English subtitles for clip: File:5-11-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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We have some brief comments
before we get to

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your questions.

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In response to a specific
request that I received

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yesterday for additional
information about the Zika

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virus, I also
have a visual aid.

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You want to put it up there.

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You can see --

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The
Press: I that for me?

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Mr. Earnest: It's for
everybody, but it certainly

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is responsive
to your request.

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Earlier this week, I
highlighted the letter from

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the National Governors
Association, urging Congress

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to work "as expeditiously
as possible" to ensure that

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funds are available for
states, territories and the

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public at large to combat
the threat of Zika.

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Many of you will recall that
the President convened a

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meeting with some of his
national security team and

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our public health
professionals back in

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January to discuss the
potential impact of the Zika

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virus on the United States.

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That meeting led the
President to note in early

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February that he intended to
forward a formal request to

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Congress for a specific
emergency supplemental

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legislation that would be
focused on fighting

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the Zika virus.

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A couple weeks later,
in mid-February, the

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administration put forward
that specific proposal

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to Congress.

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That is now almost
three months ago.

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And even though we had
months to get ahead of this

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emergency, before we start
to see direct transmission

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of Zika by mosquitoes in the
United States, Congress has

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not acted.

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Congress has basically done
nothing to act on this

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specific request for funding
that was put forward by the

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administration and endorsed
by Democratic and Republican

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governors across the
country, and our nation's

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foremost public
health experts.

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As you can see in the
graphic behind me, the time

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to prepare before Zika
begins to spread in the

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continental United States
is rapidly closing.

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As CDC has said for months,
based on historical trends,

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we expect to see
transmission of Zika from

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mosquitoes inside the United
States starting in

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June or July.

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This graphic shows the
expected abundance of this

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mosquito and the significant
increase in its presence

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over the summer months.

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As you can clearly see, the
threat from the Zika virus

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is only increasing.

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The truth is this is an
emergency now, and Congress

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should treat it that way.

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We need emergency funding
from Congress that allows us

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to take urgent and immediate
steps to limit the impact of

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the Zika virus.

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What this graphic clearly
shows is we cannot wait

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until October for the normal
appropriation cycle before

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we confront this emergency.

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Action is needed from
Congress now to provide

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necessary funding this year
to protect pregnant women

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and their babies in
the United States.

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As you all are well aware,
we've been asking Congress

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to take action since we
submitted an emergency

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budget request in February,
and you have heard from the

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foremost public health
experts in the world about

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why we need this additional
funding and why we need it now.

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We are working
around the clock.

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These public health
professionals are working

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around the clock.

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State and local officials
are working around the clock

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to protect the
American public.

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Congress, however, just
returned from recess two

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days ago, and given the
threat that this virus poses

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to American mothers and
their babies, Congress

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should not leave town for
another recess before

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sending a Zika funding bill
to the President's desk for

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his signature.

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And I think the map behind
me is a graphic illustration

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of the need for immediate
congressional action.

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It also is an appropriate
illustration for why the

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current approach that's
advocated by Republican

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leaders in Congress is
woefully insufficient.

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Under the Republican plan
that Republican leaders have

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just started to discuss is
that they may get around to

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passing funding and
approving funding for the

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Zika virus in October.

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Well, as you can see from
the map that would be after

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the peak of the
mosquito season.

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There's a colloquial
expression about closing the

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barn door after the
horse has already left.

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I would be tempted to
use that analogy in this

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situation if the situation
weren't so serious.

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So we need some
congressional action.

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We need a sense of urgency
and we need it now.

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So, with all that, Brad,
welcome to the front row.

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We'll let you get started
off with questions here.

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The Press: So before we get
back to Zika, I wanted to

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ask about reports of the
Islamic State forces

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advancing on the ancient
Syrian city of Palmyra.

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That seems to put you
in an odd position.

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Are you hoping the Assad
regime holds the city?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have the latest battlefield

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assessment to offer here.

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As we noted at the time, we
obviously were pleased to

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see ISIL give up Palmyra,
and the focus of our efforts

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has been on degrading and
ultimately destroying that

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terrorist organization.

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And we welcomed that
development, and we

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certainly do not want to see
ISIL expand the territory

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that they control, and we
certainly do not want to see

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ISIL put at risk once again
such a historically and

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culturally significant city.

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The Press: Given the threat
of ISIS reconquering the

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city and gaining what
would be a major strategic

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victory, is this a
situation where the U.S.

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could conceivably coordinate
with Russia, which has

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provided backup to Assad
and indirectly to

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Assad's military?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, we have
talked for quite some time

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about the efforts that
are currently underway to

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de-conflict our military
activities with Russia in

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the skies over
Iraq and in Syria.

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There have been a number of
consultations about that.

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But those consultations have
stopped short of any sort of

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formal military cooperation,
and I don't anticipate that

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that will change.

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The Press: And I just wanted
to ask you about Iraq.

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There have been three car
bombings in the last 24

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hours or so, over
90 people killed.

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Daesh is claiming
responsibility.

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Are you worried that Daesh
is trying to shape Baghdad

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again for a possible
assault, as we saw about 18

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months ago?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
just start by saying that

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the United States strongly
condemns the multiple

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attacks in and around
Baghdad today.

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Initial estimates project
more than 80 Iraqi citizens

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have been killed in those
attacks; many more

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have been injured.

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These attacks demonstrate
the terrorists carry out

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these abominable attacks
without regard to innocent

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civilian life and in order
to stoke tensions between

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these communities
even further.

