by just a

1001
00:45:19,383 --> 00:45:24,723
quarter of a point, is that
really -- is that sort of an

1002
00:45:24,721 --> 00:45:27,961
admission that the
economy is really fragile?

1003
00:45:27,958 --> 00:45:30,658
Or is it a statement in and
of itself that says, hey,

1004
00:45:30,661 --> 00:45:33,501
listen, we don't want to
push this too hard because

1005
00:45:33,497 --> 00:45:37,967
we're not secure in how
strong the economy is right now?

1006
00:45:37,968 --> 00:45:40,838
Mr. Earnest: I think the
questions that you're asking

1007
00:45:40,838 --> 00:45:44,178
are entirely legitimate, but
they're ones that are best

1008
00:45:44,174 --> 00:45:46,174
directed to the
Federal Reserve,

1009
00:45:46,176 --> 00:45:50,016
because ultimately they're
the ones that are evaluating

1010
00:45:50,013 --> 00:45:53,353
the health of the economy
and making decisions about

1011
00:45:53,350 --> 00:45:57,750
the appropriate level to
peg the interest rate.

1012
00:45:57,754 --> 00:46:00,424
As they make these decisions
-- I know that in recent

1013
00:46:00,424 --> 00:46:04,794
years the Fed has tried to
embrace the responsibility

1014
00:46:04,795 --> 00:46:06,735
that they have to try to
communicate clearly with the

1015
00:46:06,730 --> 00:46:09,970
public about what factors
are influencing their decisions.

1016
00:46:09,967 --> 00:46:11,807
So as they meet
later this week,

1017
00:46:11,802 --> 00:46:14,302
regardless of what
decision they make,

1018
00:46:14,304 --> 00:46:16,644
I'm confident that we'll get
some greater clarity from

1019
00:46:16,640 --> 00:46:22,410
the Fed about what factors
are influencing their decision.

1020
00:46:22,412 --> 00:46:26,452
I do think, though, that if
you look at essentially the

1021
00:46:26,450 --> 00:46:28,850
basics of our economy -- and
whether that's job creation,

1022
00:46:28,852 --> 00:46:33,392
or consumer confidence,
or economic growth -- the

1023
00:46:33,390 --> 00:46:36,130
economy is stronger than
it's been in quite some time.

1024
00:46:36,126 --> 00:46:37,466
The Press: Speaking
of job creation,

1025
00:46:37,461 --> 00:46:40,601
yesterday you mentioned I
think it was Westinghouse,

1026
00:46:40,597 --> 00:46:44,967
if I'm not mistaken -- were
talking about green energy

1027
00:46:44,968 --> 00:46:48,468
and developing economies
overseas, for example.

1028
00:46:48,472 --> 00:46:51,142
And you mentioned that
they may be able to,

1029
00:46:51,141 --> 00:46:54,381
or may have on the books
four nuclear plants -- was

1030
00:46:54,378 --> 00:46:55,978
it China, if I'm
not mistaken?

1031
00:46:55,979 --> 00:46:56,779
Mr. Earnest: Yes,
that's right.

1032
00:46:56,780 --> 00:46:58,150
The Press: Is that right?

1033
00:46:58,148 --> 00:47:00,418
Does the President believe
that they should also be

1034
00:47:00,417 --> 00:47:04,157
developing more nuclear
technologies here and

1035
00:47:04,154 --> 00:47:06,154
establishing more nuclear
power plants here?

1036
00:47:06,156 --> 00:47:08,126
Because we haven't
had any, I think,

1037
00:47:08,125 --> 00:47:10,125
domestically since like
the '70s, isn't that right?

1038
00:47:10,127 --> 00:47:12,127
Mr. Earnest: There was
a permit that was issued

1039
00:47:12,129 --> 00:47:15,269
earlier in the
administration for a nuclear

1040
00:47:15,265 --> 00:47:17,365
power plant here in
the United States.

1041
00:47:17,367 --> 00:47:19,367
I don't know where
that project stands,

1042
00:47:19,369 --> 00:47:21,369
to be honest with you, but
I'm sure the Department of

1043
00:47:21,371 --> 00:47:23,371
Energy can give you
an update on that.

1044
00:47:23,373 --> 00:47:25,373
The reason that I
highlighted that specific

1045
00:47:25,375 --> 00:47:28,645
example is that we're
talking about an American

1046
00:47:28,645 --> 00:47:31,285
company, Westinghouse
Electric,

1047
00:47:31,281 --> 00:47:34,551
that is getting business
in China because of China's

1048
00:47:34,551 --> 00:47:38,121
commitment to reducing
carbon pollution.

