English subtitles for clip: File:4-13-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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The Press: Hello!

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The Press: Good afternoon!

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Mr. Earnest: Thank you
for the vigorous

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and warm welcome.

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(laughter)

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I don't have any
announcements at the top,

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so we can go straight
to questions, Darlene.

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The Press: Okay, thanks.

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A couple of questions to
follow up on Zika from

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earlier this week.

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You've been pretty critical
of Congress over that issue

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for not acting on the
President's funding request.

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Mr. Earnest: That's
a fair assessment.

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The Press: Yesterday, the
House passed a Senate bill

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that's supposed to speed up
vaccines and treatments for

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diseases including Zika, and
I wondered if you might be

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willing -- or give you an
opportunity to walk back a

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little bit of your criticism
of Congress on that issue

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since they have passed this
bill and it's now coming to

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the President's desk.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Darlene,
I hate to disappoint members

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of Congress, but the passage
of that bill that you

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described is positive

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but a rather meager accomplishment.

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We were talking
about earlier,

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in some ways it's akin to
passing out umbrellas in the

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advance of a
potential hurricane.

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So an umbrella
might come in handy,

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but it's going to be
insufficient to ensure that

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communities all across the
country are protected from a

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potentially
significant impact.

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That's what
we're focused on.

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Darlene, you may be familiar
with the expression of being

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a day late and
a dollar short.

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The Press: I am.

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Mr. Earnest: In this case,
Congress is two months late

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and $1.9 billion short in
providing the assistance

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that our public health
professionals say that they

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need to make sure that they
respond appropriately to

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this situation.

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The bill that Congress
passed yesterday doesn't

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include any funding.

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So that's not going to do
anything to help local

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communities across the
country that carry this

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virus -- or fight the
mosquitoes that carry

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this virus.

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It's not going to expand
access to diagnostics that

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would allow people to more
easily get tested and get a

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prompt result from that test
about whether or not they

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have the Zika virus.

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All of these are steps that
are critical to ensuring

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that we're protecting
pregnant women and their

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newborn children from a
virus that we know has a

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potentially
devastating impact.

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So, no, I'm not prepared to
give Congress credit for

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that legislation.

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It is a positive step, but
it is a far cry from what

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our public health experts
tell us is necessary to

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prepare for the situation.

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The Press: But developing a
Zika vaccine is one of the

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things the administration
wants to happen,

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and this bill is supposed
to help speed

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that process along.

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So --

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Mr. Earnest: Again, I'm not criticizing the

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legislation that
they have passed.

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But there's far more
significant steps that they

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could take even as it
relates to expediting the

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production of a vaccine.

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One of the things that we
know that the private sector

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does is they make decisions
based on a commitment from

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the federal government
to be a customer.

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That's why even private
sector entities that we want

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to partner with to develop
and test and eventually

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manufacture these vaccines
are looking

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for a serious commitment.

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And we're talking
about a serious virus.

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And I don't understand why
Congress has failed to make

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the serious commitment
that our public health

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professionals
indicate they need.

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Dr. Fauci, the
Director of the NIH,

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stood at this podium two
days ago and said that he

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does not have what he needs
right now in order to do all

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that is necessary to
prepare for this virus.

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And this is a
unique scenario.

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We have advance warning.

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And for the last two months,
Congress has frittered away

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the opportunity to ensure
that we're doing all that we

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possibly can to protect the
American people from a virus

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that, for most people,
is not dangerous,

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but for pregnant women and
newborn children could be

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incredibly dangerous.

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And that's why the President
is seeking to work with

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Congress in bipartisan
fashion to protect the country.

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The Press: Will
he sign the bill?

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Mr. Earnest: I would
anticipate that the

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President will
sign the bill.

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Again, having an umbrella
in a hurricane may in some

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situations come in handy,
but it is insufficient to

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ensuring that our country
is prepared for a situation

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that could have a
significant impact.

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The Press: The Republicans
on the House Appropriations

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Committee today said that
they're inclined to give the

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President some of the $1.9
billion that he wants for

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Zika, but they may wait
until September to do that.

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Given your comments to
my earlier question,

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I guess that would
be unacceptable.

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Mr. Earnest: It would
be unacceptable.

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We know this is a
mosquito-borne virus,

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and so why we would wait for
all the mosquitoes to be

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born, to travel across the
country and to spread,

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potentially carrying the
disease before we begin to

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take steps to fight it
doesn't make any sense.

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It almost makes me long for
the days of having

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old Tom DeLay back.

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The former exterminator
could surely offer some advice.

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(laughter)

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But, in this case, no
professional extermination

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advice is required to figure
out what we need to do to

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protect the country.

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But maybe we'd get -- maybe
this gets Tom DeLay a couple

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of cable hits out of his
former tenure

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in the United States Congress.

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The Press: Okay,
switching topics.

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(laughter)

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Mr. Earnest: Or not.

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Or not.

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The Press: He's got
more material there.

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(laughter)

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Mr. Earnest: That's
what I was going to say.

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We could just --

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The Press: Jon Stewart back there?

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(laughter)

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Mr. Earnest: That's right.

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I'll be here all week.

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The Press: Can you confirm
reports that Russian attack

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planes buzzed a U.S. Navy destroyer

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in the Baltic
Sea several times on Monday

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and Tuesday?

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And how will the U.S. respond to Russia for that activity?

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Mr. Earnest: Yes, the White
House is aware of the

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incident that you described.

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In the Baltic Sea earlier
this week there were reports

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of Russian planes flying
dangerously close to

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a U.S. Naval ship and a
Polish aircraft.

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This incident, as you won't
be surprised to hear,

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is entirely inconsistent
with the professional norms

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of militaries operating in
proximity to each other in

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international waters and
international airspace.

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Any peacetime military
activity must be consistent

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with international law and
norms and conducted with due

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regard for the rights of
other nations and the safety

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of other aircraft
and other vessels.

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There have been repeated
incidents over the last year

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where the Russian military,
including Russian military

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aircraft, have come close
enough to each other,

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or have come close enough to
other air and sea traffic to

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raise serious
safety concerns.

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And we continue to be
concerned about this behavior.

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For more details about the
specific incident and what

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kind of risk it may have
posed to our servicemen and

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women, I'd refer you to
the Department of Defense.

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The Press: What about in
terms of a response to Russia?

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A formal protest, or --

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Mr. Earnest: Obviously,

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we have a variety of
channels through which we

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can communicate
with the Russians.

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But I don't have any
updates right now about any

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conversations that have
occurred about this

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particular incident.

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Tim.

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The Press: The President has
a meeting today in Virginia.

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Mr. Earnest: He does.

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The Press: Do you expect any
announcements

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on anything in Syria or Iraq?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, yes, the
President is meeting with

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the senior members of his
national security team at

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CIA Headquarters
in Virginia.

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It will be part of the
periodic set of meetings

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that the President has done
with the senior members of

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his national security team
to get an update -- a

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detailed update -- of our
ongoing effort to degrade

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and ultimately destroy ISIL.

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There are a variety of
aspects to that strategy,

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and that's why you have
such a wide variety of the

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President's national
security advisers

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participating
in the meeting.

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You'll have an opportunity
to hear directly from the

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President at the
conclusion of the meeting.

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At this point, I'm not aware
of any plan to announce any

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major decisions that were
made in the context

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of the meeting.

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But obviously all of you
will have an opportunity to

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hear directly from the
President about what he

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learned in the meeting and
why those kinds of briefings

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are valuable as we continue
to maximize our coordinated

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strategy to degrade and
ultimately destroy ISIL.

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The Press: And to what
extent do you expect the

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meeting will concentrate on
Islamic State in Syria and

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Iraq and not other places
like Europe

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and the Philippines?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, the focus
will be on our ongoing

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campaign against ISIL
in Iraq and in Syria.

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This is essentially the
headquarters of ISIL,

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if you will.

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But we know that there are
extremists in other parts of

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the world that have sought
to establish a safe haven

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in other places.

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And we're mindful of the
risk that they pose in those

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other places, as well.

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But at this point I would
anticipate that the focus of

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the meeting will be on
continuing to degrade and

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ultimately destroy ISIL
in Iraq and in Syria.

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The Press: And on the KRG,
Deputy Prime Minister

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Talabani today was talking
about the monthly deficit of

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$100 million and he would
accept any conditions for

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that budget support.

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Is the administration open
to any kind of budget

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support for the KRG direct?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not
aware of any updates that we

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have on this
particular situation.

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But if we have news
to make on this,

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I'll circle back with
you and let you know.

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The Press: And Puerto Rico,
on the debt relief bill.

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Does the White House believe
that the differences in the

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bill can be
resolved quickly?

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A Treasury official was up
on the Hill today saying

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there's a lot of differences
that still need to be taken.

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Mr. Earnest: Yes, well,
I will say that we are

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gratified that Congress is
continuing

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to make some progress.

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And this has been -- it's
been challenging to continue

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to nurture a bipartisan
process in the House.

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But we've seen good-faith
actors on both sides of the

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aisle, both at the
leadership level as it

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relates to Speaker
Ryan and Leader Pelosi,

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but also at the
committee level,

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at the House Natural
Resources Committee,

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try to find common ground
that would offer the kind of

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debt-restructuring authority
to the Puerto Rican

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government that we
know that they need.

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So we do have some technical
concerns with the way that

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the bill is
currently drafted.

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We're concerned with at
least some aspects of it

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that we believe would not
provide them sufficient

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00:11:42,735 --> 00:11:48,605
authority to deal with the
challenges that they face there.

248
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We're also concerned that
there are some unnecessary

249
00:11:52,445 --> 00:11:57,585
provisions in the bill
that relate to things like

250
00:11:57,583 --> 00:12:02,893
federal lands and worker
protections that would only

251
00:12:02,888 --> 00:12:07,798
worsen the economic problems
that Puerto Rico faces,

252
00:12:07,793 --> 00:12:09,793
particularly when you
consider that they've

253
00:12:09,795 --> 00:12:11,795
already suffered through
a decade-long recession.

254
00:12:11,797 --> 00:12:14,797
It seems like the inclusion
of those unnecessary

255
00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,470
provisions is,
well, unnecessary.

256
00:12:17,470 --> 00:12:19,570
The Press: And how confident
are you that things

257
00:12:19,572 --> 00:12:20,772
can be ironed out?

258
00:12:20,773 --> 00:12:25,173
Mr. Earnest: Well, we have
been able to make important

259
00:12:25,177 --> 00:12:28,877
progress working in
bipartisan fashion thus far.

260
00:12:28,881 --> 00:12:31,851
The release of a -- or at
least the committee putting

261
00:12:31,851 --> 00:12:34,451
forward text of a bill
is important progress,

262
00:12:34,453 --> 00:12:37,193
and we hope that we can
keep the momentum going.

263
00:12:37,189 --> 00:12:41,289
But there's still some
important work to be done here.

264
00:12:41,293 --> 00:12:42,533
Toluse.

265
00:12:42,528 --> 00:12:43,158
The Press: Thanks.

266
00:12:43,162 --> 00:12:45,732
You just talked about Puerto
Rico and how difficult

267
00:12:45,731 --> 00:12:46,461
the issue is.

268
00:12:46,465 --> 00:12:49,435
You definitely made it sound
like the White House is

269
00:12:49,435 --> 00:12:52,935
confident that the House
would be able to come up

270
00:12:52,938 --> 00:12:56,378
with a solution, and I kind
of want to compare that to

271
00:12:56,375 --> 00:12:58,315
your statements
on encryption.

272
00:12:58,310 --> 00:13:01,750
You just saw the Senate put
out their draft bill on that.

273
00:13:01,747 --> 00:13:04,147
It seems like your
statements so far have been

274
00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:08,790
less confident that a
complex issue can be solved

275
00:13:08,787 --> 00:13:09,787
by Congress.

276
00:13:09,788 --> 00:13:12,158
Can you sort of square
that circle for me?

277
00:13:12,158 --> 00:13:14,128
Why on Puerto Rico you
seem to be confident,

278
00:13:14,126 --> 00:13:18,466
and on encryption you seem
to say Congress is not going

279
00:13:18,464 --> 00:13:19,764
to be able to do it.

280
00:13:19,765 --> 00:13:25,775
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
think I've said much to

281
00:13:25,771 --> 00:13:30,711
indicate that I am overly
rosy about the prospect of

282
00:13:30,709 --> 00:13:32,679
important
congressional action.

283
00:13:32,678 --> 00:13:34,878
I think we're hopeful, and
we've seen some positive

284
00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:40,350
work done to address
Puerto Rico's

285
00:13:40,352 --> 00:13:42,352
significant challenges.

286
00:13:44,924 --> 00:13:48,694
So I'd just --
while complicated,

287
00:13:48,694 --> 00:13:50,964
I think in some ways, the
challenges facing Puerto

288
00:13:50,963 --> 00:13:55,973
Rico have a little more
to do with the inherent

289
00:13:55,968 --> 00:13:58,038
political obstacles to
getting this kind of

290
00:13:58,037 --> 00:13:59,777
legislation done.

291
00:13:59,772 --> 00:14:03,442
In some ways, this is sort
of the classic -- this is

292
00:14:03,442 --> 00:14:07,782
the kind of case study I
think that you could imagine

293
00:14:07,780 --> 00:14:10,580
undergraduate political
science courses taking a

294
00:14:10,583 --> 00:14:14,153
close look at, right,
because you obviously have a

295
00:14:14,153 --> 00:14:17,853
problem that is affecting
3.5 million Americans in

296
00:14:17,856 --> 00:14:22,796
Puerto Rico, but across the
country they don't have --

297
00:14:22,795 --> 00:14:25,365
there's not a clear
constituency to apply

298
00:14:25,364 --> 00:14:27,364
pressure to members of
Congress to make sure that

299
00:14:27,366 --> 00:14:28,366
they're doing
the right thing.

300
00:14:28,367 --> 00:14:30,837
But yet, when you consider
the bondholders who are

301
00:14:30,836 --> 00:14:37,276
holding this debt, these
are, almost by definition,

302
00:14:37,276 --> 00:14:41,046
rich and powerful people
who have a clear financial

303
00:14:41,046 --> 00:14:44,686
interest in getting a
deal that reflects their

304
00:14:44,683 --> 00:14:47,523
financial interests and not
the interests of the 3.5

305
00:14:47,519 --> 00:14:50,389
million people living
in Puerto Rico.

306
00:14:50,389 --> 00:14:58,059
And overcoming that dynamic
is something that will be

307
00:14:58,063 --> 00:14:59,333
challenging for
Congress to do,

308
00:14:59,331 --> 00:15:02,031
and it will only be
successful if we do work in

309
00:15:02,034 --> 00:15:05,074
bipartisan fashion
to get it done.

310
00:15:05,070 --> 00:15:07,870
So while it's difficult,
it's not

311
00:15:07,873 --> 00:15:09,273
particularly complicated.