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We reiterate our solidarity
with the Iraqi people

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against the
threat from ISIL.

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ISIL is a common enemy to
all Iraqis, Americans, and

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the 65 nations who are
part of our

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counter-ISIL coalition.

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By working together, the
Iraqi people have made

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important gains against ISIL
since 2014, and every step

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the United States has taken
is to support the Iraqi

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government and the Iraqi
people as they take back

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their country.

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I think what is clear from
this incident is that a lot

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of innocent people have been
killed and injured, and it

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certainly is consistent with
ISIL's strategy of wreaking

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havoc and sowing chaos and
violence and sectarian tension.

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And in many cases, they do
that by killing innocent

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people, by targeting
them specifically.

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Those tactics are abhorrent.

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And it is a good
illustration of exactly what

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the United States has
rallied behind the United

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States to defeat.

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The Press: And just lastly,
are you worried that the

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Iraqi government's inability
to provide security in the

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capital is going to fuel the
political instability that's

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been going on and which has
been hampering critical

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elements of the anti-ISIL
offensive such as

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the Mosul offensive?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, what
is clear is that the top

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priority of the Abadi
government is the national

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security of Iraq, and
protecting the citizens of

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Iraq from this sort of
violence is the Abadi

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government's top priority.

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The administration, the
United States government has

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been of the strongly
held view that the Iraqi

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government is more likely to
be successful in securing

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the country if they can
succeed in uniting that

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country to face
down the threat.

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That's what Prime Minister
Abadi has tried to do.

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He has worked hard across
sectarian lines to build

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diverse support for his
government and for the

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effort to degrade and
ultimately destroy ISIL.

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And that's why the United
States has found Prime

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Minister Abadi and the Iraqi
central government to be

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effective partners, and it's
why we continue to stand

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with them as they confront
this serious threat.

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Jeff.

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The Press: Thanks, Josh.

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The Brazilian senate is
likely to suspend President

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Rousseff today.

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What are the implications
of that likely action for

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U.S.-Brazil relations?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff, you
heard the President talk

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about this when he was in
Argentina, and our view at

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this point has not changed.

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The President noted our
confidence in the durability

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of Brazil's democratic
institutions to weather this

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political turmoil.

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Brazil has a system of laws,
it's a mature democracy and

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it has an established
system for resolving these

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political conflicts
inside their country.

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So there's no denying that
this is a challenging time

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for the nation of Brazil and
for the government officials

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that are trying to
lead that country.

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Obviously Brazil is under
the international spotlight.

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The attention of the world
will be focused on Brazil

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later this summer when they
host the Olympic Games.

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So Brazil is under some
scrutiny and under some

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pressure, and the United
States is going to be there

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to support our friend and
partner as they deal with

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the significant challenges
that they're facing right now.

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But as it relates to the
political situation, we

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continue to have confidence
in the mature, durable,

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democratic institutions in
Brazil to withstand

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the challenge.

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The Press: Does that
mean that the U.S.

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government does not have
any concerns about how that

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process is playing out
right now and whether it's

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legitimate and fair and
following the laws that the

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Brazilian people
have supported?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, we
obviously believe that these

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democratic institutions were
established for a reason,

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and the rules that guide
that democracy

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should be followed.

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I'm not going to render a
judgment from here about

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individual claims or actions
that have been taken by

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political leaders in Brazil.

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Our hope -- and we continue
to have confidence that

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those democratic institution
in Brazil can weather the

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political turmoil that that
country is dealing with

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right now.

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The Press: And switching
subjects to a domestic one.

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There's a new poll,
Reuters-Ipsos poll, out

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today which similar to some
other ones that have come

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out recently, showing Donald
Trump and Hillary Clinton in

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a neck-for-neck race in
the general election.

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Is the fact that that
general election is

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tightening -- even though
polls are very early and

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there's not a Democratic
nominee yet -- a concern to

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this White House,
considering the fact that

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the President has said
repeatedly he'd like to see

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a Democrat succeed?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, there are
going to be a lot of polls

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that are conducted between
now and then, and that's an

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entirely legitimate
endeavor.

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And sometimes they can
provide a valuable snapshot

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00:12:44,029 --> 00:12:46,799
of the mood of the country
and the preferences of the

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00:12:46,799 --> 00:12:49,069
country's voters.

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00:12:49,068 --> 00:12:53,208
The President has had ample
opportunities already this

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00:12:53,205 --> 00:12:55,805
year to talk about how
important this upcoming

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00:12:55,808 --> 00:13:00,818
election is because of the
-- in fact, that election is

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00:13:02,982 --> 00:13:06,882
so important that the
President expects, over the

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00:13:06,886 --> 00:13:09,226
course of the summer and
certainly into the fall, to

256
00:13:09,221 --> 00:13:12,321
be dedicating a significant
portion of his time to

257
00:13:12,324 --> 00:13:17,634
engaging in the debate
around the election.

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00:13:17,630 --> 00:13:22,430
And the President does
have a strong desire to be

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00:13:22,434 --> 00:13:26,904
succeeded by someone who is
committed to building on all

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00:13:26,906 --> 00:13:28,906
of the important progress
that we've made over the

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00:13:28,908 --> 00:13:30,778
last seven or eight years.

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00:13:30,776 --> 00:13:35,916
And that I think will be the
nature of the President's

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00:13:35,915 --> 00:13:38,585
involvement and the argument
that he hopes to make.

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00:13:38,584 --> 00:13:40,554
The Press: Are you
concerned, though, about

265
00:13:40,553 --> 00:13:43,493
polls showing such a tight
race right now between the

266
00:13:43,489 --> 00:13:45,489
Democrat and Donald Trump?