1049
00:47:38,121 --> 00:47:40,121
That's good for the
American economy.

1050
00:47:40,123 --> 00:47:42,123
It's good for American
workers here in the United

1051
00:47:42,125 --> 00:47:44,365
States that we can
essentially export some of

1052
00:47:44,361 --> 00:47:48,971
this technology and this
work from the United States

1053
00:47:48,966 --> 00:47:49,966
to China.

1054
00:47:49,967 --> 00:47:54,707
And it is a reason that
the President is optimistic

1055
00:47:54,705 --> 00:47:56,705
about this Paris agreement,
not just because of the

1056
00:47:56,707 --> 00:47:58,777
impact that it will have on
the health of our planet,

1057
00:47:58,775 --> 00:48:00,775
but because of the impact it
will have on the health

1058
00:48:00,777 --> 00:48:02,177
of our economy.

1059
00:48:02,179 --> 00:48:04,219
When it comes to the
domestic economy,

1060
00:48:04,214 --> 00:48:06,284
we've obviously made
significant commitments in

1061
00:48:06,283 --> 00:48:08,383
the context of the
Paris agreement.

1062
00:48:08,385 --> 00:48:13,795
And it will challenge the
United States to make some

1063
00:48:13,790 --> 00:48:16,060
decisions about the kinds
of investments in renewable

1064
00:48:16,059 --> 00:48:18,059
energy that we
want to make here.

1065
00:48:18,061 --> 00:48:21,161
And it's why we've seen
such a dramatic increase,

1066
00:48:21,164 --> 00:48:24,834
for example, in the
production of solar energy,

1067
00:48:24,835 --> 00:48:27,075
that -- I believe that's
actually up twenty-fold in

1068
00:48:27,070 --> 00:48:29,410
the United States since
the President took office.

1069
00:48:29,406 --> 00:48:33,606
When it comes to power
generation from wind,

1070
00:48:33,610 --> 00:48:35,980
that's tripled since the
President has been in office.

1071
00:48:35,979 --> 00:48:38,079
So I think that is an
indication that those early

1072
00:48:38,081 --> 00:48:41,221
investments are, again,
good for the planet,

1073
00:48:41,218 --> 00:48:43,288
good for us in terms
of trying to meet the

1074
00:48:43,287 --> 00:48:47,327
commitments that were made
in the context of Paris,

1075
00:48:47,324 --> 00:48:48,394
but also good
for the economy.

1076
00:48:48,392 --> 00:48:50,392
These are good
manufacturing jobs.

1077
00:48:50,394 --> 00:48:53,964
And we're talking about the
building of wind turbines or

1078
00:48:53,964 --> 00:48:55,964
the installation
of solar panels.

1079
00:48:55,966 --> 00:48:57,966
These are good,
middle-class jobs,

1080
00:48:57,968 --> 00:49:01,708
and certainly are an
important source of economic

1081
00:49:01,705 --> 00:49:03,705
opportunity for workers
here in the United States.

1082
00:49:03,707 --> 00:49:05,707
The Press: And the last
thing I want to ask you

1083
00:49:05,709 --> 00:49:08,549
about, former Secretary of
State Clinton giving a big

1084
00:49:08,545 --> 00:49:10,585
policy speech over
in Minneapolis.

1085
00:49:10,580 --> 00:49:13,720
I was sort of doing a
tick-tock of where she

1086
00:49:13,717 --> 00:49:16,557
differs from the President
on foreign policy,

1087
00:49:16,553 --> 00:49:19,593
and there doesn't seem to be
a great deal of difference.

1088
00:49:19,589 --> 00:49:21,829
And so there have been --
there's been some criticism,

1089
00:49:21,825 --> 00:49:25,465
people say it's "Obama 2.0"
if she becomes President.

1090
00:49:25,462 --> 00:49:26,902
Is that an accurate
reflection

1091
00:49:26,897 --> 00:49:28,837
from your vantage point?

1092
00:49:28,832 --> 00:49:30,232
And is that a good thing?

1093
00:49:30,233 --> 00:49:33,233
Mr. Earnest: I would first
observe that having served

1094
00:49:33,236 --> 00:49:35,206
as the President's Secretary
of State during his first

1095
00:49:35,205 --> 00:49:37,845
term in office, that I'm not
particularly surprised to

1096
00:49:37,841 --> 00:49:40,011
hear that even after your
careful review that you've

1097
00:49:40,010 --> 00:49:42,550
determined that their
approach to a large number

1098
00:49:42,546 --> 00:49:46,646
of foreign policy issues
is at least similar.