312
00:15:09,275 --> 00:15:11,245
We do know the
kind of -- in fact,

313
00:15:11,243 --> 00:15:13,243
the kind of restructuring
authority that we want to

314
00:15:13,245 --> 00:15:15,685
offer to the Puerto Rican
government is the same kind

315
00:15:15,681 --> 00:15:18,651
of authority that is
available to municipalities

316
00:15:18,651 --> 00:15:19,951
all across the country.

317
00:15:19,952 --> 00:15:23,322
So there's a template for
addressing this problem,

318
00:15:23,322 --> 00:15:25,662
and it shouldn't be that
hard to figure out a way to

319
00:15:25,658 --> 00:15:29,198
provide the necessary
oversight to ensure that

320
00:15:29,194 --> 00:15:32,094
Puerto Rico follows through
on the kinds of reform

321
00:15:32,097 --> 00:15:34,637
commitments that they make
in the context of getting

322
00:15:34,633 --> 00:15:36,173
this restructuring
authority.

323
00:15:36,168 --> 00:15:40,678
So there's a template for
addressing this challenge.

324
00:15:40,673 --> 00:15:45,473
As it relates to encryption,
the politics of that

325
00:15:45,477 --> 00:15:47,417
situation are no
less complicated,

326
00:15:47,413 --> 00:15:52,153
but the policy details
themselves are also quite

327
00:15:52,151 --> 00:15:55,751
complicated, particularly
when you consider that

328
00:15:55,754 --> 00:16:02,624
you're dealing with a policy environment

329
00:16:02,628 --> 00:16:04,468
that's rapidly changing.

330
00:16:04,463 --> 00:16:06,833
Technology is
rapidly developing,

331
00:16:06,832 --> 00:16:10,332
and as innovations are
implemented in the market,

332
00:16:10,336 --> 00:16:13,106
we need to have a policy
that doesn't just resolve

333
00:16:13,105 --> 00:16:15,075
the significant
political tensions,

334
00:16:15,074 --> 00:16:20,844
but also can be dynamic
enough to anticipate and

335
00:16:20,846 --> 00:16:25,416
continue to apply even as
the environment changes as a

336
00:16:25,417 --> 00:16:26,487
result of innovation.

337
00:16:26,485 --> 00:16:31,125
So I think these are two
very different challenges.

338
00:16:31,123 --> 00:16:32,963
I want to be clear, I'm not
that rosy about Congress

339
00:16:32,958 --> 00:16:35,128
even confronting
the easy things.

340
00:16:37,229 --> 00:16:42,069
Because, again, too often,
things that are common sense

341
00:16:42,067 --> 00:16:44,067
haven't gotten
done in Congress.

342
00:16:44,069 --> 00:16:48,579
And I think that would
account for the rather low

343
00:16:48,574 --> 00:16:53,744
esteem in which the public
holds Congress right now --

344
00:16:53,746 --> 00:16:58,216
things like waiting two
months to do anything to

345
00:16:58,217 --> 00:17:04,057
address the potential
problems caused by Zika.

346
00:17:04,056 --> 00:17:06,696
And only then passing a
piece of legislation that

347
00:17:06,692 --> 00:17:09,092
doesn't include any actual
funding that our public

348
00:17:09,094 --> 00:17:11,794
health professionals say
that they need I think is an

349
00:17:11,797 --> 00:17:14,497
indication that Congress
struggles to even

350
00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:17,070
do the easy things.

351
00:17:17,069 --> 00:17:19,969
And there's no doubt
that working through the

352
00:17:19,972 --> 00:17:25,312
situation in Puerto Rico
and working through the

353
00:17:25,310 --> 00:17:27,450
challenges of developing
a policy to deal with

354
00:17:27,446 --> 00:17:29,946
encryption are even more
significant than that.

355
00:17:29,948 --> 00:17:33,848
The Press: Has the President
been briefed on the bill

356
00:17:33,852 --> 00:17:37,152
that is being sort of worked
out in the Senate to deal

357
00:17:37,156 --> 00:17:38,326
with encryption?

358
00:17:38,323 --> 00:17:41,923
Is there going to be a White
House effort to -- good

359
00:17:41,927 --> 00:17:45,627
faith effort to work with
the Senate to actually come

360
00:17:45,631 --> 00:17:47,371
up with a solution, given
the fact that you seem to

361
00:17:47,366 --> 00:17:50,266
think that the Senate is
incapable of finding a

362
00:17:50,269 --> 00:17:51,269
solution on this?

363
00:17:51,270 --> 00:17:52,340
Mr. Earnest: Well, of course
we're going to engage with

364
00:17:52,337 --> 00:17:54,107
members of Congress on this.

365
00:17:54,106 --> 00:17:58,176
And we will -- we've been
doing that all along,

366
00:17:58,177 --> 00:18:01,017
and we'll continue to
do that in this case.

367
00:18:01,013 --> 00:18:08,953
But look, the prospects of
Congress actually developing

368
00:18:08,954 --> 00:18:14,194
and building bipartisan
agreement around a good

369
00:18:14,193 --> 00:18:16,593
piece of legislation that
appropriately balances the

370
00:18:16,595 --> 00:18:20,665
competing equities here, and
then taking the additional

371
00:18:20,666 --> 00:18:25,576
step of actually getting it
passed I think are somewhat low.

372
00:18:25,571 --> 00:18:29,711
But I'm an optimistic guy.

373
00:18:29,708 --> 00:18:32,148
I'm happy to be surprised.

374
00:18:32,144 --> 00:18:36,214
The Press: And I got another
on the issue of putting --

375
00:18:36,215 --> 00:18:38,415
on making a change
to the $10 bill.

376
00:18:38,417 --> 00:18:42,787
Would the White House or the
President be supportive of

377
00:18:42,788 --> 00:18:46,558
Treasury Secretary Lew, if
he decides to leave the $10

378
00:18:46,558 --> 00:18:50,968
bill as it is and
potentially changes a

379
00:18:50,963 --> 00:18:56,773
different -- or if the
President insists that the

380
00:18:56,768 --> 00:19:01,608
woman be on the $10, could
there be a movement to put a

381
00:19:01,607 --> 00:19:02,907
woman on a different bill?

382
00:19:02,908 --> 00:19:04,678
Does it have to
be the $10 bill?

383
00:19:04,676 --> 00:19:06,916
Mr. Earnest: Well, Toluse,
this is obviously a decision

384
00:19:06,912 --> 00:19:08,652
that's made at the
Treasury Department.

385
00:19:08,647 --> 00:19:11,817
And that's codified
in the statute.

386
00:19:11,817 --> 00:19:13,957
But I think what Secretary
Lew has said on this in the

387
00:19:13,952 --> 00:19:22,732
past is that he's
considering changes to a

388
00:19:22,728 --> 00:19:25,328
number of elements
of our currency.

389
00:19:25,330 --> 00:19:27,300
It's not just -- the
consideration of changes,

390
00:19:27,299 --> 00:19:29,299
including ensuring that
women are featured on our

391
00:19:29,301 --> 00:19:32,971
currency extend beyond
just the $10 bill.

392
00:19:32,971 --> 00:19:34,971
Secretary Lew has
said that in the past.

393
00:19:34,973 --> 00:19:37,343
But for an update in terms
of where they are in that

394
00:19:37,342 --> 00:19:40,082
process, I'd refer you
the Treasury Department.

395
00:19:40,078 --> 00:19:43,348
The Press: Just one more
on the refugee issue.

396
00:19:43,348 --> 00:19:46,188
The President is going to be
going to Germany later this

397
00:19:46,184 --> 00:19:50,754
month, and we know that the
Germans have taken in a

398
00:19:50,756 --> 00:19:53,296
large number of refugees.

399
00:19:53,292 --> 00:19:54,862
I'm wondering if the
President feels that he

400
00:19:54,860 --> 00:19:58,460
needs to shore up Prime
Minister Merkel based on

401
00:19:58,463 --> 00:20:01,533
what she has faced -- her
poll ratings after accepting

402
00:20:01,533 --> 00:20:05,133
so many refugees and how the
President sort of assesses

403
00:20:05,137 --> 00:20:06,467
his role.

404
00:20:06,471 --> 00:20:08,541
Since last year, he said he
was going to take in

405
00:20:08,540 --> 00:20:10,110
10, 000 Syrian refugees.

406
00:20:10,108 --> 00:20:12,808
And it seems like -- I think
we've only taken in less

407
00:20:12,811 --> 00:20:16,551
than 1,500, and we're very
far into the fiscal year --

408
00:20:16,548 --> 00:20:20,748
how the President assesses
his administration's job on

409
00:20:20,752 --> 00:20:24,822
taking the refugees and
fulfilling that promise that

410
00:20:24,823 --> 00:20:26,093
he made last year.

411
00:20:26,091 --> 00:20:28,131
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
as it relates to Germany,

412
00:20:28,126 --> 00:20:30,296
I do anticipate that the
President will have an

413
00:20:30,295 --> 00:20:33,995
opportunity to give credit
to the German people and to

414
00:20:33,999 --> 00:20:37,139
the German government
because they've earned

415
00:20:37,135 --> 00:20:38,305
some credit.

416
00:20:38,303 --> 00:20:39,573
They have done a
difficult thing,

417
00:20:39,571 --> 00:20:42,311
which is that they have
offered refuge to hundreds

418
00:20:42,307 --> 00:20:45,807
of thousands of innocent
people who are fleeing

419
00:20:45,811 --> 00:20:47,511
violence in their
home countries.

420
00:20:47,512 --> 00:20:51,822
And that has strained not
just the nation of Germany,

421
00:20:51,817 --> 00:20:53,517
but the entire continent.

422
00:20:53,518 --> 00:20:55,518
Those kinds of strains
are understandable.

423
00:20:55,520 --> 00:21:01,690
And I think the majority
of people in Germany have

424
00:21:01,693 --> 00:21:05,533
responded with the kind of
humanity and generosity that

425
00:21:05,530 --> 00:21:07,000
we'd like to see.

426
00:21:06,999 --> 00:21:12,309
And even in the face of
some political criticism,

427
00:21:12,304 --> 00:21:16,404
Chancellor Merkel has
focused on implementing a

428
00:21:16,408 --> 00:21:25,048
policy that's consistent
with the broad

429
00:21:25,050 --> 00:21:31,690
acknowledgement of human
rights in the way that we

430
00:21:31,690 --> 00:21:35,360
observe -- what our values
and morals tell us about

431
00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:37,530
responding to a
situation like this.

432
00:21:37,529 --> 00:21:40,269
So she deserves credit for
that and the German people

433
00:21:40,265 --> 00:21:42,365
deserve credit for that.

434
00:21:42,367 --> 00:21:44,137
As it relates to the U.S. policy

435
00:21:44,136 --> 00:21:46,136
here, obviously the
situation that the United

436
00:21:46,138 --> 00:21:48,138
States faces is different
than the situation that the

437
00:21:48,140 --> 00:21:49,140
Germans are facing.

438
00:21:49,141 --> 00:21:54,711
And part of that is that the
President has made clear

439
00:21:54,713 --> 00:21:57,583
that there will be a
rigorous screening process

440
00:21:57,582 --> 00:22:01,152
that's put in place before
refugees can enter

441
00:22:01,153 --> 00:22:02,823
the United States.

442
00:22:02,821 --> 00:22:05,361
What is true is that
individuals who enter the

443
00:22:05,357 --> 00:22:08,857
United States as refugees
go through more rigorous

444
00:22:08,860 --> 00:22:11,160
screening than anyone else
who attempts

445
00:22:11,163 --> 00:22:13,263
to enter the United States.

446
00:22:13,265 --> 00:22:15,335
And that's going
to take some time.

447
00:22:15,333 --> 00:22:17,803
I don't have an update for
you in terms of hitting

448
00:22:17,803 --> 00:22:18,803
our goal.

449
00:22:18,804 --> 00:22:20,804
I'd refer you to the State
Department for that.

450
00:22:20,806 --> 00:22:22,776
But I know this is something
that the President has made

451
00:22:22,774 --> 00:22:24,174
a priority and he's
made clear to the State

452
00:22:24,176 --> 00:22:25,606
Department that
it's a priority.

453
00:22:25,610 --> 00:22:26,580
And I'm confident that

454
00:22:26,578 --> 00:22:31,388
it will be implemented accordingly.

455
00:22:31,383 --> 00:22:32,983
Ron.

456
00:22:32,984 --> 00:22:34,754
The Press: Is it true that
the screening process is

457
00:22:34,753 --> 00:22:37,693
being expedited for a number
of refugees who are coming

458
00:22:37,689 --> 00:22:39,329
in from Syria?

459
00:22:39,324 --> 00:22:40,564
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that there has been an

460
00:22:40,559 --> 00:22:43,899
effort to put additional
resources behind this effort

461
00:22:43,895 --> 00:22:48,265
that could make the
process move more quickly.

462
00:22:48,266 --> 00:22:52,306
But I'd refer you to both
the State Department and DHS

463
00:22:52,304 --> 00:22:53,674
for an update on that.

464
00:22:53,672 --> 00:22:56,372
I am confident in telling
you that in no scenario

465
00:22:56,374 --> 00:23:00,414
would the standards
be weakened before an

466
00:23:00,412 --> 00:23:03,112
individual is able to enter
the United States under

467
00:23:03,115 --> 00:23:04,115
their refugee status.

468
00:23:04,116 --> 00:23:06,156
The Press: So again,
the goal is still

469
00:23:06,151 --> 00:23:07,491
10, 000 by the fiscal year?

470
00:23:07,486 --> 00:23:09,326
Mr. Earnest: That
is still the goal.

471
00:23:09,321 --> 00:23:10,521
The Press: How do you think
the President will explain

472
00:23:10,522 --> 00:23:15,432
to Mrs. Merkel about his
inability to have that

473
00:23:15,427 --> 00:23:17,527
happen here in the United
States when Germany has

474
00:23:17,529 --> 00:23:20,699
taken in close to I
think a million people?

475
00:23:20,699 --> 00:23:23,439
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
think the President when he

476
00:23:23,435 --> 00:23:25,975
travels to Germany will be
prepared to tell her that

477
00:23:25,971 --> 00:23:27,401
he's prepared to
meet the goal.

478
00:23:27,405 --> 00:23:30,845
The Press: That just seems
like it might be a little

479
00:23:30,842 --> 00:23:33,142
embarrassing to not
be able to get

480
00:23:33,145 --> 00:23:35,115
10, 000 people into
your country.

481
00:23:35,113 --> 00:23:36,453
Mr. Earnest: Ron, I'm not
willing to say that we're

482
00:23:36,448 --> 00:23:38,388
not going to hit the goal.

483
00:23:38,383 --> 00:23:40,253
So you should check with the
State Department about that.

484
00:23:40,252 --> 00:23:42,252
But I don't see any
indication at this point

485
00:23:42,254 --> 00:23:44,254
that we won't be
able to make it.

486
00:23:44,256 --> 00:23:46,696
The Press: On the meeting
this afternoon with the

487
00:23:46,691 --> 00:23:50,631
national security team --
I remember at the nuclear

488
00:23:50,629 --> 00:23:53,999
summit a week or so ago, the
President had 50 or so heads

489
00:23:53,999 --> 00:23:55,129
of state there.