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00:13:45,491 --> 00:13:48,231
Mr. Earnest: I think what I
would say is there are some

268
00:13:48,227 --> 00:13:51,097
polls that have been
released that show that the

269
00:13:51,096 --> 00:13:53,636
general election is not
particularly close right now

270
00:13:53,632 --> 00:13:56,072
and there are others that
have been released that

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00:13:56,068 --> 00:13:58,068
indicate a closer race.

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00:14:01,774 --> 00:14:05,244
The President's approach to
this election will be the

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00:14:05,244 --> 00:14:09,844
same regardless of how close
the polls indicate that the

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00:14:09,848 --> 00:14:11,018
race is.

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00:14:11,016 --> 00:14:13,886
The stakes are too high to
take this election lightly.

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00:14:17,590 --> 00:14:20,360
Hosting a presidential
election every four years

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00:14:20,359 --> 00:14:23,029
means that the American
people have an opportunity

278
00:14:23,028 --> 00:14:26,468
to weigh in on who is going
to lead the country and who,

279
00:14:26,465 --> 00:14:28,465
in fact, is going to
lead the free world.

280
00:14:28,467 --> 00:14:30,537
So the stakes of this
election are high.

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00:14:30,536 --> 00:14:32,536
The President believes that
the outcome is

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00:14:32,538 --> 00:14:34,238
critically important.

283
00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:37,110
And regardless of what
predictions are made about

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00:14:37,109 --> 00:14:39,649
the outcome at this point,
the President will be fully

285
00:14:39,645 --> 00:14:43,015
engaged in making an
argument about having a

286
00:14:43,015 --> 00:14:45,085
successor that's committed
to building on the progress

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00:14:45,084 --> 00:14:48,624
that we've made over the
last seven or eight years.

288
00:14:48,621 --> 00:14:49,621
Jordan.

289
00:14:49,622 --> 00:14:50,622
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

290
00:14:50,623 --> 00:14:52,393
Lawmakers in the House
missed the self-imposed

291
00:14:52,391 --> 00:14:54,161
deadline today to release
their Puerto

292
00:14:54,159 --> 00:14:55,159
Rico legislation.

293
00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,530
And I'm wondering how
concerned the White House is

294
00:14:57,529 --> 00:14:59,929
about this latest delay,
whether you believe it's

295
00:14:59,932 --> 00:15:02,772
just a temporary hiccup in
getting legislation out.

296
00:15:02,768 --> 00:15:05,068
Mr. Earnest: Well, what I
do know is I do know that

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00:15:05,070 --> 00:15:09,610
Democrats and Republicans in
the House continue to try to

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00:15:09,608 --> 00:15:11,778
work through the differences
that have emerged as they've

299
00:15:11,777 --> 00:15:14,747
tried to put this
legislation together.

300
00:15:14,747 --> 00:15:20,317
We have worked to try to
nurture that bipartisan effort.

301
00:15:20,319 --> 00:15:22,319
There are experts
in the U.S.

302
00:15:22,321 --> 00:15:23,891
government, particularly at
the Treasury Department,

303
00:15:23,889 --> 00:15:25,689
that have offered technical
assistance to those who are

304
00:15:25,691 --> 00:15:29,491
drafting the bills.

305
00:15:29,495 --> 00:15:31,735
Our position on this
has been clear from

306
00:15:31,730 --> 00:15:32,730
the beginning.

307
00:15:32,731 --> 00:15:36,071
It was back in October that
we put forward our proposed

308
00:15:36,068 --> 00:15:38,968
legislative solution,
and the view of the

309
00:15:38,971 --> 00:15:41,871
administration is that
Congress needs to provide

310
00:15:41,874 --> 00:15:46,144
Puerto Rico with an orderly
restructuring regime that

311
00:15:46,145 --> 00:15:48,145
would give the Puerto Rican
government the kind of

312
00:15:48,147 --> 00:15:50,847
authority that *states all
across the country -- cities

313
00:15:50,849 --> 00:15:53,419
and states all across the
country already have.

314
00:15:53,419 --> 00:15:56,089
And that restructuring
authority would allow Puerto

315
00:15:56,088 --> 00:15:58,958
Rico to deal with the
financial challenges that

316
00:15:58,957 --> 00:16:00,397
they're facing right now.

317
00:16:00,392 --> 00:16:02,762
We also believe that in
exchange for that authority,

318
00:16:02,761 --> 00:16:05,831
the Puerto Rican government
should commit to

319
00:16:05,831 --> 00:16:09,371
implementing some economic
and financial reforms that

320
00:16:09,368 --> 00:16:11,368
would be good for the
long-term health of the

321
00:16:11,370 --> 00:16:12,640
Puerto Rican economy.

322
00:16:12,638 --> 00:16:14,638
And we believe that
there should be some

323
00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,640
accountability associated
with the implementation of

324
00:16:16,642 --> 00:16:17,642
those reforms.

325
00:16:17,643 --> 00:16:21,583
And there are a number of
proposals for essentially

326
00:16:24,450 --> 00:16:27,420
independent oversight that
could be provided to ensure

327
00:16:27,419 --> 00:16:29,989
that Puerto Rico follows
through on the reforms.

328
00:16:29,988 --> 00:16:31,988
There's some other proposals
that we have looked

329
00:16:31,990 --> 00:16:36,100
favorably upon that would do
things like reform Puerto

330
00:16:36,095 --> 00:16:40,395
Rico's Medicaid program and
extend the earned income tax

331
00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:43,039
credit to taxpayers
in Puerto Rico.