1099
00:49:46,650 --> 00:49:50,550
At the same time, I would
leave it to the campaign to

1100
00:49:50,554 --> 00:49:54,024
describe to you exactly what
kind of policy agendas

1101
00:49:54,024 --> 00:49:55,124
she is putting forward.

1102
00:49:55,125 --> 00:50:00,235
And she certainly has a
well-earned reputation as an

1103
00:50:00,230 --> 00:50:02,830
independent thinker, and so
I'm confident that there are

1104
00:50:02,833 --> 00:50:05,673
probably some areas where
she would disagree

1105
00:50:05,669 --> 00:50:06,839
with the President.

1106
00:50:06,837 --> 00:50:10,737
But to hear that,
based on your analysis,

1107
00:50:10,741 --> 00:50:13,911
that their approach
is generally similar,

1108
00:50:13,910 --> 00:50:16,380
I'm not surprised
to hear that.

1109
00:50:16,380 --> 00:50:17,150
Chris.

1110
00:50:17,147 --> 00:50:17,747
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1111
00:50:17,748 --> 00:50:19,588
I understand that you don't
want to second guess any

1112
00:50:19,583 --> 00:50:21,853
decisions from the podium.

1113
00:50:21,852 --> 00:50:23,522
You said, in answer
to the first question,

1114
00:50:23,520 --> 00:50:26,720
that the President has been
informed of the decision

1115
00:50:26,723 --> 00:50:28,293
made in Los Angeles.

1116
00:50:28,291 --> 00:50:30,031
And normally, in
situations like this,

1117
00:50:30,026 --> 00:50:33,826
you talk about sort of
getting briefed on the

1118
00:50:33,830 --> 00:50:36,400
threat, and I'm just
wondering if there was an

1119
00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:38,600
analysis of the
level of threat,

1120
00:50:38,602 --> 00:50:40,502
whether they
thought one existed.

1121
00:50:40,504 --> 00:50:42,844
And the other thing that you
didn't say that you often do

1122
00:50:42,839 --> 00:50:46,679
in these situations is he's
continuing to get updated.

1123
00:50:46,676 --> 00:50:49,176
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm
confident that if it's

1124
00:50:49,179 --> 00:50:51,079
necessary to update the
President on this specific

1125
00:50:51,081 --> 00:50:52,311
issue, that he will be
updated

1126
00:50:52,315 --> 00:50:54,655
by his national security team.

1127
00:50:54,651 --> 00:50:55,721
The Press: He didn't
ask for updates,

1128
00:50:55,719 --> 00:50:57,589
as sometimes you say
he sometimes does?

1129
00:50:57,587 --> 00:50:59,127
Mr. Earnest: Sometimes
I've said that in the past.

1130
00:50:59,122 --> 00:51:02,222
I think in this case I'm
confident that they'll

1131
00:51:02,225 --> 00:51:05,565
update him if they determine
that it's necessary.

1132
00:51:05,562 --> 00:51:08,062
And they'll do that because
the FBI is in close touch

1133
00:51:08,064 --> 00:51:12,174
with local officials on
the ground in Los Angeles.

1134
00:51:12,169 --> 00:51:14,469
And the President's national
security team here at the

1135
00:51:14,471 --> 00:51:17,911
White House continues to
monitor the situation.

1136
00:51:17,908 --> 00:51:22,348
So it certainly is something
that we're tracking here.

1137
00:51:22,345 --> 00:51:23,645
The Press: The President
himself has acknowledged

1138
00:51:23,647 --> 00:51:25,687
sort of the unease
that's in the country,

1139
00:51:25,682 --> 00:51:27,852
and this is the kind
of thing that happens.

1140
00:51:27,851 --> 00:51:31,121
And I just wondered, given
the level of anxiety and the

1141
00:51:31,121 --> 00:51:34,861
cost that's involved, the
logistics that's involved,

1142
00:51:34,858 --> 00:51:36,898
the resources that are
diverted when you have a

1143
00:51:36,893 --> 00:51:39,463
situation like this -- to
shut down a school system is

1144
00:51:39,463 --> 00:51:43,703
huge -- is there a
reassessment of the federal

1145
00:51:43,700 --> 00:51:45,770
role in a situation
like this,

1146
00:51:45,769 --> 00:51:49,609
even if you understand that
the ultimate decision is

1147
00:51:49,606 --> 00:51:51,506
going to be made
on a local level?