490
00:23:55,133 --> 00:23:58,173
Has anything changed with
the coalition since then

491
00:23:58,170 --> 00:24:02,570
that is reflected in
operations on the ground?

492
00:24:02,574 --> 00:24:06,414
Or what's different since
then that will perhaps be

493
00:24:06,411 --> 00:24:08,211
brought up at this meeting
or discussed

494
00:24:08,213 --> 00:24:09,243
at this meeting?

495
00:24:09,247 --> 00:24:11,447
I'm just trying to see where
there's progress or where

496
00:24:11,449 --> 00:24:13,289
there's change.

497
00:24:13,285 --> 00:24:15,085
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
one obvious area where we've

498
00:24:15,086 --> 00:24:18,086
made some progress just in
the last couple of weeks is

499
00:24:18,089 --> 00:24:21,129
the announcement from
Belgian authorities that

500
00:24:21,126 --> 00:24:23,126
they've made important
progress in their ongoing

501
00:24:23,128 --> 00:24:25,128
investigation into the
terrorist attacks that ISIL

502
00:24:25,130 --> 00:24:29,330
sponsored in Belgium at
the end of last month.

503
00:24:29,334 --> 00:24:30,974
Obviously, the United States
has been strongly supportive

504
00:24:30,969 --> 00:24:33,069
of European law enforcement,
including Belgian law

505
00:24:33,071 --> 00:24:35,041
enforcement, as they've
conducted

506
00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:36,740
those investigations.

507
00:24:36,741 --> 00:24:38,141
There has been valuable
information that we've been

508
00:24:38,143 --> 00:24:40,143
able to share and other
technical expertise that

509
00:24:40,145 --> 00:24:42,515
we've been able to offer
that they

510
00:24:42,514 --> 00:24:45,484
have found helpful.

511
00:24:45,483 --> 00:24:50,623
There continues to be a
steady effort to ramp up the

512
00:24:50,622 --> 00:24:55,792
pressure against ISIL
targets in Syria and Iraq.

513
00:24:55,794 --> 00:24:57,164
I have some updated
statistics here.

514
00:24:57,162 --> 00:24:58,962
The United States and our
coalition partners have

515
00:24:58,964 --> 00:25:00,604
launched now
more than

516
00:25:00,599 --> 00:25:04,369
11, 500 strikes on ISIL targets
in Iraq and in Syria.

517
00:25:04,369 --> 00:25:06,609
Thousands of ISIL fighters
have been taken off the

518
00:25:06,605 --> 00:25:10,145
battlefield, including
senior leaders and external

519
00:25:10,141 --> 00:25:14,011
operations plotters, like
the number two figure in

520
00:25:14,012 --> 00:25:16,952
ISIL, Haji Mutazz;
Mohammed Emwazi,

521
00:25:16,948 --> 00:25:19,618
who is otherwise
known as "Jihadi John; "

522
00:25:19,618 --> 00:25:23,458
and Haji Iman, who was
essentially the finance

523
00:25:23,455 --> 00:25:25,455
minister for ISIL.

524
00:25:26,758 --> 00:25:28,798
We've also dramatically
improved our

525
00:25:28,793 --> 00:25:33,663
intelligence-sharing with
partners to better counter

526
00:25:33,665 --> 00:25:37,765
the external threat that is
posed by ISIL emanating

527
00:25:37,769 --> 00:25:41,739
from Iraq and in Syria.

528
00:25:41,740 --> 00:25:46,680
And the other area where
we've made some important

529
00:25:46,678 --> 00:25:50,248
progress is actually an
indication of the important

530
00:25:50,248 --> 00:25:52,788
role that the CIA
plays in all of this.

531
00:25:52,784 --> 00:25:56,454
You'll recall that the
United States conducted a

532
00:25:56,454 --> 00:26:02,164
raid against a leading ISIL
figure in May of last year,

533
00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:03,560
almost a year ago.

534
00:26:03,561 --> 00:26:06,761
That figure was Abu Sayyaf,
who was also a senior

535
00:26:06,765 --> 00:26:08,765
financial planner for ISIL.

536
00:26:08,767 --> 00:26:14,937
That operation in one
instance led to the death of

537
00:26:14,940 --> 00:26:18,510
a senior ISIL figure, but it
also gave our intelligence

538
00:26:18,510 --> 00:26:20,510
operatives access to
a treasure trove

539
00:26:20,512 --> 00:26:22,152
of information.

540
00:26:22,147 --> 00:26:24,087
CIA analysts and other
members of our intelligence

541
00:26:24,082 --> 00:26:26,982
community had an opportunity
to dig into that material.

542
00:26:26,985 --> 00:26:29,455
And because of their
effective integration with

543
00:26:29,454 --> 00:26:37,834
our military, they've
been able to undertake an

544
00:26:37,829 --> 00:26:40,829
operation -- a set of
operations that have

545
00:26:40,832 --> 00:26:42,832
significantly impaired
ISIL's ability

546
00:26:42,834 --> 00:26:44,634
to finance their operations.

547
00:26:44,636 --> 00:26:48,006
So material that was
collected from that compound

548
00:26:48,006 --> 00:26:51,446
allowed us to develop a
detailed understanding of

549
00:26:51,443 --> 00:26:53,883
ISIL's illicit
oil operations.

550
00:26:53,878 --> 00:26:57,218
And it led to something that
the Department of Defense

551
00:26:57,215 --> 00:27:00,055
called Operation
Tidal Wave II.

552
00:27:00,051 --> 00:27:02,051
Strikes that were carried
out in the context of

553
00:27:02,053 --> 00:27:05,023
Operation Tidal Wave II
targeted oil infrastructure

554
00:27:05,023 --> 00:27:10,963
supply lines and hundreds of
tanker trucks that ISIL used

555
00:27:10,962 --> 00:27:13,132
to move oil.

556
00:27:13,131 --> 00:27:19,341
This essentially black
market for oil that ISIL

557
00:27:19,337 --> 00:27:23,847
capitalized on, according
to some analysts,

558
00:27:23,842 --> 00:27:26,612
actually was responsible for
financing about a half of

559
00:27:26,611 --> 00:27:28,211
their operations.

560
00:27:28,213 --> 00:27:32,583
And we've been able to deal
a significant setback to

561
00:27:32,584 --> 00:27:35,884
their ability to sell
oil on the black market.

562
00:27:35,887 --> 00:27:40,557
And that's had a significant
impact on ISIL's ability to

563
00:27:40,558 --> 00:27:41,558
fund their operations.

564
00:27:41,559 --> 00:27:44,999
And just to give
you one example,

565
00:27:44,996 --> 00:27:50,206
there are some key oilfields
inside of Syria that at one

566
00:27:50,201 --> 00:27:54,971
point accounted for more
than half of ISIL's monthly

567
00:27:54,973 --> 00:27:56,573
oil revenue.

568
00:27:56,574 --> 00:27:58,714
And we carried out strikes
against the oilfield that

569
00:27:58,710 --> 00:28:03,820
has significantly impaired
their ability to collect

570
00:28:03,815 --> 00:28:04,815
revenue from those sources.

571
00:28:04,816 --> 00:28:07,916
So that is an example of
important progress that

572
00:28:07,919 --> 00:28:09,919
we've made over the
last several months,

573
00:28:09,921 --> 00:28:11,921
and I think it is a good
illustration of the

574
00:28:11,923 --> 00:28:13,923
important role that the
intelligence community has

575
00:28:13,925 --> 00:28:16,225
to play in our
efforts against ISIL.

576
00:28:16,227 --> 00:28:18,667
And it's one of the reasons
that the President is

577
00:28:18,663 --> 00:28:22,463
convening the meeting at
CIA Headquarters today.

578
00:28:22,467 --> 00:28:25,407
The Press: What about the
problem of fragmentation

579
00:28:25,403 --> 00:28:29,943
where now ISIL is becoming
something of a franchise

580
00:28:29,941 --> 00:28:33,741
operation, some
people have said?

581
00:28:33,745 --> 00:28:36,315
Is there progress -- how has
the strategy adjusted to

582
00:28:36,314 --> 00:28:38,754
deal with that?

583
00:28:38,750 --> 00:28:42,220
Mr. Earnest: Well, we have
seen that the threat from

584
00:28:42,220 --> 00:28:45,320
extremists has
become more diffuse.

585
00:28:45,323 --> 00:28:50,033
And I know that Director
Brennan talked about this a

586
00:28:50,028 --> 00:28:53,598
little bit earlier today
with your network where he

587
00:28:53,598 --> 00:28:56,838
talked about the challenges
that are facing the

588
00:28:56,835 --> 00:29:01,875
counterterrorism operation
here in the United States,

589
00:29:01,873 --> 00:29:04,173
which is we know that
extremist organizations

590
00:29:04,175 --> 00:29:07,315
don't have the same kind of
capacity and capabilities

591
00:29:07,312 --> 00:29:10,952
that they used to have when
you had this core of al

592
00:29:10,949 --> 00:29:13,619
Qaeda plotters that had a
safe haven in Afghanistan

593
00:29:13,618 --> 00:29:15,988
that they could use to carry
out attacks

594
00:29:15,987 --> 00:29:16,987
around the world.

595
00:29:16,988 --> 00:29:19,428
The threat is different now,
but it's still serious and

596
00:29:19,424 --> 00:29:21,624
one that we take
quite seriously.

597
00:29:21,626 --> 00:29:25,766
And that is why you've seen
the United States just in

598
00:29:25,763 --> 00:29:28,633
the last couple of months
announce airstrikes,

599
00:29:28,633 --> 00:29:32,273
taking significant extremist
leaders off the battlefield

600
00:29:32,270 --> 00:29:36,140
in places like
Libya and Somalia.

601
00:29:36,141 --> 00:29:39,341
That's an indication that
while we're quite focused on

602
00:29:39,344 --> 00:29:41,344
the threat that's emanating
from Iraq and in Syria,

603
00:29:41,346 --> 00:29:43,786
we're mindful that there
are risks in other places,

604
00:29:43,781 --> 00:29:45,781
and we haven't taken our eye
off the ball in terms of

605
00:29:45,783 --> 00:29:47,083
confronting those either.

606
00:29:47,085 --> 00:29:48,655
The Press: Do you think
that since Brussels,

607
00:29:48,653 --> 00:29:50,753
or does the President think
that since Brussels that the

608
00:29:50,755 --> 00:29:53,825
threat has been reduced?

609
00:29:53,825 --> 00:29:57,865
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
it is hard

610
00:29:57,862 --> 00:29:59,432
to reach that conclusion.

611
00:29:59,430 --> 00:30:07,210
I think the reason for that
is that what's been revealed

612
00:30:07,205 --> 00:30:14,845
in Belgium is that there are
these networks that ISIL has

613
00:30:14,846 --> 00:30:21,856
been able to tap into even
in the West that have the

614
00:30:21,853 --> 00:30:26,763
potential of carrying out
terrible acts of violence.

615
00:30:26,758 --> 00:30:32,298
And we need to be rigorous
about countering that effort.

616
00:30:32,297 --> 00:30:34,597
And there are a variety of
ways that we need to do that

617
00:30:34,599 --> 00:30:36,599
-- this sort of goes to what
the President was talking

618
00:30:36,601 --> 00:30:38,701
about in his interview with
Chris Wallace over the

619
00:30:38,703 --> 00:30:43,313
weekend -- that it's not
just important that we are

620
00:30:43,308 --> 00:30:47,508
focused on the campaign
against ISIL to degrade and

621
00:30:47,512 --> 00:30:49,512
ultimately destroy
that organization,

622
00:30:49,514 --> 00:30:52,784
but how we do it
is important too.

623
00:30:52,784 --> 00:30:56,654
And that is going to be
critical to our ability to

624
00:30:56,654 --> 00:31:01,324
root out and clean up
networks that ISIL may be

625
00:31:01,326 --> 00:31:07,666
trying to establish in the
West and in countries that

626
00:31:07,665 --> 00:31:10,665
we're quite friendly with.

627
00:31:10,668 --> 00:31:11,438
Kevin.

628
00:31:11,436 --> 00:31:12,536
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

629
00:31:12,537 --> 00:31:14,207
Just a little housekeeping
to begin with.

630
00:31:14,205 --> 00:31:16,805
Can you give an update
on the numbers at Gitmo?

631
00:31:16,808 --> 00:31:21,648
And has there been any
progress on transferring any

632
00:31:21,646 --> 00:31:23,646
of the current detainees
there to other places?

633
00:31:23,648 --> 00:31:25,648
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any update on the numbers,

634
00:31:25,650 --> 00:31:29,920
but every time that
there is a transfer,

635
00:31:29,921 --> 00:31:32,191
that is something
that we make public.

636
00:31:32,190 --> 00:31:34,760
So you should be able to get
an updated public assessment

637
00:31:34,759 --> 00:31:37,529
from the Department
of Defense.

638
00:31:37,528 --> 00:31:40,028
And if there are any
additional transfers in the

639
00:31:40,031 --> 00:31:42,401
weeks ahead, we'll
obviously let you know.

640
00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:43,100
The Press: All right, great.

641
00:31:43,101 --> 00:31:47,401
On the 28 pages, we
talked yesterday about,

642
00:31:47,405 --> 00:31:50,345
in the congressional
report pertaining to 9/11,

643
00:31:50,341 --> 00:31:52,641
there was a report later in
the evening from the

644
00:31:52,644 --> 00:31:55,584
Tampa Bay Times that former
Florida Senator Bob Graham

645
00:31:55,580 --> 00:31:57,920
had been advised by the
administration that sometime

646
00:31:57,915 --> 00:32:00,555
within the next
month or two,

647
00:32:00,551 --> 00:32:03,691
that those 28 pages may
become declassified.

648
00:32:03,688 --> 00:32:04,988
Can you confirm that?

649
00:32:04,989 --> 00:32:07,129
Mr. Earnest: I can't
confirm the timeline.

650
00:32:07,125 --> 00:32:11,625
Obviously, Senator Graham
dedicated a significant

651
00:32:11,629 --> 00:32:13,199
portion of his career to
being the Chairman of the

652
00:32:13,197 --> 00:32:15,767
Intelligence Committee in
the United States Senate,

653
00:32:15,767 --> 00:32:19,637
so he's somebody who has
his own experience and even

654
00:32:19,637 --> 00:32:22,077
expertise on some
of these issues.

655
00:32:22,073 --> 00:32:27,843
And we have made an effort
to stay in touch with those

656
00:32:27,845 --> 00:32:31,545
that we know have a genuine
and serious interest

657
00:32:31,549 --> 00:32:33,119
in these issues.

658
00:32:33,117 --> 00:32:35,117
So that's why he
got the phone call.

659
00:32:35,119 --> 00:32:37,719
But I can't account for
the -- or at least I can't

660
00:32:37,722 --> 00:32:40,722
confirm that timeframe
at this point.

661
00:32:40,725 --> 00:32:43,325
Obviously this is a process
that's run by the Director

662
00:32:43,328 --> 00:32:44,328
of National Intelligence.