332
00:16:43,035 --> 00:16:48,345
This would have a positive
economic benefit for Puerto

333
00:16:48,340 --> 00:16:53,210
Rico which would have a
corresponding positive

334
00:16:53,212 --> 00:16:57,712
impact on the quality of
life on the island and a

335
00:16:57,716 --> 00:17:01,816
positive impact on the
island's fiscal picture.

336
00:17:01,820 --> 00:17:06,020
But right now, you have 3
million Americans -- more

337
00:17:06,024 --> 00:17:11,734
than 3 million Americans who
are living on an island that

338
00:17:11,730 --> 00:17:16,070
is facing some austere
challenges that are already

339
00:17:16,068 --> 00:17:19,668
having a real-world impact
on the lives of the

340
00:17:19,671 --> 00:17:21,511
Americans there.

341
00:17:21,507 --> 00:17:24,707
Secretary of Treasury Jack
Lew visited Puerto Rico

342
00:17:24,710 --> 00:17:28,110
earlier this week and saw
firsthand some of

343
00:17:28,113 --> 00:17:29,113
these challenges.

344
00:17:29,114 --> 00:17:31,714
I was actually in a meeting
where he was talking about

345
00:17:31,717 --> 00:17:32,817
this today.

346
00:17:32,818 --> 00:17:36,388
He talked about the fact
that he visited hospitals in

347
00:17:36,388 --> 00:17:40,628
Puerto Rico -- at least one
hospital where doctors were

348
00:17:40,626 --> 00:17:45,596
challenged to acquire
medicine that could be used

349
00:17:45,597 --> 00:17:48,937
to treat pediatric cancer
patients, and the challenge

350
00:17:48,934 --> 00:17:53,404
that they have is that they
basically have to pay for

351
00:17:53,405 --> 00:17:55,945
medicine COD.

352
00:17:55,941 --> 00:18:00,311
They've got to provide
cash on delivery for that

353
00:18:00,312 --> 00:18:01,512
medicine.

354
00:18:01,513 --> 00:18:04,283
So it's not a simple --
and they have to do that

355
00:18:04,283 --> 00:18:06,283
basically every day.

356
00:18:08,287 --> 00:18:11,727
That means that a doctor's
ability to provide

357
00:18:11,723 --> 00:18:17,233
lifesaving medicine to kids
in Puerto Rico is affected

358
00:18:17,229 --> 00:18:23,299
by the weakening confidence
in the Puerto Rican

359
00:18:23,302 --> 00:18:25,302
government's ability
to pay their bills.

360
00:18:25,304 --> 00:18:28,074
So there are
human costs here.

361
00:18:28,073 --> 00:18:32,513
And these are American
citizens that we're

362
00:18:32,511 --> 00:18:33,511
talking about.

363
00:18:33,512 --> 00:18:39,322
So it's easy to get lost in
an esoteric debate about

364
00:18:39,318 --> 00:18:41,318
which bond holder is going
to get paid first and how

365
00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,360
much they're
going to get paid.

366
00:18:43,355 --> 00:18:45,925
But the truth is, resolving
these challenges and

367
00:18:45,924 --> 00:18:48,994
resolving them soon is going
to have an impact on the

368
00:18:48,994 --> 00:18:50,994
lives of innocent
Americans in Puerto Rico.

369
00:18:50,996 --> 00:18:54,366
The Press: But just to be
clear, the latest delay that

370
00:18:54,366 --> 00:18:57,636
crept up today, does the
White House view that more

371
00:18:57,636 --> 00:18:59,836
as, I guess, procedural
snafu, like how you termed

372
00:18:59,838 --> 00:19:02,778
it during our conversations
about TPA, or is this a

373
00:19:02,774 --> 00:19:08,344
broader conflict that you're
concerned that is not going

374
00:19:08,347 --> 00:19:10,247
to be able to be resolved?

375
00:19:10,249 --> 00:19:12,649
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
I'd go back to where I

376
00:19:12,651 --> 00:19:15,721
started, which is that there
are still Democrats and

377
00:19:15,721 --> 00:19:19,821
Republicans on the committee
in the House that are

378
00:19:19,825 --> 00:19:22,925
working in good faith to
try to produce a piece of

379
00:19:22,928 --> 00:19:25,198
bipartisan legislation that
would address the concerns

380
00:19:25,197 --> 00:19:26,367
that I laid out.

381
00:19:26,365 --> 00:19:28,365
So we've got confidence
in that process.

382
00:19:28,367 --> 00:19:30,437
We're going to continue to
support and try to nurture

383
00:19:30,435 --> 00:19:32,975
that process to yield a
piece of legislation that

384
00:19:32,971 --> 00:19:35,841
would address the many
challenges facing

385
00:19:35,841 --> 00:19:36,841
Puerto Rico.

386
00:19:36,842 --> 00:19:40,912
And we're hopeful -- look,
there's no denying that

387
00:19:40,913 --> 00:19:44,753
Congress is late to the game
here, and there has been

388
00:19:44,750 --> 00:19:49,760
some -- there's has been an
unhelpful effort on the part

389
00:19:49,755 --> 00:19:56,225
of some Republicans to gum
up the works here, including

390
00:19:56,228 --> 00:19:59,028
by lobbing false charges,
suggesting that somehow this

391
00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:00,931
is a bailout of Puerto Rico.

392
00:20:00,933 --> 00:20:01,933
It's not.