1148
00:51:51,508 --> 00:51:53,578
Is there any kind of
reassessment or any thought

1149
00:51:53,577 --> 00:51:55,777
of a reassessment of the
role that the federal

1150
00:51:55,779 --> 00:51:59,449
government plays in
coordination with local

1151
00:51:59,449 --> 00:52:01,149
or state officials?

1152
00:52:01,151 --> 00:52:03,821
Mr. Earnest: There's nothing
that I'm -- nothing specific

1153
00:52:03,820 --> 00:52:06,290
that I'm aware of right
now with regard to a

1154
00:52:06,289 --> 00:52:09,229
reassessment of that role,
because I do think it's

1155
00:52:09,226 --> 00:52:11,226
appropriate that in
situations like -- that

1156
00:52:11,228 --> 00:52:14,028
local officials are
ultimately responsible for

1157
00:52:14,030 --> 00:52:16,130
making the decision
that they believe,

1158
00:52:16,132 --> 00:52:18,132
based on their knowledge
of the community,

1159
00:52:18,134 --> 00:52:20,134
makes the most sense and
is consistent with their

1160
00:52:20,136 --> 00:52:22,876
judgment about the best way
to protect the community.

1161
00:52:22,873 --> 00:52:24,873
And the federal
government certainly has a

1162
00:52:24,875 --> 00:52:26,875
responsibility to support
local officials as they make

1163
00:52:26,877 --> 00:52:29,517
those decisions and as
they implement them.

1164
00:52:29,513 --> 00:52:36,753
So I'm not aware at this
point of any formal effort

1165
00:52:36,753 --> 00:52:40,593
that's underway
to reevaluate that relationship.

1166
00:52:40,590 --> 00:52:46,460
But if a reevaluation
like that takes place,

1167
00:52:46,463 --> 00:52:47,793
we'll definitely
let you know.

1168
00:52:47,797 --> 00:52:49,437
The Press: And given what
has happened today -- and

1169
00:52:49,432 --> 00:52:52,202
again, this is sort of top
of the line and in all the

1170
00:52:52,202 --> 00:52:55,072
headlines, and is dominating
a lot of the cable news

1171
00:52:55,071 --> 00:52:57,511
coverage -- anything else
you can tell us about the

1172
00:52:57,507 --> 00:52:58,907
President's plans
for Thursday,

1173
00:52:58,909 --> 00:53:01,179
what we're expecting
to hear from him?

1174
00:53:01,177 --> 00:53:02,517
Why he's going to

1175
00:53:02,512 --> 00:53:04,712
the National Counterterrorism Center?

1176
00:53:04,714 --> 00:53:07,184
Mr. Earnest: The
President typically,

1177
00:53:07,183 --> 00:53:10,053
shortly before
the holiday break,

1178
00:53:10,053 --> 00:53:12,993
will convene a formal
meeting with his homeland

1179
00:53:12,989 --> 00:53:15,129
security team, including
members of the intelligence

1180
00:53:15,125 --> 00:53:19,095
community, law enforcement
officials, and, obviously,

1181
00:53:19,095 --> 00:53:21,835
national security officials
here at the White House to

1182
00:53:21,831 --> 00:53:24,801
discuss the threat picture
for the country in advance

1183
00:53:24,801 --> 00:53:26,741
of the holidays.

1184
00:53:26,736 --> 00:53:28,036
And this is something the
President has done on an

1185
00:53:28,038 --> 00:53:31,378
annual basis, and he's
doing it again this year.

1186
00:53:31,374 --> 00:53:33,044
But what is different about
this year -- I don't know if

1187
00:53:33,043 --> 00:53:34,843
he's done this in the past
-- but what's different this

1188
00:53:34,844 --> 00:53:37,284
year is that the President
will travel to the National

1189
00:53:37,280 --> 00:53:41,420
Counterterrorism Center
where he'll get this

1190
00:53:41,418 --> 00:53:44,018
briefing at that location
instead of

1191
00:53:44,020 --> 00:53:47,420
in the Situation Room.

1192
00:53:47,424 --> 00:53:49,424
But I'm not aware that
it will change who the

1193
00:53:49,426 --> 00:53:52,596
participants are
in the meeting,

1194
00:53:52,596 --> 00:53:56,836
but it certainly will give
the President an opportunity

1195
00:53:56,833 --> 00:54:01,203
to get an updated threat
assessment based on the hard

1196
00:54:01,204 --> 00:54:03,204
work that's been done by our
intelligence community and

1197
00:54:03,206 --> 00:54:04,176
by law enforcement.