663
00:32:44,329 --> 00:32:49,939
And I'd refer you to them
for an assessment of the

664
00:32:49,934 --> 00:32:51,004
timeframe for a decision.

665
00:32:51,002 --> 00:32:53,002
The Press: Have the
President and Mr. Clapper

666
00:32:53,004 --> 00:32:54,004
had a conversation
about this?

667
00:32:54,005 --> 00:32:57,175
Mr. Earnest: I'm not
aware of any specific

668
00:32:57,175 --> 00:33:00,145
conversations between
the two of them on this,

669
00:33:00,144 --> 00:33:04,914
but at the same time I
couldn't rule it out.

670
00:33:04,916 --> 00:33:06,886
Obviously, the President
consults regularly,

671
00:33:06,884 --> 00:33:08,824
almost daily, with his
Director of National

672
00:33:08,820 --> 00:33:12,020
Intelligence, and
for obvious reasons,

673
00:33:12,023 --> 00:33:14,723
those are conversations we
don't talk about publicly.

674
00:33:14,726 --> 00:33:16,726
I can tell you that the
Director of National

675
00:33:16,728 --> 00:33:20,028
Intelligence has indicated
that they're hopeful that

676
00:33:20,031 --> 00:33:25,071
they will be able to
complete the process of the

677
00:33:25,069 --> 00:33:31,079
review of these 28 pages
before the end of President

678
00:33:31,075 --> 00:33:32,645
Obama's tenure in office.

679
00:33:32,643 --> 00:33:33,643
That's what
they're aiming for.

680
00:33:33,644 --> 00:33:35,284
But for an update
on that timeline,

681
00:33:35,279 --> 00:33:36,919
I'd encourage you
to check with them.

682
00:33:36,914 --> 00:33:39,454
The Press: I had a
conversation with Jack Quinn

683
00:33:39,450 --> 00:33:42,620
yesterday, one of the
attorneys representing

684
00:33:42,620 --> 00:33:45,890
thousands of the
9/11 families,

685
00:33:45,890 --> 00:33:47,960
and victims of 9/11.

686
00:33:47,959 --> 00:33:51,899
And in my conversation, he
suggested that there has

687
00:33:51,896 --> 00:33:53,996
been sort of a back
and forth between this

688
00:33:53,998 --> 00:33:58,468
administration and
congressional lawmakers over

689
00:33:58,469 --> 00:34:02,909
the potential measures that
might sanction governments

690
00:34:02,907 --> 00:34:05,077
that might have a
hand in terrorism.

691
00:34:05,076 --> 00:34:07,746
Can you sort of help me
walk through that process,

692
00:34:07,745 --> 00:34:10,385
what the administration
viewpoint is on

693
00:34:10,381 --> 00:34:12,881
congressional measures that
might sanction foreign

694
00:34:12,884 --> 00:34:14,884
governments that might
have a hand in terrorism?

695
00:34:14,886 --> 00:34:16,986
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
obviously are a number of

696
00:34:16,988 --> 00:34:19,158
places where the
administration has worked

697
00:34:19,157 --> 00:34:21,157
with Congress to put
in place sanctions,

698
00:34:21,159 --> 00:34:23,529
and in some cases taken
actions on our own to put in

699
00:34:23,528 --> 00:34:25,528
place sanctions against
countries

700
00:34:25,530 --> 00:34:26,860
that sponsor terrorism.

701
00:34:26,864 --> 00:34:28,604
Iran is the best example.

702
00:34:28,599 --> 00:34:31,669
Iran is a country that is
subject to sanctions by the

703
00:34:31,669 --> 00:34:34,439
United States that we've
coordinated with the

704
00:34:34,439 --> 00:34:35,169
international community
because we know

705
00:34:35,173 --> 00:34:37,443
they sponsor terrorism.

706
00:34:37,442 --> 00:34:39,442
The Press: What about
civil damages, though?

707
00:34:39,444 --> 00:34:41,444
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
that would be

708
00:34:41,446 --> 00:34:42,446
a different question.

709
00:34:42,447 --> 00:34:44,447
Obviously, civil damages
would be something that

710
00:34:44,449 --> 00:34:45,979
would go through
a legal process.

711
00:34:45,983 --> 00:34:47,523
The Press: Is that something
the President would support?

712
00:34:47,518 --> 00:34:49,618
Mr. Earnest: I'm not sure
that the President at this

713
00:34:49,620 --> 00:34:53,660
point would weigh in on a
hypothetical question like

714
00:34:53,658 --> 00:34:55,698
that that would ultimately
be decided by the courts.

715
00:34:58,229 --> 00:34:59,229
Pam.

716
00:34:59,230 --> 00:35:01,770
The Press: Josh, Senator
Leahy said that he was

717
00:35:01,766 --> 00:35:04,906
pessimistic now about the
Garland nomination getting

718
00:35:04,902 --> 00:35:08,242
out of committee and that
there was no procedural way

719
00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:09,809
that they could get it out
of committee

720
00:35:09,807 --> 00:35:10,677
and to the floor.

721
00:35:10,675 --> 00:35:12,945
How do you feel about that?

722
00:35:12,944 --> 00:35:15,344
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
as I mentioned earlier,

723
00:35:15,346 --> 00:35:17,346
I'm an optimistic guy,
and I continue to be very

724
00:35:17,348 --> 00:35:18,348
optimistic about the
prospects

725
00:35:18,349 --> 00:35:19,789
for Chief Judge Garland.

726
00:35:19,784 --> 00:35:21,884
The reason for that is we
made important progress in

727
00:35:21,886 --> 00:35:24,386
advancing his
nomination thus far.

728
00:35:24,388 --> 00:35:27,028
You'll recall that shortly
after the announcement of

729
00:35:27,024 --> 00:35:29,024
Justice Scalia's
untimely death,

730
00:35:29,026 --> 00:35:31,296
Leader McConnell made clear
that the Senate would in no

731
00:35:31,295 --> 00:35:34,095
way consider anybody that
the President put forward.

732
00:35:34,098 --> 00:35:38,068
But again, you
have, even today,

733
00:35:38,069 --> 00:35:40,069
Chief Judge Garland meeting
with another four or five

734
00:35:40,071 --> 00:35:42,071
members of the
United States Senate.

735
00:35:42,073 --> 00:35:44,073
Just yesterday, he met with
three Republican members

736
00:35:44,075 --> 00:35:45,075
of the United States.

737
00:35:45,076 --> 00:35:50,316
These are three Republican
senators who -- including

738
00:35:50,314 --> 00:35:52,314
the Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee,

739
00:35:52,316 --> 00:35:54,316
and including one
senator, Pat Toomey,

740
00:35:54,318 --> 00:35:56,318
who had previously said that
he wouldn't meet

741
00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:57,320
with Chief Judge Garland.

742
00:35:57,321 --> 00:36:01,891
But because of the pressure
that he has faced to do his

743
00:36:01,893 --> 00:36:05,133
job, he did change his
position and ultimately meet

744
00:36:05,129 --> 00:36:06,129
with Chief Judge Garland.

745
00:36:06,130 --> 00:36:08,530
They had, according to
Senator Toomey's readout,

746
00:36:08,533 --> 00:36:10,273
a "substantive
conversation."

747
00:36:10,268 --> 00:36:12,768
I think it lasted
almost an hour.

748
00:36:12,770 --> 00:36:14,770
And I think the
question now, though,

749
00:36:14,772 --> 00:36:17,312
particularly for the people
of the Commonwealth of

750
00:36:17,308 --> 00:36:20,148
Pennsylvania is, well, now
that your senator has had

751
00:36:20,144 --> 00:36:22,444
the opportunity to hear
from Chief Judge Garland,

752
00:36:22,446 --> 00:36:24,446
shouldn't you get the
benefit of hearing

753
00:36:24,448 --> 00:36:25,448
from him too?

754
00:36:25,449 --> 00:36:27,449
Senator Toomey said that he
was prepared to ask some

755
00:36:27,451 --> 00:36:30,751
tough questions, and
that after having that

756
00:36:30,755 --> 00:36:32,755
conversation with
Chief Judge Garland,

757
00:36:32,757 --> 00:36:37,227
Senator Toomey claims to
harbor some concerns.

758
00:36:37,228 --> 00:36:42,138
Well, if those
concerns are genuine,

759
00:36:42,133 --> 00:36:45,233
why wouldn't we hear
about them in public?

760
00:36:45,236 --> 00:36:47,236
Why would Senator Toomey
just try to keep

761
00:36:47,238 --> 00:36:48,808
that conversation private?

762
00:36:48,806 --> 00:36:50,146
Why wouldn't we
have a forum,

763
00:36:50,141 --> 00:36:52,481
like the Senate
Judiciary Committee,

764
00:36:52,476 --> 00:36:53,476
convene a hearing?

765
00:36:53,477 --> 00:36:55,477
And let's have Chief Judge
Garland answer those

766
00:36:55,479 --> 00:36:57,679
questions on the record,
on camera and under oath.

767
00:36:57,682 --> 00:37:00,422
He's happy to answer Senator
Toomey's tough questions in

768
00:37:00,418 --> 00:37:01,418
that setting.

769
00:37:01,419 --> 00:37:03,419
And then let's do what
Republicans recommend --

770
00:37:03,421 --> 00:37:05,421
let's let the
people have a voice.

771
00:37:05,423 --> 00:37:07,423
Let's them decide about
whether or not this

772
00:37:07,425 --> 00:37:08,425
nomination should
move forward.

773
00:37:08,426 --> 00:37:11,496
I suspect, Pam, that if
Senator Toomey actually

774
00:37:11,495 --> 00:37:16,005
believed that Chief Judge
Garland was -- or actually

775
00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,140
harbored legitimate concerns
that Chief Judge Garland

776
00:37:18,135 --> 00:37:20,205
wasn't qualified for
the Supreme Court,

777
00:37:20,204 --> 00:37:22,574
I suspect that Senator
Toomey, at that point,

778
00:37:22,573 --> 00:37:25,173
then would
support a hearing,

779
00:37:25,176 --> 00:37:27,876
because he would certainly
be eager to demonstrate to

780
00:37:27,878 --> 00:37:31,278
the people of Pennsylvania
why he opposed Chief Judge

781
00:37:31,282 --> 00:37:32,582
Garland's nomination.

782
00:37:32,583 --> 00:37:36,853
That's why I suspect
that, in fact,

783
00:37:36,854 --> 00:37:38,954
Senator Toomey understands
that Chief Judge Garland

784
00:37:38,956 --> 00:37:41,456
would perform quite well
in the context of a Senate

785
00:37:41,459 --> 00:37:43,559
Judiciary Committee hearing.

786
00:37:43,561 --> 00:37:45,631
He would do well in
answering questions on the

787
00:37:45,630 --> 00:37:47,930
record, on camera, under
oath about some of the most

788
00:37:47,932 --> 00:37:51,102
difficult legal questions
facing this country.

789
00:37:51,102 --> 00:37:52,302
He would do so
well, in fact,

790
00:37:52,303 --> 00:37:54,543
that we would see increased
public pressure for the

791
00:37:54,538 --> 00:37:56,538
United States Senate
to confirm him.

792
00:37:56,540 --> 00:37:59,740
That is why Senator Toomey
and the other Republicans in

793
00:37:59,744 --> 00:38:01,744
the United States Senate
don't want to go through

794
00:38:01,746 --> 00:38:02,746
a hearing.

795
00:38:02,747 --> 00:38:04,747
That's why they don't want
to move forward

796
00:38:04,749 --> 00:38:05,749
with a hearing.

797
00:38:05,750 --> 00:38:07,750
Because they don't want to
give Chief Judge Garland the

798
00:38:07,752 --> 00:38:11,252
opportunity to demonstrate
his fitness for the job.

799
00:38:11,255 --> 00:38:13,695
And that just is not
-- that's not fair.

800
00:38:13,691 --> 00:38:16,831
It's also inconsistent with
what the American people

801
00:38:16,827 --> 00:38:19,697
expect of the United
States Senate.

802
00:38:19,697 --> 00:38:21,697
It's also inconsistent with
the requirements of the

803
00:38:21,699 --> 00:38:22,829
United States Constitution.

804
00:38:22,833 --> 00:38:25,133
The Press: Well, I guess the
key to the next step going

805
00:38:25,136 --> 00:38:27,236
beyond these
courtesy visits,

806
00:38:27,238 --> 00:38:30,378
is -- Chuck Grassley, the
head of the Judiciary

807
00:38:30,374 --> 00:38:33,144
Committee, who says he's
faced a lot worse pressure

808
00:38:33,144 --> 00:38:36,584
than this and he's not
going to cave into it.

809
00:38:36,580 --> 00:38:37,850
Mr. Earnest: Well, with all

810
00:38:37,848 --> 00:38:39,848
due respect to Chairman Grassley,

811
00:38:39,850 --> 00:38:41,850
he's had a couple
different positions about

812
00:38:41,852 --> 00:38:43,852
whether or not he was going
to meet with

813
00:38:43,854 --> 00:38:44,854
Chief Judge Garland as well.

814
00:38:44,855 --> 00:38:46,825
And, look, I think the
question for him is the same.

815
00:38:46,824 --> 00:38:51,534
I think that he and Senator
Toomey and some of the other

816
00:38:51,529 --> 00:38:55,899
Republicans were hopeful
that by taking the private

817
00:38:55,900 --> 00:38:58,140
meeting with Chief
Judge Garland,

818
00:38:58,135 --> 00:39:01,005
that that would relieve some
of the pressure that they face.

819
00:39:01,005 --> 00:39:03,205
I happen to think that
the opposite is true.

820
00:39:03,207 --> 00:39:05,207
Now that they've had the
private meeting and now that

821
00:39:05,209 --> 00:39:07,209
they've had the
private conversation,

822
00:39:07,211 --> 00:39:09,211
I think it only begs the
question why they won't want

823
00:39:09,213 --> 00:39:12,483
to have that
conversation in public.

824
00:39:12,483 --> 00:39:14,483
And I'm not really sure what
the answer to that would be

825
00:39:14,485 --> 00:39:18,325
unless their only concern is
they don't want to have that

826
00:39:18,322 --> 00:39:20,622
conversation in public
because they know how well

827
00:39:20,624 --> 00:39:22,994
Chief Judge Garland would
do in answering their questions.

828
00:39:22,993 --> 00:39:24,993
That's the reason they don't
want to have it in public.

829
00:39:24,995 --> 00:39:26,995
That's the reason that they
don't want to move forward

830
00:39:26,997 --> 00:39:28,997
with a hearing, because
that's only going to

831
00:39:28,999 --> 00:39:32,469
increase the pressure
on them to vote.

832
00:39:32,470 --> 00:39:35,170
So, look, I know that there
are people who are eager to

833
00:39:35,172 --> 00:39:38,012
say, look, you guys aren't
really changing the tone,

834
00:39:38,008 --> 00:39:40,008
you're not changing the
dynamic of the debate on

835
00:39:40,010 --> 00:39:43,750
Capitol Hill as it relates

836
00:39:43,748 --> 00:39:47,348
to Chief Judge Garland's nomination.