393
00:20:01,934 --> 00:20:05,504
And the irony is, is that
the more success that those

394
00:20:05,504 --> 00:20:08,744
Republicans have in gumming
up the works the more likely

395
00:20:08,740 --> 00:20:10,880
it is that the only
alternative for dealing with

396
00:20:10,876 --> 00:20:12,846
Puerto Rico will
be a bailout.

397
00:20:12,844 --> 00:20:16,314
And that's something that
we all want to avoid.

398
00:20:16,315 --> 00:20:22,155
And that's why we have been
urging Congress to act in

399
00:20:22,154 --> 00:20:26,354
bipartisan fashion
to pass this bill.

400
00:20:26,358 --> 00:20:26,888
Suzanne.

401
00:20:26,892 --> 00:20:28,022
The Press: If I could
follow up with Puerto Rico.

402
00:20:28,026 --> 00:20:30,766
Does the administration have
a forecast if it doesn't

403
00:20:30,762 --> 00:20:33,262
meet its July deadline
in making the

404
00:20:33,265 --> 00:20:34,465
$2 billion payment?

405
00:20:34,466 --> 00:20:36,366
Mr. Earnest: I'm sure that
there have been a number of

406
00:20:36,368 --> 00:20:38,368
forecasts that have
been conducted.

407
00:20:38,370 --> 00:20:40,370
I haven't seen one that
we've made public.

408
00:20:40,372 --> 00:20:42,342
But you can check with the
Treasury Department about that.

409
00:20:42,341 --> 00:20:44,341
The Press: Can you talk more
broadly about the situation

410
00:20:44,343 --> 00:20:45,643
in Puerto Rico in terms
of how it's impacting

411
00:20:45,644 --> 00:20:49,384
education, health care,
and also fighting the

412
00:20:49,381 --> 00:20:50,281
Zika virus?

413
00:20:50,282 --> 00:20:51,922
I understand there have been
more than 600 cases

414
00:20:51,917 --> 00:20:52,987
there already.

415
00:20:52,985 --> 00:20:55,585
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'd refer you to the

416
00:20:55,587 --> 00:20:57,257
Treasury Department again
because Secretary Lew was

417
00:20:57,255 --> 00:21:01,965
just there on Monday and
he saw a bunch of these

418
00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:03,560
negative impacts firsthand.

419
00:21:03,562 --> 00:21:09,202
And I just relayed the
example of him visiting a

420
00:21:09,201 --> 00:21:11,001
hospital there.

421
00:21:11,003 --> 00:21:13,243
That obviously is a pretty
graphic illustration of the

422
00:21:13,238 --> 00:21:16,738
challenges that Puerto Rico
is facing as a result of

423
00:21:16,742 --> 00:21:19,482
these budgetary problems.

424
00:21:19,478 --> 00:21:21,478
And I think they are a good
illustration of why Congress

425
00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,120
needs to act as soon as
possible so that we can get

426
00:21:25,117 --> 00:21:27,117
to work fixing
these problems.

427
00:21:29,021 --> 00:21:32,721
I haven't seen the latest
tally in terms of the number

428
00:21:32,724 --> 00:21:37,594
of Zika cases that have been
identified in Puerto Rico.

429
00:21:37,596 --> 00:21:41,066
But obviously Puerto Rico
is under great

430
00:21:41,066 --> 00:21:42,296
financial strain.

431
00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:44,300
Obviously that financial
strain is having an impact

432
00:21:44,302 --> 00:21:46,302
on their ability to invest
in their public

433
00:21:46,304 --> 00:21:47,304
health system.

434
00:21:47,305 --> 00:21:52,315
And given the threat that
Zika poses to pregnant women

435
00:21:54,346 --> 00:22:00,616
and their babies, now
seems like a bad time for

436
00:22:00,619 --> 00:22:05,219
investments in public
health to be undermined.

437
00:22:05,223 --> 00:22:07,223
In fact, this is actually
a time when we should be

438
00:22:07,225 --> 00:22:12,265
redoubling our efforts
to make sure that we can

439
00:22:12,264 --> 00:22:15,534
address cases of the Zika
virus quickly and try to

440
00:22:15,534 --> 00:22:16,564
prevent it from spreading.

441
00:22:16,568 --> 00:22:18,168
The Press: Have you seen
any impact in New York or

442
00:22:18,170 --> 00:22:21,710
Florida regarding the
financial hardship of

443
00:22:21,707 --> 00:22:23,007
Puerto Rico?

444
00:22:23,008 --> 00:22:26,678
Mr. Earnest: Well, I mean, I
think what we have seen is

445
00:22:26,678 --> 00:22:28,948
we certainly have seen an
increase in the number of

446
00:22:28,947 --> 00:22:31,887
people who are
leaving Puerto Rico.

447
00:22:31,883 --> 00:22:34,553
I think that is a testament
to the difficult economic

448
00:22:34,553 --> 00:22:36,593
challenges that are facing
the island, and those are

449
00:22:36,588 --> 00:22:39,288
not at all unrelated to the
budgetary challenges that

450
00:22:39,291 --> 00:22:40,321
are facing the government.

451
00:22:40,325 --> 00:22:44,665
So I can't speak to any
of the specific, tangible

452
00:22:44,663 --> 00:22:48,633
impact that we've seen in
any of those two states, but

453
00:22:48,633 --> 00:22:52,173
obviously there are a host
of concerns that have been

454
00:22:52,170 --> 00:22:56,070
raised and that have been
exacerbated by Congress's

455
00:22:56,074 --> 00:22:59,274
failure to act
promptly here.