1198
00:54:04,174 --> 00:54:07,974
The Press: So is going there
mostly optics or something

1199
00:54:07,978 --> 00:54:09,408
that you hope will
get more attention?

1200
00:54:09,412 --> 00:54:12,112
Or is there something
specific he wants to see there?

1201
00:54:12,115 --> 00:54:14,215
Mr. Earnest: Well, I would
suspect that it will get

1202
00:54:14,217 --> 00:54:15,757
more attention because
the President is traveling

1203
00:54:15,752 --> 00:54:19,152
there, but it also will give
the President an opportunity

1204
00:54:19,155 --> 00:54:22,295
to thank the men and
women in our intelligence

1205
00:54:22,292 --> 00:54:27,002
community that, based on
their job description,

1206
00:54:26,997 --> 00:54:29,067
don't get noticed a lot.

1207
00:54:29,065 --> 00:54:33,035
And these are people who
often will have to be away

1208
00:54:33,036 --> 00:54:34,976
from their families over
the holidays because they're

1209
00:54:34,971 --> 00:54:37,371
working, and they're always
on duty 24/7

1210
00:54:37,374 --> 00:54:38,844
to protect the country.

1211
00:54:38,842 --> 00:54:42,082
And the President relies on
the information they obtain

1212
00:54:42,078 --> 00:54:44,078
to make important national
security decisions.

1213
00:54:44,080 --> 00:54:46,850
And by traveling to the
National Counterterrorism

1214
00:54:46,850 --> 00:54:49,490
Center, the President will
have an opportunity to thank

1215
00:54:49,486 --> 00:54:53,156
those patriotic men and
women who serve in our

1216
00:54:53,156 --> 00:54:55,156
intelligence community and
play a vital role

1217
00:54:55,158 --> 00:54:57,528
in keeping us all safe.

1218
00:54:57,527 --> 00:54:58,527
Richard.

1219
00:54:58,528 --> 00:54:59,728
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

1220
00:54:59,729 --> 00:55:03,599
You probably know Canada is
expected -- welcoming up to

1221
00:55:03,600 --> 00:55:07,900
25,000 refugees, Syrian
refugees until February.

1222
00:55:07,904 --> 00:55:10,204
We're just shy of
1,000 at the moment.

1223
00:55:10,206 --> 00:55:11,646
Things have been
going very smoothly.

1224
00:55:11,641 --> 00:55:13,441
In Quebec and Ontario,
they're receiving health

1225
00:55:13,443 --> 00:55:16,983
care coverage as soon
as they get there.

1226
00:55:16,980 --> 00:55:19,180
They're very
warmly welcomed.

1227
00:55:19,182 --> 00:55:21,652
What do you say -- the
Canadian example a way to

1228
00:55:21,651 --> 00:55:25,321
reassure Americans, and
states in particular,

1229
00:55:25,321 --> 00:55:27,891
who have said openly that
they refuse

1230
00:55:27,891 --> 00:55:29,361
to welcome Syrian refugees?

1231
00:55:29,359 --> 00:55:33,929
Would it be an example to
-- would Canada serve as an

1232
00:55:33,930 --> 00:55:36,530
example to reassure
Americans

1233
00:55:36,533 --> 00:55:38,903
that it can be done securely?

1234
00:55:38,902 --> 00:55:42,202
Mr. Earnest: Well, Richard,
I think when discussing the

1235
00:55:42,205 --> 00:55:44,875
relationship between the
United States and Canada,

1236
00:55:44,874 --> 00:55:47,944
it's not uncommon for me and
for other people who have

1237
00:55:47,944 --> 00:55:50,714
stood behind this podium
to note the values

1238
00:55:50,714 --> 00:55:52,044
that we share in common.

1239
00:55:52,048 --> 00:55:54,048
And I think that the
response that we've seen

1240
00:55:54,050 --> 00:55:56,720
from the Canadian people and
the Canadian government is

1241
00:55:56,720 --> 00:56:00,590
consistent with the kinds of
values that are held dear in

1242
00:56:00,590 --> 00:56:04,030
the United States
of America as well.