837
00:39:47,351 --> 00:39:51,551
And I think what I would say
is the direction of that

838
00:39:51,555 --> 00:39:55,325
debate right now is such
that Republicans are feeling

839
00:39:55,326 --> 00:39:58,626
pressure to do things they
said they weren't going to do.

840
00:39:58,629 --> 00:40:02,769
Now, that started out as
holding private meetings

841
00:40:02,767 --> 00:40:04,767
with Chief Judge Garland
that they originally

842
00:40:04,769 --> 00:40:06,769
indicated they weren't
prepared to have.

843
00:40:06,771 --> 00:40:09,041
And after having those
private meetings I think the

844
00:40:09,039 --> 00:40:11,679
pressure is only going
to continue to increase.

845
00:40:11,675 --> 00:40:14,145
The Press: If Grassley
sticks to his guns,

846
00:40:14,145 --> 00:40:16,015
is there a
fallback strategy?

847
00:40:16,013 --> 00:40:18,083
Is there thought of
a recess appointment,

848
00:40:18,082 --> 00:40:19,252
anything like that?

849
00:40:19,250 --> 00:40:22,890
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
there is a clearly specified

850
00:40:22,887 --> 00:40:30,727
process for confirming
nominees to the Supreme Court.

851
00:40:30,728 --> 00:40:33,668
And nowhere in the
Constitution does it say

852
00:40:33,664 --> 00:40:35,734
that the Senate should not
follow that process

853
00:40:35,733 --> 00:40:37,703
in an election year.

854
00:40:37,701 --> 00:40:39,701
In fact, the last time that
the Senate had to move

855
00:40:39,703 --> 00:40:43,843
forward through the process
of voting for a nominee for

856
00:40:43,841 --> 00:40:45,841
the Supreme Court in a
presidential election year,

857
00:40:45,843 --> 00:40:48,043
the members of the United
States Senate

858
00:40:48,045 --> 00:40:50,085
actually did their job.

859
00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:52,450
In that situation, you had
Democrats who were in charge

860
00:40:52,449 --> 00:40:55,919
of the Senate, and in 1988
they were actually being

861
00:40:55,920 --> 00:40:58,960
asked by a Republican
President of the United

862
00:40:58,956 --> 00:41:02,256
States in his last year in
office to vote to confirm

863
00:41:02,259 --> 00:41:04,859
Justice Anthony Kennedy
to the Supreme Court,

864
00:41:04,862 --> 00:41:05,862
and they did.

865
00:41:05,863 --> 00:41:06,933
They followed through.

866
00:41:06,931 --> 00:41:08,701
They did their job.

867
00:41:08,699 --> 00:41:10,699
But right now, you have
Republicans in the Senate

868
00:41:10,701 --> 00:41:12,771
who are refusing
to do their job.

869
00:41:12,770 --> 00:41:15,310
And I know there are some
who want to say, well, look,

870
00:41:15,306 --> 00:41:20,946
I recognize that this may be
an issue of real importance

871
00:41:20,945 --> 00:41:23,985
in Washington, D.C., but
across the country it's hard

872
00:41:23,981 --> 00:41:26,221
to get people particularly
exercised

873
00:41:26,217 --> 00:41:29,487
about the Supreme Court.

874
00:41:29,486 --> 00:41:31,486
First of all, I'm not really
sure that I agree with that

875
00:41:31,488 --> 00:41:35,128
sentiment that some express
because I do think that

876
00:41:35,125 --> 00:41:37,195
people understand the
consequences of ensuring

877
00:41:37,194 --> 00:41:39,464
that the Supreme Court
is fully staffed when

878
00:41:39,463 --> 00:41:43,263
considering important
questions like immigration

879
00:41:43,267 --> 00:41:49,177
reform and climate change
and personal privacy and

880
00:41:49,173 --> 00:41:53,773
other things --
affirmative action.

881
00:41:53,777 --> 00:41:57,417
But what I do think people
feel strongly about is that

882
00:41:57,414 --> 00:42:02,184
public servants, who are
collecting annual six-figure

883
00:42:02,186 --> 00:42:06,086
paychecks, not doing their
job -- that I think people

884
00:42:06,090 --> 00:42:08,290
are going to be pretty
concerned about.

885
00:42:08,292 --> 00:42:13,562
And I think that is a
question that people who are

886
00:42:13,564 --> 00:42:15,664
on the ballot in the fall
are definitely going to have

887
00:42:15,666 --> 00:42:16,166
to reckon with.

888
00:42:16,166 --> 00:42:16,936
The Press: Josh,
can I follow up?

889
00:42:16,934 --> 00:42:18,134
Mr. Earnest: Sure, Suzanne.

890
00:42:18,135 --> 00:42:18,765
Go ahead.

891
00:42:18,769 --> 00:42:20,139
The Press: You've been
making this case from the

892
00:42:20,137 --> 00:42:21,407
podium for weeks now.

893
00:42:21,405 --> 00:42:22,575
I mean, at what point does
the White House

894
00:42:22,573 --> 00:42:23,843
change its strategy?

895
00:42:23,841 --> 00:42:26,241
I mean, there's clearly
still resistance from the

896
00:42:26,243 --> 00:42:27,913
Republican leadership that
there are not going

897
00:42:27,912 --> 00:42:29,042
to be these hearings.

898
00:42:29,046 --> 00:42:31,716
So when do you adjust, when
do you change your strategy

899
00:42:31,715 --> 00:42:33,885
to something that's
more successful?

900
00:42:33,884 --> 00:42:36,054
Mr. Earnest: Well, Suzanne,
we initially encountered

901
00:42:36,053 --> 00:42:38,093
resistance from Republicans
refusing to even meet

902
00:42:38,088 --> 00:42:39,388
with Chief Judge Garland.

903
00:42:39,390 --> 00:42:41,890
And I think by the end of
this week we'll be up to

904
00:42:41,892 --> 00:42:45,032
eight or nine Republican
senators who have agreed to

905
00:42:45,029 --> 00:42:46,769
meet with Chief
Judge Garland.

906
00:42:46,764 --> 00:42:49,804
All of them are doing that
over the objection of the

907
00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:52,340
Republican leader in the
United States Senate who has

908
00:42:52,336 --> 00:42:53,906
said that he's not going
to do any meetings,

909
00:42:53,904 --> 00:42:56,074
and he said that the Senate
wouldn't even consider

910
00:42:56,073 --> 00:42:58,073
Chief Judge Garland.

911
00:42:58,075 --> 00:43:00,675
And I think after
these meetings occur,

912
00:43:00,678 --> 00:43:04,018
you see them facing even
more intense pressure from

913
00:43:04,014 --> 00:43:07,154
their constituents, saying,
why are you having a long

914
00:43:07,151 --> 00:43:09,151
conversation with Chief
Judge Garland in private

915
00:43:09,153 --> 00:43:10,423
but not in public?

916
00:43:10,421 --> 00:43:12,421
Why do you have to hide in
the Senate dining room to

917
00:43:12,423 --> 00:43:13,423
have this conversation?

918
00:43:13,424 --> 00:43:15,424
Why wouldn't you have this
conversation in public?

919
00:43:15,426 --> 00:43:17,426
What is it that you're
concerned about?

920
00:43:17,428 --> 00:43:18,428
What are you
embarrassed about?

921
00:43:18,429 --> 00:43:20,429
Why not just follow
through with the process,

922
00:43:20,431 --> 00:43:22,431
the time-honored process of
giving the Chief Judge the

923
00:43:22,433 --> 00:43:24,073
opportunity to
make his case?

924
00:43:24,068 --> 00:43:25,068
And here's the thing.

925
00:43:25,069 --> 00:43:27,609
I don't think you'd actually
necessarily be doing Chief

926
00:43:27,604 --> 00:43:28,944
Judge Garland a favor.

927
00:43:28,939 --> 00:43:31,709
First of all, it's the
Senate's job to do this.

928
00:43:31,709 --> 00:43:34,249
Second of all, we would
anticipate that Chief Judge

929
00:43:34,244 --> 00:43:36,444
Garland would face really
tough questions from

930
00:43:36,447 --> 00:43:38,187
Democrats and Republicans.

931
00:43:38,182 --> 00:43:40,552
And he would face those
questions for hours at a

932
00:43:40,551 --> 00:43:42,751
time, and he'd do it with
the camera turned

933
00:43:42,753 --> 00:43:44,793
on all the time.

934
00:43:44,788 --> 00:43:46,888
And he'd do it under oath.

935
00:43:46,890 --> 00:43:48,290
That's a tall order.

936
00:43:48,292 --> 00:43:51,462
But that's exactly what the
President's expectation is

937
00:43:51,462 --> 00:43:53,662
that Chief Judge
Garland should do.

938
00:43:53,664 --> 00:43:56,034
So we're not asking
for a free pass.

939
00:43:56,033 --> 00:43:58,533
We are asking for members of
the United States Senate --

940
00:43:58,535 --> 00:44:00,675
Republicans --
to do their job.

941
00:44:00,671 --> 00:44:02,811
The Press: So would you
consider having Garland go

942
00:44:02,806 --> 00:44:06,606
before some other forum to
get the message across?

943
00:44:06,610 --> 00:44:08,410
I mean, if you can't
get the public hearings,

944
00:44:08,412 --> 00:44:10,912
is there some other way that
he would be able to speak

945
00:44:10,914 --> 00:44:12,284
to the public?

946
00:44:12,282 --> 00:44:17,192
Mr. Earnest: Well,
at this point,

947
00:44:17,187 --> 00:44:19,187
we would just prefer that
the Senate follow through

948
00:44:19,189 --> 00:44:20,229
with their regular process.

949
00:44:20,224 --> 00:44:23,764
And there have been a number
of senators who have now had

950
00:44:23,761 --> 00:44:28,031
the opportunity to -- there
are now a number of senators

951
00:44:28,032 --> 00:44:31,102
who have had an opportunity
to hear from him in private,

952
00:44:31,101 --> 00:44:33,701
and we believe that those
senators and the rest of the

953
00:44:33,704 --> 00:44:35,704
American people should have
the opportunity to hear

954
00:44:35,706 --> 00:44:36,676
from him in public.

955
00:44:36,673 --> 00:44:38,673
The Press: You won't
create some sort of other

956
00:44:38,675 --> 00:44:40,675
alternative forum to
allow him to do that?

957
00:44:40,677 --> 00:44:42,677
Mr. Earnest: At this point,
that's not something that

958
00:44:42,679 --> 00:44:43,679
we're contemplating.

959
00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:49,520
There is a forum that has
been given to every Supreme

960
00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:52,020
Court nominee since 1875.

961
00:44:52,022 --> 00:44:54,822
Every single Supreme Court
nominee since 1875 has

962
00:44:54,825 --> 00:44:58,795
either gotten a hearing
and/or a vote unless the

963
00:44:58,796 --> 00:45:01,696
President pulled back
their nomination.

964
00:45:01,698 --> 00:45:04,098
And the President made
pretty clear he's not going

965
00:45:04,101 --> 00:45:06,101
to pull back Chief Judge
Garland's nomination.

966
00:45:06,103 --> 00:45:08,303
He is clearly worthy of a
lifetime appointment on the

967
00:45:08,305 --> 00:45:10,845
Supreme Court, and he is
clearly worthy of being

968
00:45:10,841 --> 00:45:13,211
treated fairly by the
United States Senate.

969
00:45:13,210 --> 00:45:16,080
And that's going to require
Republicans in the United

970
00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:17,650
States Senate
doing their job,

971
00:45:17,648 --> 00:45:20,548
doing the job that
they are paid to do.

972
00:45:20,551 --> 00:45:28,021
And, look, even if there may
be individual voters across

973
00:45:28,025 --> 00:45:31,025
the country who are not
following the day-to-day

974
00:45:31,028 --> 00:45:33,028
developments of the
Supreme Court fight,

975
00:45:33,030 --> 00:45:35,030
I do think that they're
following the day-to-day

976
00:45:35,032 --> 00:45:37,032
developments about whether
or not their representatives

977
00:45:37,034 --> 00:45:39,034
in Washington are
doing their job.

978
00:45:39,036 --> 00:45:41,036
The Press: And on the
meeting today with his

979
00:45:41,038 --> 00:45:44,408
National Security Council,
is the message coming out of

980
00:45:44,408 --> 00:45:45,508
that meeting going
to be focused on U.S. allies

981
00:45:45,509 --> 00:45:48,009
and the importance of
them sharing intelligence --

982
00:45:48,011 --> 00:45:50,051
doing a better job of
sharing intelligence when it

983
00:45:50,047 --> 00:45:51,217
comes to ISIS?

984
00:45:51,215 --> 00:45:53,115
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
importance of sharing

985
00:45:53,117 --> 00:45:54,387
intelligence will
certainly be a part of the

986
00:45:54,384 --> 00:45:55,454
conversation.

987
00:45:55,452 --> 00:45:57,892
I described the
way that U.S.

988
00:45:57,888 --> 00:46:01,658
intelligence analysts were
able to exploit information

989
00:46:01,658 --> 00:46:04,628
from the Abu Sayyaf raid
to benefit our campaign.

990
00:46:04,628 --> 00:46:08,768
That's an indication of how
important it is to closely

991
00:46:08,765 --> 00:46:11,505
integrate our military and
intelligence activities.

992
00:46:11,502 --> 00:46:14,302
It's also an indication of
just how important it is for

993
00:46:14,304 --> 00:46:18,144
intelligence analysts to be
able to share information

994
00:46:18,142 --> 00:46:20,312
with the military, but also
with other intelligence

995
00:46:20,310 --> 00:46:23,250
agencies, to develop a
better picture of what

996
00:46:23,247 --> 00:46:26,647
exactly is happening on the
ground in Iraq and in Syria,

997
00:46:26,650 --> 00:46:28,720
because that's just going
to enhance our ability to

998
00:46:28,719 --> 00:46:33,319
further disrupt, degrade and
ultimately destroy ISIL.

999
00:46:33,323 --> 00:46:35,323
So that's the focus
of our efforts.

1000
00:46:35,325 --> 00:46:39,595
And that will include
encouraging our allies to do

1001
00:46:39,596 --> 00:46:42,436
a better job of sharing even
more information with the

1002
00:46:42,432 --> 00:46:44,432
United States
and our partners.

1003
00:46:44,434 --> 00:46:46,434
And we're going to continue
to make that case,

1004
00:46:46,436 --> 00:46:48,806
and I wouldn't be surprised
if that's something that

1005
00:46:48,805 --> 00:46:50,145
does come up in
today's meeting.

1006
00:46:50,140 --> 00:46:51,610
Bill.

1007
00:46:51,608 --> 00:46:54,278
The Press: On the Russian
flyover in the Baltic,

1008
00:46:54,278 --> 00:46:57,818
two days ago we were told
that the Russians made 11

1009
00:46:57,814 --> 00:47:01,454
different passes
at 100 feet,

1010
00:47:01,451 --> 00:47:03,691
so close that they left
wakes in the water,

1011
00:47:03,687 --> 00:47:07,057
and that this is
specifically forbidden by

1012
00:47:07,057 --> 00:47:11,727
the joint agreement
of forces operation.