456
00:22:59,277 --> 00:23:01,277
So we know what
needs to be done.

457
00:23:01,279 --> 00:23:03,279
The administration put
forward a proposal back in

458
00:23:03,281 --> 00:23:05,281
October, laying out exactly
how we could address

459
00:23:05,283 --> 00:23:07,283
these challenges.

460
00:23:07,285 --> 00:23:14,255
So, fortunately, there does
seem to be a tenacious

461
00:23:14,259 --> 00:23:16,459
bipartisan effort underway
to try to resolve

462
00:23:16,461 --> 00:23:17,461
those differences.

463
00:23:17,462 --> 00:23:19,462
I say "tenacious" because
we've been talking about

464
00:23:19,464 --> 00:23:21,704
this for a long time, but we
haven't actually seen any

465
00:23:21,700 --> 00:23:25,040
action, but hopefully
Democrats and Republicans

466
00:23:25,036 --> 00:23:27,476
will both continue to stay
engaged in this effort

467
00:23:27,472 --> 00:23:31,642
because there's a real human
toll here that's already

468
00:23:31,643 --> 00:23:36,713
being taken as a result of
these financial challenges.

469
00:23:36,715 --> 00:23:37,915
The Press: Hi, Josh.

470
00:23:37,916 --> 00:23:40,016
The President has refrained
from weighing in the

471
00:23:40,018 --> 00:23:43,088
Democratic primary, but the
Vice President hasn't done

472
00:23:43,088 --> 00:23:43,758
the same.

473
00:23:43,755 --> 00:23:45,195
This morning he told Good
Morning America that he

474
00:23:45,190 --> 00:23:47,760
thought Hillary Clinton
would become the nominee and

475
00:23:47,759 --> 00:23:49,629
would go on to win
the presidency.

476
00:23:49,628 --> 00:23:51,798
Did he consult with the
White House before making

477
00:23:51,797 --> 00:23:54,767
his public
preferences known?

478
00:23:54,766 --> 00:23:56,766
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
-- again, I had a chance to

479
00:23:56,768 --> 00:23:58,268
take a look at
the transcript.

480
00:23:58,270 --> 00:24:00,640
You'd have to ask the Vice
President's office -- I

481
00:24:00,639 --> 00:24:04,839
don't think that he was
doing much more than just

482
00:24:04,843 --> 00:24:08,413
making an observation about
the math of the race,

483
00:24:08,413 --> 00:24:11,313
particularly as it relates
to the delegate count.

484
00:24:11,316 --> 00:24:14,886
You'd have to ask his office
if he intended that as him

485
00:24:14,886 --> 00:24:17,386
putting forward his own
endorsement in the race.

486
00:24:17,389 --> 00:24:19,389
The Press: Does the White
House feel like it is an

487
00:24:19,391 --> 00:24:20,931
appropriate time to now
make endorsements with the

488
00:24:20,926 --> 00:24:22,766
delegate map
being what it is?

489
00:24:22,761 --> 00:24:25,601
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have anything to say about

490
00:24:25,597 --> 00:24:27,597
President Obama's plans to
weigh in on the race

491
00:24:27,599 --> 00:24:28,769
at this point.

492
00:24:28,767 --> 00:24:29,267
The Press: Okay.

493
00:24:29,267 --> 00:24:33,137
And on Zika, obviously the
White House is concerned

494
00:24:33,138 --> 00:24:35,438
that Congress isn't doing
enough to protect Americans.

495
00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:37,510
Is there a concern that
Brazil isn't doing enough to

496
00:24:37,509 --> 00:24:39,749
protect Americans that may
be going to the Olympics,

497
00:24:39,744 --> 00:24:44,354
with the continuing problems
that we're already starting

498
00:24:44,349 --> 00:24:45,889
to discuss in Brazil?

499
00:24:45,884 --> 00:24:47,584
Mr. Earnest: Well, we know
that the Zika virus is much

500
00:24:47,586 --> 00:24:49,486
more widespread in Brazil
than it is in the

501
00:24:49,487 --> 00:24:51,887
United States.

502
00:24:51,890 --> 00:24:56,090
And we have offered our
assistance and support to

503
00:24:56,094 --> 00:24:59,464
Brazilian authorities as
they try to contain

504
00:24:59,464 --> 00:25:00,464
this threat.

505
00:25:00,465 --> 00:25:03,265
And they obviously are
working very hard to ensure

506
00:25:03,268 --> 00:25:05,938
that all of the world-class
athletes that will be

507
00:25:05,937 --> 00:25:09,137
descending upon Brazil
can do so safely.

508
00:25:09,140 --> 00:25:12,080
And we obviously would be
supportive of any effort

509
00:25:12,077 --> 00:25:15,247
that they would undertake to
ensure the safety of those

510
00:25:15,247 --> 00:25:17,247
who are participating
in the games.

511
00:25:17,249 --> 00:25:19,249
The Press: Has the President
or any member of the First

512
00:25:19,251 --> 00:25:21,251
Family decided if they'd
be attending the games?

513
00:25:21,253 --> 00:25:23,253
Mr. Earnest: At this point,
we haven't made a decision

514
00:25:23,255 --> 00:25:24,925
about the President's
summer travel yet.

515
00:25:24,923 --> 00:25:25,523
The Press: Okay.

516
00:25:25,523 --> 00:25:28,063
One last thing on Zika.