1243
00:56:04,027 --> 00:56:09,367
And obviously the response
from the Canadians to

1244
00:56:09,365 --> 00:56:13,135
respond with this gesture
of generosity to try to meet

1245
00:56:13,136 --> 00:56:16,136
the basic humanitarian needs
of fellow human beings who

1246
00:56:16,139 --> 00:56:19,609
are in a pretty desperate
situation, again,

1247
00:56:19,609 --> 00:56:21,979
I think is a good
representation of the kinds

1248
00:56:21,978 --> 00:56:28,988
of values that are central
to this country as well.

1249
00:56:28,985 --> 00:56:31,655
The Press: Canadian
immigration officials have

1250
00:56:31,654 --> 00:56:34,054
said that the
suspicious case,

1251
00:56:34,057 --> 00:56:36,257
they've found some and
they've put them aside and

1252
00:56:36,259 --> 00:56:37,029
they're dealing with it.

1253
00:56:37,026 --> 00:56:41,566
So it's possible to do this
in a secure way

1254
00:56:41,564 --> 00:56:43,564
and protect the population.

1255
00:56:43,566 --> 00:56:45,406
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
don't have a lot of insight

1256
00:56:45,401 --> 00:56:47,871
into the process that
Canadian officials are

1257
00:56:47,871 --> 00:56:51,171
using, but I'm not surprised
to hear that Canadian

1258
00:56:51,174 --> 00:56:53,944
officials are prioritizing
the safety and security of

1259
00:56:53,943 --> 00:56:58,213
the Canadian homeland as
they implement this program.

1260
00:56:58,214 --> 00:57:00,314
Obviously, that's what the
United States does as well.

1261
00:57:00,316 --> 00:57:03,816
And given the significant
undefended border between

1262
00:57:03,820 --> 00:57:07,060
our two countries,
those kinds of security

1263
00:57:07,056 --> 00:57:09,626
precautions are something
that are in the interest of

1264
00:57:09,626 --> 00:57:10,856
citizens in both
our countries.

1265
00:57:10,860 --> 00:57:15,600
So obviously what they're
doing is important from a

1266
00:57:15,598 --> 00:57:16,798
national security
standpoint,

1267
00:57:16,800 --> 00:57:20,700
but they're responding to
the same kinds of values

1268
00:57:20,703 --> 00:57:23,843
that many Americans believe
are really important, too.

1269
00:57:23,840 --> 00:57:24,610
Phillip.

1270
00:57:24,607 --> 00:57:25,507
The Press: Thank you.

1271
00:57:25,508 --> 00:57:27,978
Ahead of the Republican
debate tonight,

1272
00:57:27,977 --> 00:57:30,347
are you in any way worried
that the reputation of the

1273
00:57:30,346 --> 00:57:34,246
United States as a whole
could be hurt further by

1274
00:57:34,250 --> 00:57:38,560
proposals -- more policy
proposals from Donald Trump

1275
00:57:38,555 --> 00:57:41,695
that have been deemed
racist by many Europeans,

1276
00:57:41,691 --> 00:57:43,061
by many people abroad?

1277
00:57:43,059 --> 00:57:44,799
Do you think the
reputation of the U.S.

1278
00:57:44,794 --> 00:57:47,294
as a whole could be hurt
further by things

1279
00:57:47,297 --> 00:57:49,267
that he might say?

1280
00:57:49,265 --> 00:57:52,535
Mr. Earnest: Well, Phillip,
I think in general we have

1281
00:57:52,535 --> 00:57:54,935
heard from many
Republican candidates,

1282
00:57:54,938 --> 00:57:59,808
not just Mr. Trump, rhetoric
that is offensive and

1283
00:57:59,809 --> 00:58:03,349
divisive, and deployed to
cynically benefit their

1284
00:58:03,346 --> 00:58:04,546
political campaigns.

1285
00:58:04,547 --> 00:58:08,917
And the fact is, they're
talking about the kinds of

1286
00:58:08,918 --> 00:58:13,428
values that, frankly, should
come before someone's own

1287
00:58:13,423 --> 00:58:16,193
narrow political ambition.

1288
00:58:16,192 --> 00:58:18,932
And I've been quite
outspoken in condemning some

1289
00:58:18,928 --> 00:58:20,768
of the comments from a
variety

1290
00:58:20,763 --> 00:58:22,303
of Republican politicians.

1291
00:58:22,298 --> 00:58:24,698
You've heard an opportunity
to hear from the President

1292
00:58:24,701 --> 00:58:28,301
in a variety of settings
where he has laid out his

1293
00:58:28,304 --> 00:58:33,474
vision of how our nation's
values should inform the

1294
00:58:33,476 --> 00:58:37,076
foreign policy decisions
that are made in this country.