1013
00:47:11,728 --> 00:47:15,398
So isn't this something that
would then rise to the level

1014
00:47:15,399 --> 00:47:17,939
of a presidential complaint?

1015
00:47:17,935 --> 00:47:20,375
Mr. Earnest: Well, Bill,
I think at this point I

1016
00:47:20,370 --> 00:47:23,170
wouldn't prejudge exactly
how -- we'll register our

1017
00:47:23,173 --> 00:47:25,413
concerns in private
with the Russians.

1018
00:47:25,409 --> 00:47:25,979
Obviously -- The Press:
Would it be private?

1019
00:47:25,976 --> 00:47:28,046
Why wouldn't it be public?

1020
00:47:28,045 --> 00:47:30,645
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
the conversation that we're

1021
00:47:30,647 --> 00:47:32,487
having now would be public.

1022
00:47:32,482 --> 00:47:34,052
And I've made quite clear
that the actions by these

1023
00:47:34,051 --> 00:47:39,921
particular Russian military
pilots were inconsistent

1024
00:47:39,923 --> 00:47:43,463
with the professional norms
of militaries that are

1025
00:47:43,460 --> 00:47:45,860
operating in proximity to
one another in international

1026
00:47:45,862 --> 00:47:47,862
airspace and in
international waters.

1027
00:47:47,864 --> 00:47:49,134
We've made no
bones about that.

1028
00:47:49,132 --> 00:47:51,132
And my colleagues at the
Defense Department have been

1029
00:47:51,134 --> 00:47:53,104
clear about that
publicly, as well.

1030
00:47:53,103 --> 00:47:55,443
In terms of what the private
conversations look like,

1031
00:47:55,439 --> 00:47:57,439
I just don't have a
description of that

1032
00:47:57,441 --> 00:47:58,441
for you right now.

1033
00:47:58,442 --> 00:48:00,442
But we'll keep you
posted on that.

1034
00:48:00,444 --> 00:48:02,914
The Press: But it seems to
be serious enough that it

1035
00:48:02,913 --> 00:48:03,983
would warrant
presidential attention.

1036
00:48:03,981 --> 00:48:06,581
Mr. Earnest: Well, Bill,
what's also true is that we

1037
00:48:06,583 --> 00:48:09,383
have seen a pattern on the
part of the Russians in

1038
00:48:09,386 --> 00:48:13,356
undertaking these kinds of
actions that they at least,

1039
00:48:13,357 --> 00:48:15,357
I think, intend
to be provocative.

1040
00:48:18,128 --> 00:48:22,068
And they're a source
of some irritation,

1041
00:48:22,065 --> 00:48:24,205
and that's something that
we have expressed, again,

1042
00:48:24,201 --> 00:48:26,971
both publicly and
privately to the Russians.

1043
00:48:26,970 --> 00:48:29,040
But as it relates to
this specific incident,

1044
00:48:29,039 --> 00:48:32,479
I don't know at this point
exactly how to describe to

1045
00:48:32,476 --> 00:48:34,616
you what our private
communications

1046
00:48:34,611 --> 00:48:37,111
with the Russians would be.

1047
00:48:37,114 --> 00:48:38,114
Chris.

1048
00:48:38,115 --> 00:48:40,155
The Press: Josh, The New
York Times Editorial Board

1049
00:48:40,150 --> 00:48:44,550
last week published a
piece saying the U.S.

1050
00:48:44,554 --> 00:48:48,394
military's review of the
transgender military service

1051
00:48:48,392 --> 00:48:51,732
has stalled and time has
come for the ban to be lifted.

1052
00:48:51,728 --> 00:48:53,568
Is the President satisfied
by the pace at which that

1053
00:48:53,563 --> 00:48:55,303
review is being conducted?

1054
00:48:55,299 --> 00:48:58,139
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
gotten an update on that

1055
00:48:58,135 --> 00:49:00,435
ongoing process, but I'd
encourage you to check with

1056
00:49:00,437 --> 00:49:01,437
the Department of Defense.

1057
00:49:01,438 --> 00:49:06,178
Obviously, Secretary Carter
has made a pretty forceful

1058
00:49:06,176 --> 00:49:09,546
statement in terms of the
kinds of values that he

1059
00:49:09,546 --> 00:49:13,186
believes should be embodied
in military policy.

1060
00:49:13,183 --> 00:49:15,523
He does believe that people
who are capable of serving

1061
00:49:15,519 --> 00:49:17,959
their country and have a
desire to do so should be

1062
00:49:17,954 --> 00:49:20,224
allowed to do that and they
shouldn't be discriminated

1063
00:49:20,223 --> 00:49:24,093
against just because
of who they are.

1064
00:49:26,697 --> 00:49:28,697
But, look, this is something
that the Department of

1065
00:49:28,699 --> 00:49:29,699
Defense is
handling right now.

1066
00:49:29,700 --> 00:49:32,170
Obviously the President
approves of the value

1067
00:49:32,169 --> 00:49:36,609
statement that we heard
from Secretary Carter.

1068
00:49:36,606 --> 00:49:38,606
But for implementing
the policy,

1069
00:49:38,608 --> 00:49:40,608
we want to make sure that
we're doing that consistent

1070
00:49:40,610 --> 00:49:43,010
with the recommendations of
the military leadership.

1071
00:49:43,013 --> 00:49:44,013
So that's why I'd refer
you

1072
00:49:44,014 --> 00:49:45,114
to Secretary Carter's office.

1073
00:49:45,115 --> 00:49:47,655
The Press: Yesterday you
told me that a bill against

1074
00:49:47,651 --> 00:49:50,951
transgender students in
Tennessee was mean-spirited

1075
00:49:50,954 --> 00:49:55,254
and contrary to values
of equality and justice.

1076
00:49:55,258 --> 00:49:57,398
Isn't it contradictory to
hold that position and to

1077
00:49:57,394 --> 00:50:01,464
also -- while the
administration has a policy

1078
00:50:01,465 --> 00:50:03,765
in place that prohibits
transgender people from

1079
00:50:03,767 --> 00:50:04,797
serving in the armed forces?

1080
00:50:04,801 --> 00:50:06,341
Mr. Earnest: Chris, I guess
I'd point out that's why

1081
00:50:06,336 --> 00:50:07,406
we're looking to change it.

1082
00:50:07,404 --> 00:50:09,144
And that's why Secretary
Carter indicated that

1083
00:50:09,139 --> 00:50:10,609
they're looking
to changing it.

1084
00:50:10,607 --> 00:50:12,777
So for where that
process stands,

1085
00:50:12,776 --> 00:50:14,776
I'd encourage you
to check with him.

1086
00:50:14,778 --> 00:50:16,778
The Press: But the buck
stops with the President.

1087
00:50:16,780 --> 00:50:18,780
Is he expected to ban this
by the end of his term?

1088
00:50:18,782 --> 00:50:20,782
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
what their timeline is,

1089
00:50:20,784 --> 00:50:22,884
but you should
check with them.

1090
00:50:22,886 --> 00:50:23,886
David.

1091
00:50:23,887 --> 00:50:26,287
The Press: Josh, yesterday
we talked a little bit about

1092
00:50:26,289 --> 00:50:28,189
sort of the anxiety on the
campaign trail over the

1093
00:50:28,191 --> 00:50:32,461
trade deal and what has been
reflected by the candidates'

1094
00:50:32,462 --> 00:50:35,202
position on TPP says
something about sort of the

1095
00:50:35,198 --> 00:50:37,638
public anxiety
on that issue.

1096
00:50:37,634 --> 00:50:39,134
You seemed to acknowledge
the public has an anxiety

1097
00:50:39,136 --> 00:50:39,766
on that.

1098
00:50:39,770 --> 00:50:41,440
I'm wondering,
on immigration,

1099
00:50:41,438 --> 00:50:43,978
if what's happening on
the Republican side has

1100
00:50:43,974 --> 00:50:46,574
reflected something that
is sort of counter to what

1101
00:50:46,576 --> 00:50:48,776
people thought after 2012,
which is that the country is

1102
00:50:48,779 --> 00:50:52,749
ready for some grand piece
of comprehensive reform.

1103
00:50:52,749 --> 00:50:55,619
And you've had a legislative
effort that's been blocked

1104
00:50:55,619 --> 00:50:57,889
in Congress and an executive
action that has been blocked

1105
00:50:57,888 --> 00:51:00,158
by federal judges
on two levels now.

1106
00:51:00,157 --> 00:51:03,227
Does the White House believe
there's maybe not enough

1107
00:51:03,226 --> 00:51:06,396
public -- ultimately public
support for this kind of

1108
00:51:06,396 --> 00:51:09,536
maneuver at this point, and
that's why you've had such

1109
00:51:09,533 --> 00:51:12,373
difficulty moving forward
at pretty much all levels?

1110
00:51:12,369 --> 00:51:14,769
Mr. Earnest: No, I
don't think that.

1111
00:51:14,771 --> 00:51:17,871
I think that there is
demonstrated bipartisan

1112
00:51:17,874 --> 00:51:22,514
support across the country
for common-sense immigration

1113
00:51:22,512 --> 00:51:24,812
reform that includes an
important investment

1114
00:51:24,815 --> 00:51:25,945
in border security.

1115
00:51:25,949 --> 00:51:28,789
People often forget that the
compromise legislation that

1116
00:51:28,785 --> 00:51:30,555
was reached and passed
through

1117
00:51:30,554 --> 00:51:32,594
the United States Senate in
bipartisan fashion,

1118
00:51:32,589 --> 00:51:34,589
but was blocked by
Republicans in the House,

1119
00:51:34,591 --> 00:51:37,661
actually included an
historic investment

1120
00:51:37,661 --> 00:51:39,501
in border security.

1121
00:51:39,496 --> 00:51:43,966
What I think in general has
happened is -- and not for

1122
00:51:43,967 --> 00:51:46,807
the first time --
that a common-sense,

1123
00:51:46,803 --> 00:51:51,943
bipartisan piece of
legislation was blocked by

1124
00:51:51,942 --> 00:51:56,342
Republicans in charge of
the House who are appealing

1125
00:51:56,346 --> 00:51:59,686
politically to a small
minority of the population.

1126
00:51:59,683 --> 00:52:01,483
That's what's happened.

1127
00:52:01,485 --> 00:52:08,255
And that is what leaves
Republicans in Washington

1128
00:52:08,258 --> 00:52:11,958
quite concerned about the
state of their party.

1129
00:52:11,962 --> 00:52:15,832
Because right now they see
a presidential candidate --

1130
00:52:15,832 --> 00:52:23,202
more than one, I should say
-- right now the party is

1131
00:52:23,206 --> 00:52:26,146
fielding a series of
presidential candidates that

1132
00:52:26,142 --> 00:52:27,842
appears to be taking a
page from that playbook.

1133
00:52:27,844 --> 00:52:30,844
The Press: But the fact that
those candidates have been

1134
00:52:30,847 --> 00:52:32,847
successful, doesn't that say
something about the public's

1135
00:52:32,849 --> 00:52:35,789
view -- not all the public,
but a significant portion of

1136
00:52:35,785 --> 00:52:38,525
it, as the President keeps
trying to move forward even

1137
00:52:38,522 --> 00:52:40,522
on his own on some
of these actions?

1138
00:52:40,524 --> 00:52:44,194
Mr. Earnest: Well, I won't
deny that there are some

1139
00:52:44,194 --> 00:52:48,264
candidates who have
obviously demonstrated some

1140
00:52:48,265 --> 00:52:52,935
success in appealing
to a vocal minority.

1141
00:52:52,936 --> 00:52:56,576
Whether or not that is a
viable winning strategy in a

1142
00:52:56,573 --> 00:52:58,573
general election
remains to be seen.

1143
00:52:58,575 --> 00:53:00,745
I think there are many
Republicans -- based solely

1144
00:53:00,744 --> 00:53:02,814
on what they've said
publicly -- who are worried

1145
00:53:02,812 --> 00:53:04,752
that it's not.

1146
00:53:04,748 --> 00:53:08,148
The Press: Do you feel that
the anxiety that's felt by

1147
00:53:08,151 --> 00:53:10,091
those supporting those
candidates that we're

1148
00:53:10,086 --> 00:53:12,156
talking about on the
Republican side is

1149
00:53:12,155 --> 00:53:15,625
reflective of anxiety on
economics and things that --

1150
00:53:15,625 --> 00:53:17,865
worried that immigrants and
illegal immigrants will take

1151
00:53:17,861 --> 00:53:19,631
their jobs, or worried about
the economy -- that there's

1152
00:53:19,629 --> 00:53:21,029
deeper anxiety there?

1153
00:53:21,031 --> 00:53:22,531
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President has acknowledged

1154
00:53:22,532 --> 00:53:23,972
this anxiety.

1155
00:53:23,967 --> 00:53:27,737
The President has described
this as the aftershocks of

1156
00:53:27,737 --> 00:53:29,337
the Great Recession.

1157
00:53:29,339 --> 00:53:34,249
And I think the President
has made it a conscious

1158
00:53:34,244 --> 00:53:38,484
choice to make a
different kind of appeal.

1159
00:53:38,481 --> 00:53:40,481
We've seen a lot
of Republicans,

1160
00:53:40,483 --> 00:53:42,483
particularly
Republicans in Congress,

1161
00:53:42,485 --> 00:53:46,825
who have made a specific
effort to exploit those fears.

1162
00:53:46,823 --> 00:53:50,023
And, look, that proved to be
an effective strategy for

1163
00:53:50,026 --> 00:53:52,096
them in the 2014
midterm elections.

1164
00:53:52,095 --> 00:53:55,595
But it's not good
for the country,

1165
00:53:55,599 --> 00:53:58,839
and it does have the effect
of blocking common-sense

1166
00:53:58,835 --> 00:54:03,745
policies that a majority
of the country clearly supports.

1167
00:54:03,740 --> 00:54:10,510
There's a reason that you
had Republican-leaning

1168
00:54:10,513 --> 00:54:13,513
business organizations, law
enforcement organizations,

1169
00:54:13,516 --> 00:54:16,616
faith-based organizations
all indicating their strong

1170
00:54:16,620 --> 00:54:20,260
support for common-sense
immigration reform.

1171
00:54:20,256 --> 00:54:22,426
The Press: The House is
appealing to a small portion

1172
00:54:22,425 --> 00:54:26,965
of the electorate maybe
against their own party's

1173
00:54:26,963 --> 00:54:29,303
fortunes -- I mean, how
would you describe then the

1174
00:54:29,299 --> 00:54:32,869
sort of antipathy among
these federal judges that

1175
00:54:32,869 --> 00:54:35,139
have ruled against the
President's actions?

1176
00:54:35,138 --> 00:54:40,448
I mean, you can't blame
that on House lawmakers.

1177
00:54:40,443 --> 00:54:44,083
Mr. Earnest: Because this
is a case that is currently

1178
00:54:44,080 --> 00:54:47,450
being appealed, I feel a
little limited in what I can

1179
00:54:47,450 --> 00:54:52,160
say about it, other than
to voice confidence in the

1180
00:54:52,155 --> 00:54:55,425
strength of the legal
argument the Department of

1181
00:54:55,425 --> 00:54:57,865
Justice will be presenting
to the Supreme Court.