517
00:25:28,059 --> 00:25:30,329
Senator Flake was saying
that $35 million in

518
00:25:30,328 --> 00:25:33,368
taxpayer-funded studies
could have been better spent

519
00:25:33,365 --> 00:25:35,435
on things like Zika.

520
00:25:35,433 --> 00:25:39,743
He points to drunk birds
slurring when they sing,

521
00:25:39,738 --> 00:25:43,838
some people seeing Jesus's
face on toast, and honeybees

522
00:25:43,842 --> 00:25:45,612
on cocaine.

523
00:25:45,610 --> 00:25:49,010
Does the White House have
any comments in response to

524
00:25:49,014 --> 00:25:50,244
Senator Flake?

525
00:25:50,248 --> 00:25:53,448
Mr. Earnest: Yes, I think
it's pretty pathetic when

526
00:25:53,451 --> 00:25:57,861
we're facing a significant
public health crisis, as

527
00:25:57,856 --> 00:26:00,456
described by our public
health experts, that you

528
00:26:00,458 --> 00:26:03,898
would see someone try to
distract from what is a

529
00:26:03,895 --> 00:26:05,595
pretty important issue.

530
00:26:05,597 --> 00:26:08,267
I've had an opportunity to
meet Senator Flake on a

531
00:26:08,266 --> 00:26:09,306
couple of occasions.

532
00:26:09,301 --> 00:26:12,201
He's an honorable guy and
he certainly is the kind of

533
00:26:12,203 --> 00:26:15,473
person that we would rely
on to show some bipartisan

534
00:26:15,473 --> 00:26:18,273
leadership, respond to the
requests of Democratic and

535
00:26:18,276 --> 00:26:20,676
Republican governors,
respond to the request of

536
00:26:20,679 --> 00:26:24,849
public health professionals,
and advance the $1.9 billion

537
00:26:24,849 --> 00:26:28,349
in funding that is needed to
confront the Zika virus and

538
00:26:28,353 --> 00:26:30,453
do everything we possibly
can to protect the

539
00:26:30,455 --> 00:26:32,455
American people.

540
00:26:34,125 --> 00:26:36,125
So I'll leave it at that.

541
00:26:36,127 --> 00:26:37,127
April.

542
00:26:37,128 --> 00:26:39,128
The Press: Josh, a couple
different subjects.

543
00:26:39,130 --> 00:26:41,230
First, I want to
stay with Zika.

544
00:26:41,232 --> 00:26:43,702
The World Health
Organization says it's just

545
00:26:43,702 --> 00:26:46,472
as important as Ebola.

546
00:26:46,471 --> 00:26:48,471
What does this White
House feel about that?

547
00:26:48,473 --> 00:26:52,473
They are calling it
a possible pandemic.

548
00:26:52,477 --> 00:26:55,017
Mr. Earnest: Well, we've
gone to great lengths to

549
00:26:55,013 --> 00:26:57,013
help people understand the
difference between the Zika

550
00:26:57,015 --> 00:26:58,955
virus and the Ebola virus.

551
00:26:58,950 --> 00:26:59,620
Obviously the --

552
00:26:59,617 --> 00:27:03,257
The Press: The level of concern is such that it's like Ebola.

553
00:27:03,254 --> 00:27:04,124
That's what they're saying.

554
00:27:04,122 --> 00:27:06,192
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
the viruses are different;

555
00:27:06,191 --> 00:27:08,191
the impact that they have
on people are different.

556
00:27:08,193 --> 00:27:12,393
But given the significant
risk that we know the Zika

557
00:27:12,397 --> 00:27:16,637
virus poses to pregnant
women and their babies, we

558
00:27:16,634 --> 00:27:19,974
believe that urgent
action is necessary to do

559
00:27:19,971 --> 00:27:22,511
everything we can to try to
protect the American people,

560
00:27:22,507 --> 00:27:25,807
especially pregnant
women and their babies.

561
00:27:25,810 --> 00:27:29,010
So there's no reason this
has to be a

562
00:27:29,014 --> 00:27:32,214
partisan exercise.

563
00:27:32,217 --> 00:27:37,157
This should be a
common-sense responsibility

564
00:27:37,155 --> 00:27:40,225
that Republicans in
Congress should embrace.

565
00:27:40,225 --> 00:27:42,195
They ran for Congress so
that they could help

566
00:27:42,193 --> 00:27:43,363
run the country.

567
00:27:43,361 --> 00:27:46,561
Running the country means
your top priority should be

568
00:27:46,564 --> 00:27:48,504
protecting the
American people.

569
00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:50,500
This is something that
Congress can and should do

570
00:27:50,502 --> 00:27:52,002
to protect the
American people.

571
00:27:52,003 --> 00:27:56,143
They're about three months
late in doing it, but they

572
00:27:56,141 --> 00:27:58,341
need to put a bill on the
President's desk before they

573
00:27:58,343 --> 00:28:00,883
leave for yet another
recess on Memorial Day.

574
00:28:00,879 --> 00:28:04,779
The Press: And the next
question on Zika -- where

575
00:28:04,783 --> 00:28:07,723
does this administration
weigh in on the issues being

576
00:28:07,719 --> 00:28:11,019
discussed between health
officials about the fact

577
00:28:11,022 --> 00:28:14,992
that Zika is such a threat
that people, families, may

578
00:28:14,993 --> 00:28:17,533
want to delay pregnancies?

579
00:28:17,529 --> 00:28:18,929
Where does the White
House weigh in on that?