1295
00:58:37,080 --> 00:58:41,380
But, ultimately, the
American people are going to

1296
00:58:41,384 --> 00:58:43,384
have to decide what kind
of leadership they want.

1297
00:58:43,386 --> 00:58:45,356
And that's their
responsibility,

1298
00:58:45,355 --> 00:58:47,355
and that's the way
that our system works.

1299
00:58:51,594 --> 00:58:54,694
These values and these
policy decisions are the

1300
00:58:54,697 --> 00:58:56,697
subject of legitimate
political debate.

1301
00:58:56,699 --> 00:59:00,599
So I'm not suggesting
somehow that the candidates

1302
00:59:00,603 --> 00:59:02,603
should be silenced in
one way or another,

1303
00:59:02,605 --> 00:59:09,445
but I do think that our
country's interests would be

1304
00:59:09,445 --> 00:59:16,585
better served if those
candidates were more

1305
00:59:16,586 --> 00:59:19,656
committed to ensuring that
their rhetoric actually

1306
00:59:19,656 --> 00:59:21,656
reflected the true
values of our country.

1307
00:59:21,658 --> 00:59:25,928
The Press: The polic
proposal to ban Muslims from

1308
00:59:25,929 --> 00:59:28,469
entering the United States
has been deemed racist and

1309
00:59:28,464 --> 00:59:34,404
even fascist by editorial
writers, by experts abroad.

1310
00:59:34,404 --> 00:59:38,004
Are those terms that -- you
don't necessarily agree with

1311
00:59:38,007 --> 00:59:40,007
-- but would you
reject those outright?

1312
00:59:40,009 --> 00:59:42,409
Mr. Earnest: Well, Phillip,
over the course of the last

1313
00:59:42,412 --> 00:59:46,012
week or so, I've had ample
opportunity to make my views

1314
00:59:46,015 --> 00:59:49,415
quite well-known on the
comments from Mr. Trump

1315
00:59:49,419 --> 00:59:51,019
and from others.

1316
00:59:51,020 --> 00:59:58,360
So those views reflect
the position of the

1317
00:59:58,361 --> 01:00:01,661
administration, and so I'd
encourage you to consider

1318
01:00:01,664 --> 01:00:03,904
the comments that you've
heard from me as an accurate

1319
01:00:03,900 --> 01:00:06,570
reflection of
our posture here.

1320
01:00:06,569 --> 01:00:08,109
Francesca, I'll give
you the last one.

1321
01:00:08,104 --> 01:00:11,144
The Press: Josh,
back on the refugees.

1322
01:00:11,140 --> 01:00:14,880
Ben Carson released a
seven-point plan today that

1323
01:00:14,877 --> 01:00:17,947
he says would protect
America and also it deals

1324
01:00:17,947 --> 01:00:19,087
with the war against ISIS.

1325
01:00:19,082 --> 01:00:21,982
And one of the points of
his plan was that the United

1326
01:00:21,985 --> 01:00:24,055
States should urge its
allies and partners in the

1327
01:00:24,053 --> 01:00:26,623
Middle East to engage in
massive recruitment in

1328
01:00:26,622 --> 01:00:29,892
training of Sunni Syrian men
based in Saudi Arabia and

1329
01:00:29,892 --> 01:00:33,292
the Gulf, of Sunni Syrian
male refugees in Jordan to

1330
01:00:33,296 --> 01:00:35,266
establish a military
force to destroy ISIS.

1331
01:00:35,264 --> 01:00:38,134
And first and foremost --
I do have another question

1332
01:00:38,134 --> 01:00:40,134
after that -- but
first and foremost,

1333
01:00:40,136 --> 01:00:42,906
do you know of any sort of
ongoing effort like that to

1334
01:00:42,905 --> 01:00:46,505
take the Syrian refugees
that are in that area and

1335
01:00:46,509 --> 01:00:48,509
recruit and train
them to fight ISIS?

1336
01:00:48,511 --> 01:00:50,781
And what would the
administration think

1337
01:00:50,780 --> 01:00:53,020
of such an effort?

1338
01:00:53,016 --> 01:00:59,956
Mr. Earnest: Well, there has
already been an effort that

1339
01:00:59,956 --> 01:01:03,756
the Department of Defense
committed a substantial

1340
01:01:03,760 --> 01:01:08,900
number of resources to,
trying to train and equip

1341
01:01:08,898 --> 01:01:12,498
moderate Syrian opposition
fighters that didn't yield

1342
01:01:12,502 --> 01:01:17,002
the kind of results that
we would like to see.