1182
00:54:57,861 --> 00:55:01,701
We believe we have a strong
case that is rooted in the

1183
00:55:01,698 --> 00:55:03,068
way that previous
Presidents,

1184
00:55:03,066 --> 00:55:05,066
including Republican
Presidents,

1185
00:55:05,068 --> 00:55:07,668
have used their executive
action to implement

1186
00:55:07,671 --> 00:55:11,611
immigration policy.

1187
00:55:11,608 --> 00:55:15,978
Both President Reagan and
President George H.W. Bush,

1188
00:55:15,979 --> 00:55:18,079
through their
executive action,

1189
00:55:18,081 --> 00:55:23,051
took action to grant some
relief to hundreds of

1190
00:55:23,053 --> 00:55:25,893
thousands of otherwise
undocumented immigrants

1191
00:55:25,889 --> 00:55:29,489
in the United States.

1192
00:55:29,492 --> 00:55:32,532
I recognize that there are
specific legal arguments

1193
00:55:32,529 --> 00:55:33,529
to make.

1194
00:55:33,530 --> 00:55:38,870
But when you just consider
the policies advanced by

1195
00:55:38,868 --> 00:55:41,338
those two Republican
Presidents,

1196
00:55:41,337 --> 00:55:45,237
I think we've got a strong
argument to make when we say

1197
00:55:45,241 --> 00:55:48,081
that what President Obama
did is entirely consistent

1198
00:55:48,078 --> 00:55:49,818
with the way that they used
their executive authority.

1199
00:55:49,813 --> 00:55:52,453
And they did it for many
of the same reasons that

1200
00:55:52,449 --> 00:55:53,779
President Obama did.

1201
00:55:53,783 --> 00:55:54,683
They recognized that there

1202
00:55:54,684 --> 00:55:56,684
are limited enforcement resources.

1203
00:55:56,686 --> 00:55:57,856
They recognized that it
would be good

1204
00:55:57,854 --> 00:55:59,094
for the broader economy.

1205
00:55:59,089 --> 00:56:00,159
They recognized that it
would be good

1206
00:56:00,156 --> 00:56:02,926
for reducing the deficit.

1207
00:56:02,926 --> 00:56:05,566
That's all true of the steps
that President Obama has

1208
00:56:05,562 --> 00:56:07,902
sought to take here.

1209
00:56:07,897 --> 00:56:11,967
So we are prepared to
make a strong case,

1210
00:56:11,968 --> 00:56:15,068
both on the political merits
but also on the legal

1211
00:56:15,071 --> 00:56:17,771
merits, that what President
Obama is seeking to do to

1212
00:56:17,774 --> 00:56:19,774
reform our broken
immigration system and to

1213
00:56:19,776 --> 00:56:21,776
bring much needed
accountability to our

1214
00:56:21,778 --> 00:56:23,778
immigration system is
actually good

1215
00:56:23,780 --> 00:56:24,780
for the country.

1216
00:56:24,781 --> 00:56:27,721
And that's an argument I
suspect we'll have multiple

1217
00:56:27,717 --> 00:56:30,157
opportunities to make not
just before the Supreme

1218
00:56:30,153 --> 00:56:34,153
Court, but potentially over
the course of the election

1219
00:56:34,157 --> 00:56:36,227
as we're debating
all these policies.

1220
00:56:36,226 --> 00:56:37,156
Alex.

1221
00:56:37,160 --> 00:56:39,660
The Press: Tens of thousands
of Verizon workers are going

1222
00:56:39,662 --> 00:56:40,662
on strike today.

1223
00:56:40,663 --> 00:56:43,433
And Secretary Clinton and
Senator Sanders have both

1224
00:56:43,433 --> 00:56:46,333
come down on the side
of the protesters.

1225
00:56:46,336 --> 00:56:48,476
Does the White House have
any plans to reach out to

1226
00:56:48,471 --> 00:56:50,671
either side in this
or get involved?

1227
00:56:50,673 --> 00:56:53,243
Mr. Earnest: At this point,
I'm not aware of any plan on

1228
00:56:53,243 --> 00:56:55,243
the part of the
administration to intervene

1229
00:56:55,245 --> 00:56:57,815
in this labor dispute
between Verizon

1230
00:56:57,814 --> 00:56:59,154
and their union workers.

1231
00:56:59,149 --> 00:57:02,349
Obviously the President has
been an outspoken advocate

1232
00:57:02,352 --> 00:57:08,222
of ensuring that people are
fairly compensated for a

1233
00:57:08,224 --> 00:57:10,494
hard day's work.

1234
00:57:10,493 --> 00:57:14,063
But I'm not aware of any
intent that we have at this

1235
00:57:14,063 --> 00:57:16,063
point to wade
into that dispute.

1236
00:57:16,065 --> 00:57:18,365
The Press: President Obama
has been in contact with

1237
00:57:18,368 --> 00:57:21,868
several Republican senators
regarding Chief Judge Garland.

1238
00:57:21,871 --> 00:57:23,871
Does he have any plans to
reach out to anybody on the

1239
00:57:23,873 --> 00:57:26,713
other side of the aisle
regarding Zika funding?

1240
00:57:26,709 --> 00:57:30,549
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm
not aware of any specific

1241
00:57:30,547 --> 00:57:32,547
conversations that
the President has.

1242
00:57:32,549 --> 00:57:34,719
I know that he's already
had some conversations with

1243
00:57:34,717 --> 00:57:37,717
Republicans about
this priority.

1244
00:57:37,720 --> 00:57:41,320
And, look, there should be
no doubt about what the

1245
00:57:41,324 --> 00:57:43,194
administration
is asking for.

1246
00:57:43,193 --> 00:57:46,263
We sent a letter -- this is
our legislative language

1247
00:57:46,262 --> 00:57:49,832
here -- dated
February 22, 2016,

1248
00:57:49,833 --> 00:57:52,373
and it includes the actual
text of the legislation

1249
00:57:52,368 --> 00:57:55,938
that's required for
Congress to act.

1250
00:57:55,939 --> 00:57:59,479
So we're certainly prepared
to have conversations as

1251
00:57:59,475 --> 00:58:02,575
necessary to get
Congress to act.

1252
00:58:02,579 --> 00:58:06,779
I would anticipate that
people like Dr. Fauci from

1253
00:58:06,783 --> 00:58:08,783
the National
Institute of Health,

1254
00:58:08,785 --> 00:58:12,485
and Dr. Schuchat from the
Centers for Disease Control

1255
00:58:12,488 --> 00:58:14,628
would be happy to have
conversations with

1256
00:58:14,624 --> 00:58:17,164
individual members of
Congress to help them

1257
00:58:17,160 --> 00:58:19,500
understand why this funding
is critical to our ability

1258
00:58:19,495 --> 00:58:21,865
to protect the country.

1259
00:58:21,865 --> 00:58:25,835
So we're prepared to have
as many conversations as

1260
00:58:25,835 --> 00:58:30,575
necessary, but every day
that goes by is a day that's

1261
00:58:30,573 --> 00:58:36,743
wasted to prepare for the
potential impact of this virus.

1262
00:58:36,746 --> 00:58:39,046
Look, it's a rather
unique situation.

1263
00:58:39,048 --> 00:58:41,818
We know in advance
that this is a threat.

1264
00:58:41,818 --> 00:58:44,158
We know in advance the risk
that this poses to the

1265
00:58:44,153 --> 00:58:45,993
American population.

1266
00:58:45,989 --> 00:58:48,629
And we've known this
since early this year.

1267
00:58:48,625 --> 00:58:52,495
The President convened a
meeting in January with his

1268
00:58:52,495 --> 00:58:55,065
national security and his
public health team to

1269
00:58:55,064 --> 00:58:58,004
discuss these risks, and in
the space of a couple of

1270
00:58:58,001 --> 00:59:01,371
weeks put together a robust
proposal with specific

1271
00:59:01,371 --> 00:59:05,171
language that Congress
just needs to pass.

1272
00:59:05,174 --> 00:59:09,584
But for the last two months,
we haven't seen Congress do

1273
00:59:09,579 --> 00:59:13,019
anything other than the
equivalent of start handing

1274
00:59:13,016 --> 00:59:15,316
out umbrellas in advance
of the hurricane.

1275
00:59:15,318 --> 00:59:16,788
John.

1276
00:59:16,786 --> 00:59:17,986
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1277
00:59:17,987 --> 00:59:19,757
Back to Judge Garland.

1278
00:59:19,756 --> 00:59:21,926
Earlier, in response to
Pam's questions about Judge

1279
00:59:21,925 --> 00:59:25,895
Garland and the nomination,
you spoke of important

1280
00:59:25,895 --> 00:59:28,465
progress in the nomination.

1281
00:59:28,464 --> 00:59:31,704
I realize you're an
optimist, but realistically,

1282
00:59:31,701 --> 00:59:34,841
as it relates to the Senate
Judiciary Committee and the

1283
00:59:34,837 --> 00:59:37,237
Republicans on
that committee,

1284
00:59:37,240 --> 00:59:42,080
they remain united in
denying Judge Garland a

1285
00:59:42,078 --> 00:59:45,148
confirmation hearing.

1286
00:59:45,148 --> 00:59:47,718
Between now and
Election Day,

1287
00:59:47,717 --> 00:59:50,557
what do you see changing
that dynamic -- that

1288
00:59:50,553 --> 00:59:54,453
specific dynamic, in which
Republicans on the Judiciary

1289
00:59:54,457 --> 00:59:56,857
Committee say, we're
not going to give him a

1290
00:59:56,859 --> 00:59:58,459
confirmation hearing?

1291
00:59:58,461 --> 01:00:00,161
Mr. Earnest: Well, I can
tell you that there are

1292
01:00:00,163 --> 01:00:02,403
individual members of the
committee who have agreed to

1293
01:00:02,398 --> 01:00:07,738
meet privately with
Chief Judge Garland.

1294
01:00:07,737 --> 01:00:10,407
And again, at the conclusion
of those meetings,

1295
01:00:10,406 --> 01:00:13,606
I think it is only going to
ramp up pressure on them to

1296
01:00:13,609 --> 01:00:16,009
answer a pretty basic
question, which is,

1297
01:00:16,012 --> 01:00:18,582
now that you've been able to
hear from him in private,

1298
01:00:18,581 --> 01:00:20,781
why wouldn't you hear
from him in public?

1299
01:00:20,783 --> 01:00:22,783
And I don't really
understand what the answer

1300
01:00:22,785 --> 01:00:24,785
to that question would be --
unless the answer to that

1301
01:00:24,787 --> 01:00:26,857
question is, I'm just going
to follow Mitch McConnell's

1302
01:00:26,856 --> 01:00:28,926
order and not do my job.

1303
01:00:28,925 --> 01:00:30,895
I don't know that their
constituents are going to

1304
01:00:30,893 --> 01:00:33,393
have a lot of sympathy
for that answer,

1305
01:00:33,396 --> 01:00:35,066
but they can try it.

1306
01:00:35,064 --> 01:00:37,904
But that's why I continue to
be confident that we've got

1307
01:00:37,900 --> 01:00:39,900
a strong case to make and
we're going to continue

1308
01:00:39,902 --> 01:00:40,902
to make it.

1309
01:00:40,903 --> 01:00:42,903
And the pressure on
Republicans is going to

1310
01:00:42,905 --> 01:00:44,045
continue to increase.

1311
01:00:44,040 --> 01:00:46,040
And I know that there are
some Republicans who are

1312
01:00:46,042 --> 01:00:49,082
hoping that by agreeing to
these meetings that they

1313
01:00:49,078 --> 01:00:51,848
would be able to
relieve that pressure,

1314
01:00:51,848 --> 01:00:53,848
but I think they're making
the wrong calculation.

1315
01:00:53,850 --> 01:00:56,090
I think that the pressure
will only intensify.

1316
01:00:56,085 --> 01:00:59,085
The Press: Senator Grassley,
his meeting yesterday with

1317
01:00:59,088 --> 01:01:01,588
Judge Garland -- he issued
a statement after that

1318
01:01:01,591 --> 01:01:04,591
meeting, and the statement
essentially was one in which

1319
01:01:04,594 --> 01:01:08,834
he said the meeting was one
in which he explained to

1320
01:01:08,831 --> 01:01:11,301
Judge Garland why he
will not be getting a

1321
01:01:11,300 --> 01:01:12,970
confirmation hearing.

1322
01:01:12,969 --> 01:01:14,969
And I realize they're
meeting with him,

1323
01:01:14,971 --> 01:01:17,241
but it seems as -- just to
the Judiciary Committee

1324
01:01:17,240 --> 01:01:19,580
where all the action
is taking place,

1325
01:01:19,575 --> 01:01:22,115
where all the necessary
action needs to take place

1326
01:01:22,111 --> 01:01:23,951
to move that confirmation
going forward,

1327
01:01:23,946 --> 01:01:26,016
if they're meeting with
Judge Garland just to

1328
01:01:26,015 --> 01:01:29,455
explain to him why he's not
going to get a confirmation

1329
01:01:29,452 --> 01:01:33,222
hearing, how can you cite
that as, as you call it,

1330
01:01:33,222 --> 01:01:35,492
important progress?

1331
01:01:35,491 --> 01:01:37,591
Mr. Earnest: Well, I would
say a couple of things about it.

1332
01:01:37,593 --> 01:01:41,693
I think it's been well
documented -- well,

1333
01:01:41,697 --> 01:01:44,637
let me say first that I'm
not going to get into the

1334
01:01:44,634 --> 01:01:46,634
details of their
private conversation.

1335
01:01:46,636 --> 01:01:48,606
I'm going to respect the
desire of those Republican

1336
01:01:48,604 --> 01:01:50,604
senators to have that
private conversation.

1337
01:01:50,606 --> 01:01:52,606
That certainly is part and
parcel of the process and

1338
01:01:52,608 --> 01:01:53,648
I'm respectful of that
part of the process.

1339
01:01:53,643 --> 01:01:57,583
The case that I'm making is
that they should also have

1340
01:01:57,580 --> 01:01:58,980
those conversations
in public.

1341
01:01:58,981 --> 01:02:00,981
And I'm not at this point
going to make those

1342
01:02:00,983 --> 01:02:02,053
conversations
public for them.

1343
01:02:02,051 --> 01:02:05,151
I will, however, point out
that the meeting with Judge

1344
01:02:05,154 --> 01:02:10,324
Garland lasted for
well over an hour.

1345
01:02:10,326 --> 01:02:13,266
This is the conversation
between Chairman Grassley

1346
01:02:13,262 --> 01:02:15,262
and Chief Judge Garland.

1347
01:02:16,532 --> 01:02:21,302
I suspect that they covered
more ground on a range of

1348
01:02:21,304 --> 01:02:23,244
substantive issues beyond
just

1349
01:02:23,239 --> 01:02:26,109
what Chairman Grassley described.