1343
01:01:17,006 --> 01:01:21,376
What we have said is that we
do believe that our partners

1344
01:01:21,377 --> 01:01:24,577
in the region can do more
to contribute to our overall

1345
01:01:24,580 --> 01:01:28,550
counter-ISIL effort, and
we certainly would welcome

1346
01:01:28,551 --> 01:01:30,551
additional contributions
to that effort.

1347
01:01:30,553 --> 01:01:33,423
In fact, Secretary Carter is
traveling in the region over

1348
01:01:33,423 --> 01:01:36,193
the course of this week, and
I'm confident will be having

1349
01:01:36,192 --> 01:01:39,462
some discussions both with
his military commanders

1350
01:01:39,462 --> 01:01:41,602
about what more the United
States can do to contribute

1351
01:01:41,597 --> 01:01:44,997
to that effort, but also
meeting with the leaders of

1352
01:01:45,001 --> 01:01:47,201
other countries, or at least
senior officials in other

1353
01:01:47,203 --> 01:01:51,243
countries to discuss what
more they can contribute to

1354
01:01:51,240 --> 01:01:52,240
our ongoing efforts.

1355
01:01:52,241 --> 01:01:54,211
The Press: But that's
significantly different.

1356
01:01:54,210 --> 01:01:55,140
I do hear what
you're saying,

1357
01:01:55,144 --> 01:01:57,544
but that seems to me
significantly different than

1358
01:01:57,547 --> 01:02:00,587
saying that we should
mobilize the refugees that

1359
01:02:00,583 --> 01:02:02,583
are in the refugee
camps in the region,

1360
01:02:02,585 --> 01:02:04,925
and train and equip
them to fight ISIS.

1361
01:02:04,921 --> 01:02:08,591
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I haven't read

1362
01:02:08,591 --> 01:02:10,561
Dr. Carson's program.

1363
01:02:10,560 --> 01:02:13,960
The Press: And then the
final thing was regarding --

1364
01:02:13,963 --> 01:02:16,803
you mentioned Canada and our
shared border with Canada.

1365
01:02:16,799 --> 01:02:20,439
He also suggested deploying
the National Guard to the

1366
01:02:20,436 --> 01:02:23,006
border with Canada and
the southern border.

1367
01:02:23,005 --> 01:02:25,375
And given your support
in the past for the

1368
01:02:25,374 --> 01:02:28,974
President's, I guess, own
recommendations that maybe

1369
01:02:28,978 --> 01:02:32,148
aren't directly affiliated
with any sort of attack

1370
01:02:32,148 --> 01:02:34,348
that's already happened,
I was wondering what you

1371
01:02:34,350 --> 01:02:37,890
thought about the idea of
sending them to the borders

1372
01:02:37,887 --> 01:02:39,887
to protect from
something like that.

1373
01:02:39,889 --> 01:02:41,889
Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't
seen his specific proposal.

1374
01:02:41,891 --> 01:02:43,891
Obviously, the President is
a strong advocate

1375
01:02:43,893 --> 01:02:46,963
of border security.

1376
01:02:46,963 --> 01:02:48,433
There have been more
resources in terms of

1377
01:02:48,431 --> 01:02:51,901
manpower and technology
deployed to our border with

1378
01:02:51,901 --> 01:02:54,201
Mexico than in any
time in our history,

1379
01:02:54,203 --> 01:02:56,173
and that is a testament to
the President's commitment

1380
01:02:56,172 --> 01:02:57,242
to this issue.

1381
01:02:57,240 --> 01:02:59,380
There would be significantly
more resources dedicated to

1382
01:02:59,375 --> 01:03:02,245
our border had Republicans
in Congress not blocked

1383
01:03:02,245 --> 01:03:04,315
comprehensive immigration
reform that would have

1384
01:03:04,313 --> 01:03:06,583
actually made a historic
investment in border security.

1385
01:03:06,582 --> 01:03:10,892
So if Dr. Carson is
concerned about border

1386
01:03:10,887 --> 01:03:13,387
security, then I encourage
him to take it up with House

1387
01:03:13,389 --> 01:03:15,459
Republicans who blocked
an investment in border

1388
01:03:15,458 --> 01:03:17,998
security that might address
some of the problems that he

1389
01:03:17,994 --> 01:03:20,034
claims to be
trying to solve.

1390
01:03:20,029 --> 01:03:23,029
Thanks, everybody.