1350
01:02:26,109 --> 01:02:33,979
And that I think is an
indication that it's hard

1351
01:02:33,983 --> 01:02:37,423
for Chairman Grassley or
anybody else to explain why

1352
01:02:37,420 --> 01:02:39,420
they would have that
substantive conversation

1353
01:02:39,422 --> 01:02:43,762
with Chief Judge Garland in
private but not in public.

1354
01:02:43,759 --> 01:02:45,759
For the life of me,
I -- there's only one

1355
01:02:45,761 --> 01:02:48,901
explanation, and the only
explanation is that if they

1356
01:02:48,898 --> 01:02:52,238
were to risk having that
meeting in public they would

1357
01:02:52,235 --> 01:02:55,005
risk showing the American
public that Chief Judge Garland

1358
01:02:55,004 --> 01:02:57,004
public that Chief
Judge Garland is entirely

1359
01:02:57,006 --> 01:03:00,306
deserving and entirely
capable of fulfilling his

1360
01:03:00,309 --> 01:03:03,179
duties on the Supreme Court.

1361
01:03:03,179 --> 01:03:06,079
That's why they're
resisting the meeting.

1362
01:03:06,082 --> 01:03:08,552
And that's a tough
case to make.

1363
01:03:08,551 --> 01:03:11,321
And the reason that they're
offering that resistance is

1364
01:03:11,320 --> 01:03:14,760
simply that Mitch
McConnell told them to.

1365
01:03:14,757 --> 01:03:18,397
And again, they're welcome
to make that argument.

1366
01:03:18,394 --> 01:03:23,804
But I don't think that the
people across the country --

1367
01:03:23,799 --> 01:03:26,039
given what they say in
polls about the Republican

1368
01:03:26,035 --> 01:03:28,305
leadership in the United
States Senate -- is going to

1369
01:03:28,304 --> 01:03:30,304
think that that's a
particularly

1370
01:03:30,306 --> 01:03:31,376
persuasive explanation.

1371
01:03:31,374 --> 01:03:32,004
The Press: Just one
last one on this.

1372
01:03:32,008 --> 01:03:34,248
Do you think, or does the
President think that the

1373
01:03:34,243 --> 01:03:38,513
dynamic changes for Judge
Garland if the Democratic

1374
01:03:38,514 --> 01:03:41,054
nominee -- whoever that is,
whether it's Hillary Clinton

1375
01:03:41,050 --> 01:03:45,560
or Bernie Sanders
-- wins in November?

1376
01:03:45,555 --> 01:03:48,295
Does it change in a positive
way for Judge Garland,

1377
01:03:48,291 --> 01:03:51,961
that it's more likely at
that point that he will get

1378
01:03:51,961 --> 01:03:53,931
a confirmation hearing and
will get an up or down vote

1379
01:03:53,930 --> 01:03:57,200
in the United States Senate?

1380
01:03:57,200 --> 01:03:58,500
Mr. Earnest: I think
it's hard to say, again,

1381
01:03:58,501 --> 01:04:00,641
because I don't think
that the argument that

1382
01:04:00,636 --> 01:04:03,276
Republicans are making
right now is particularly

1383
01:04:03,272 --> 01:04:05,572
persuasive and I don't think
it's going to be any more or

1384
01:04:05,575 --> 01:04:09,075
less persuasive
after Election Day.

1385
01:04:09,078 --> 01:04:11,278
Julie, I'll give
you the last one.

1386
01:04:11,280 --> 01:04:14,820
The Press: Josh, some
campaign finance activists

1387
01:04:14,817 --> 01:04:17,757
have been arrested in civil
disobedience actions this

1388
01:04:17,753 --> 01:04:20,953
week, calling for more work
on the part of Congress and

1389
01:04:20,957 --> 01:04:24,957
the White House to get at
some of the dark money

1390
01:04:24,961 --> 01:04:27,661
that's sloshing around
the campaign system.

1391
01:04:27,663 --> 01:04:31,463
Given the President's
promise in the State of the

1392
01:04:31,467 --> 01:04:32,867
Union address to try
to fix our politics,

1393
01:04:32,868 --> 01:04:36,108
has he made any progress in
reviewing this executive

1394
01:04:36,105 --> 01:04:37,875
order that he's been
considering for a while now

1395
01:04:37,873 --> 01:04:40,743
on federal contractors and
disclosing their campaign

1396
01:04:40,743 --> 01:04:44,613
contributions, or any other
measures that he thinks are

1397
01:04:44,614 --> 01:04:46,284
needed to get
at this problem?

1398
01:04:46,282 --> 01:04:47,982
Because we are, as you know,
in the middle of a campaign

1399
01:04:47,984 --> 01:04:50,884
season, so if he
intended to do anything,

1400
01:04:50,886 --> 01:04:53,226
now would probably
be the time.

1401
01:04:53,222 --> 01:04:55,492
Mr. Earnest: Listen, this is
something you've heard the

1402
01:04:55,491 --> 01:04:57,491
President talk about quite a
bit since the State of the

1403
01:04:57,493 --> 01:05:01,733
Union, including in his
speech at Springfield and in

1404
01:05:01,731 --> 01:05:03,871
some of other public
events that he's done.

1405
01:05:06,702 --> 01:05:08,702
I know that there's been a
lot of talk and a lot of

1406
01:05:08,704 --> 01:05:10,744
news coverage about a
potential executive order.

1407
01:05:13,809 --> 01:05:16,209
I don't really have an
update on that process,

1408
01:05:16,212 --> 01:05:19,812
or whether or not even
that process is ongoing.

1409
01:05:19,815 --> 01:05:22,355
What I can say is the
President has observed on a

1410
01:05:22,351 --> 01:05:26,191
number of occasions that the
most impactful way and the

1411
01:05:26,188 --> 01:05:31,098
only real way that Congress
-- or that we'll see the

1412
01:05:31,093 --> 01:05:33,263
kind of change in our
campaign finance system that

1413
01:05:33,262 --> 01:05:38,102
we'd like to see is probably
through a constitutional

1414
01:05:38,100 --> 01:05:41,140
amendment; that given the
rulings that we've seen from

1415
01:05:41,137 --> 01:05:43,937
the Supreme Court and
barring a change in those

1416
01:05:43,939 --> 01:05:48,079
rulings, it's difficult to
imagine the President doing

1417
01:05:48,077 --> 01:05:52,247
anything with his executive
authority that would have a

1418
01:05:52,248 --> 01:05:55,218
dramatic impact
on the situation.

1419
01:05:55,217 --> 01:06:00,787
I think the President has
said that while the problem

1420
01:06:00,790 --> 01:06:03,530
of dark money in
our politics is not

1421
01:06:03,526 --> 01:06:07,466
insignificant, there is more
that we could do to combat

1422
01:06:07,463 --> 01:06:11,863
it than just trying to pass
a constitutional amendment.

1423
01:06:11,867 --> 01:06:16,007
For example, the President
has often observed that in

1424
01:06:16,005 --> 01:06:18,475
the midterm
elections in 2014,

1425
01:06:18,474 --> 01:06:21,014
voter turnout was somewhere
around 40 percent.

1426
01:06:21,010 --> 01:06:28,380
And a much higher turnout
would have changed the

1427
01:06:28,384 --> 01:06:33,694
outcome of the election and
would have had the effect of

1428
01:06:33,689 --> 01:06:36,759
countering so much of the
dark money that spilled into

1429
01:06:36,759 --> 01:06:38,759
our election system
in the last election.

1430
01:06:40,896 --> 01:06:44,736
So what continues to be true
in our country is that we

1431
01:06:44,734 --> 01:06:49,704
have a system that is
structured to give the

1432
01:06:49,705 --> 01:06:56,915
American people the ultimate
power of deciding who will

1433
01:06:56,912 --> 01:06:58,582
lead their government.

1434
01:06:58,581 --> 01:07:02,081
And there is an aggressive
effort by special interests

1435
01:07:02,084 --> 01:07:04,384
-- some of whom don't
disclose their efforts -- to

1436
01:07:04,387 --> 01:07:06,527
try to influence the
decision-making.

1437
01:07:06,522 --> 01:07:08,522
But ultimately it is the
American people

1438
01:07:08,524 --> 01:07:09,524
that have the power.

1439
01:07:09,525 --> 01:07:12,395
But the ability of the
American people to wield

1440
01:07:12,395 --> 01:07:15,165
that power is dependent on
their willingness to show up

1441
01:07:15,164 --> 01:07:17,134
at the polls on
Election Day.

1442
01:07:17,133 --> 01:07:19,933
That's the ultimate factor.

1443
01:07:19,935 --> 01:07:21,935
And I think you'll hear the
President continue to make a

1444
01:07:21,937 --> 01:07:24,737
strong case about how
important it is for people

1445
01:07:24,740 --> 01:07:30,150
to engage in a civic
debate about our country,

1446
01:07:30,146 --> 01:07:32,186
how important it is for
people to be educated on the

1447
01:07:32,181 --> 01:07:34,281
issues, how important it is
for people to register to

1448
01:07:34,283 --> 01:07:37,223
vote, and how important it
is for people to actually

1449
01:07:37,219 --> 01:07:40,619
ensure that they show
up and cast a vote.

1450
01:07:40,623 --> 01:07:43,593
And the President has made
that case in a number of

1451
01:07:43,592 --> 01:07:48,262
settings including
describing the position of

1452
01:07:48,264 --> 01:07:51,904
citizen as the most
important office

1453
01:07:51,901 --> 01:07:53,901
in our government.

1454
01:07:53,903 --> 01:07:56,503
And the President will
continue to make a forceful

1455
01:07:56,505 --> 01:08:00,005
case in that direction.

1456
01:08:00,009 --> 01:08:02,349
The Press: But he also has a
particularly important role

1457
01:08:02,344 --> 01:08:03,444
in our political system.

1458
01:08:03,446 --> 01:08:04,146
Mr. Earnest: Sure.

1459
01:08:04,146 --> 01:08:05,116
The Press: Does he believe
he's done everything he can

1460
01:08:05,114 --> 01:08:08,184
do on this issue using
his own authority?

1461
01:08:08,184 --> 01:08:09,314
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President has certainly been

1462
01:08:09,318 --> 01:08:11,818
a vocal advocate of
the DISCLOSE Act,

1463
01:08:11,821 --> 01:08:13,821
which would have some
impact of bringing greater

1464
01:08:13,823 --> 01:08:17,093
transparency to our
campaign finance system.

1465
01:08:17,092 --> 01:08:20,462
The President has certainly
advocated -- in some cases,

1466
01:08:20,463 --> 01:08:26,133
famously, in front of
members of the Supreme Court

1467
01:08:26,135 --> 01:08:33,945
-- for a legal system that
is structured to protect the

1468
01:08:33,943 --> 01:08:40,283
ability of American citizens
to make the most important

1469
01:08:40,282 --> 01:08:41,552
decisions about
our government.

1470
01:08:41,550 --> 01:08:47,520
But there are limitations
to how much the use of his

1471
01:08:51,694 --> 01:08:54,534
executive authority can
impact this situation.

1472
01:08:54,530 --> 01:08:56,530
There is no denying that.

1473
01:08:58,701 --> 01:09:00,971
But there is -- the
President does have the

1474
01:09:00,970 --> 01:09:06,180
effect when he speaks
publicly of motivating

1475
01:09:06,175 --> 01:09:08,045
people or stirring
people to action,

1476
01:09:08,043 --> 01:09:12,513
of inspiring them to be
involved and get engaged.

1477
01:09:12,515 --> 01:09:15,515
And the truth is the
President makes this case

1478
01:09:15,518 --> 01:09:18,758
not just to Democrats, he
does to every American.

1479
01:09:18,754 --> 01:09:20,754
The President has talked a
lot about how he would love

1480
01:09:20,756 --> 01:09:24,756
to see a more engaged, a
more effective Republican

1481
01:09:24,760 --> 01:09:25,830
Party who is actually
committed

1482
01:09:25,828 --> 01:09:27,268
to governing the country.

1483
01:09:27,263 --> 01:09:29,763
And that's only going to
happen when Republicans

1484
01:09:29,765 --> 01:09:31,765
start showing up at the
polls in greater numbers,

1485
01:09:31,767 --> 01:09:33,767
too, when people who care
about the direction not just

1486
01:09:33,769 --> 01:09:35,909
of the United States but
also the direction of the

1487
01:09:35,905 --> 01:09:38,675
Republican Party start
making their voices heard.

1488
01:09:38,674 --> 01:09:42,344
So this isn't a particularly
partisan case that the

1489
01:09:42,344 --> 01:09:43,744
President is making.

1490
01:09:43,746 --> 01:09:49,056
It's a case that's rooted
in the belief that when the

1491
01:09:49,051 --> 01:09:52,321
American people engage in
our democracy at higher

1492
01:09:52,321 --> 01:09:55,491
rates that our democracy
functions better.

1493
01:09:55,491 --> 01:10:00,631
And that's an argument that
I anticipate will be made

1494
01:10:00,629 --> 01:10:04,499
frequently between
now and Election Day.

1495
01:10:04,500 --> 01:10:06,500
The Press: May I ask a
follow-up question

1496
01:10:06,502 --> 01:10:07,502
on that, Josh?

1497
01:10:07,503 --> 01:10:08,503
Mr. Earnest: Go ahead, John.

1498
01:10:08,504 --> 01:10:10,504
The Press: Okay, thank
you very much for that.

1499
01:10:10,506 --> 01:10:12,476
There is a new group out,
Take Back Our Republic,

1500
01:10:12,474 --> 01:10:13,944
I think is the name.

1501
01:10:13,943 --> 01:10:16,143
And they agree basically
with the President

1502
01:10:16,145 --> 01:10:17,445
on the dark money.

1503
01:10:17,446 --> 01:10:22,416
And they have said that a
good step toward eliminating

1504
01:10:22,418 --> 01:10:25,858
it and greater participation
is revival of the tax credit

1505
01:10:25,854 --> 01:10:28,754
for campaign donations.

1506
01:10:28,757 --> 01:10:31,027
Is that something the
President would favor?

1507
01:10:31,026 --> 01:10:34,866
This group believes it would
get more people engaged when

1508
01:10:34,863 --> 01:10:38,533
they're able to deduct for
making small donations in

1509
01:10:38,534 --> 01:10:41,934
the hundreds and lead
to a greater turnout.

1510
01:10:41,937 --> 01:10:44,537
Has he ever discussed
revival of that?

1511
01:10:44,540 --> 01:10:46,140
It faded out in the 1980s.

1512
01:10:46,141 --> 01:10:48,141
Mr. Earnest: Yes, John, I
have to admit I haven't

1513
01:10:48,143 --> 01:10:52,753
heard that idea before, so
I'm not aware of any serious

1514
01:10:52,748 --> 01:10:54,748
discussions around
here about it.

1515
01:10:54,750 --> 01:10:56,820
But it's something we
can take a look at.

1516
01:10:56,819 --> 01:10:57,819
Thanks, everybody.

1517
01:10:57,820 --> 01:10:59,720
We'll see you tomorrow.
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