580
00:28:18,930 --> 00:28:22,100
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
we would weigh in on this by

581
00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:24,740
saying that people should
consult their doctors and

582
00:28:24,736 --> 00:28:27,776
that the kinds of decisions
that families are making

583
00:28:27,772 --> 00:28:30,572
about either starting or
growing their family are

584
00:28:30,575 --> 00:28:33,675
decisions that they should
make within their family and

585
00:28:33,678 --> 00:28:35,718
with the best medical advice
that they can get from

586
00:28:35,713 --> 00:28:36,953
their doctors.

587
00:28:36,948 --> 00:28:42,388
Obviously the CDC and the
NIH have shared medical

588
00:28:42,387 --> 00:28:45,927
information about the risks
posed by Zika to pregnant

589
00:28:45,924 --> 00:28:49,494
women with doctors all
across the country.

590
00:28:49,494 --> 00:28:51,934
We have tried to do as
much as we possibly can to

591
00:28:51,930 --> 00:28:56,130
educate people about what
exactly those risks are.

592
00:28:56,134 --> 00:28:59,604
And I certainly would
encourage people who are

593
00:28:59,604 --> 00:29:02,474
thinking about becoming
pregnant to consult the CDC

594
00:29:02,474 --> 00:29:04,474
website, to consult their
doctor, and understand

595
00:29:04,476 --> 00:29:07,146
exactly what the risks are
as they make that decision.

596
00:29:07,145 --> 00:29:10,015
The Press: So listening to
the doctors debate back and

597
00:29:10,014 --> 00:29:12,954
forth about it -- does the
White House view it as an

598
00:29:12,951 --> 00:29:16,491
ethical issue not to
weigh into that debate?

599
00:29:16,488 --> 00:29:19,028
Because you're telling
people what to do -- women

600
00:29:19,023 --> 00:29:23,563
or husbands, wives, or
whomever -- about planning a

601
00:29:23,561 --> 00:29:26,431
family -- as this is as
serious -- as you're saying,

602
00:29:26,431 --> 00:29:31,071
possible birth defects for
those who are pregnant, for

603
00:29:31,069 --> 00:29:32,199
their children.

604
00:29:32,203 --> 00:29:37,013
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
our desire is for people to

605
00:29:37,008 --> 00:29:40,848
have access to the best
medical information possible

606
00:29:40,845 --> 00:29:42,815
as they make these intensely
personal decisions.

607
00:29:42,814 --> 00:29:44,814
Obviously the government
is not going to be making

608
00:29:44,816 --> 00:29:46,816
decisions for people,
particularly when it comes

609
00:29:46,818 --> 00:29:50,088
to something as personal as
starting or growing

610
00:29:50,088 --> 00:29:52,528
your family.

611
00:29:52,524 --> 00:29:56,394
But we do want people to
have access to the best

612
00:29:56,394 --> 00:29:59,934
information they can get as
they make that important and

613
00:29:59,931 --> 00:30:00,861
very personal decision.

614
00:30:00,865 --> 00:30:02,105
The Press: And on
two other subjects.

615
00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:05,640
Any word from the President,
particularly as he drank the

616
00:30:05,637 --> 00:30:11,077
water three times in Flint
-- does he have any comment

617
00:30:11,075 --> 00:30:14,115
about this lawsuit, about
the mayor diverting

618
00:30:14,112 --> 00:30:17,882
funds in Flint?

619
00:30:17,882 --> 00:30:22,122
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have any comment to share

620
00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:26,060
from the President about
ongoing litigation.

621
00:30:26,057 --> 00:30:28,057
The President did have an
opportunity when he was in

622
00:30:28,059 --> 00:30:31,259
Flint to see firsthand the
impact this crisis has had

623
00:30:31,262 --> 00:30:32,902
on that community.

624
00:30:32,897 --> 00:30:39,107
The President has made clear
he's going to mobilize

625
00:30:39,103 --> 00:30:43,873
resources from federal
government to help that

626
00:30:43,875 --> 00:30:44,875
local community.

627
00:30:44,876 --> 00:30:46,846
And that's why you've seen
millions of dollars in

628
00:30:46,844 --> 00:30:50,814
public health grants go to
Flint to help doctors and

629
00:30:50,815 --> 00:30:53,415
nurses and other public
health workers there deal

630
00:30:53,418 --> 00:30:57,718
with the medical fallout
of that crisis situation.

631
00:30:57,722 --> 00:31:00,822
The President has urged
Congress to act on funding

632
00:31:00,825 --> 00:31:03,525
so that the state of
Michigan and the city of

633
00:31:03,528 --> 00:31:05,528
Flint can make the necessary
infrastructure investments

634
00:31:05,530 --> 00:31:07,970
to protect the people
in that community.

635
00:31:07,966 --> 00:31:12,006
But, look, the city of Flint
and the people who live

636
00:31:12,003 --> 00:31:15,073
there are enduring a
significant challenge, and

637
00:31:15,073 --> 00:31:19,413
the President's visit there
last week was an important

638
00:31:19,410 --> 00:31:23,250
sign to them that the U.S.

639
00:31:23,248 --> 00:31:26,248
President has the back of
the people in that community

640
00:31:26,251 --> 00:31:29,891
that are working hard to
rebuild that community and

641
00:31:29,887 --> 00:31:33,557
ensure that their children
can dream as big as ever.

642
00:31:33,558 --> 00:31:37,158
The Press: And last question
-- West Point cadets were clear.

643
00:31:37,161 --> 00:31:38,531
Did the President
see the picture?

644
00:31:38,529 --> 00:31:39,299
Did he weigh in?

645
00:31:39,297 --> 00:31:40,837
Did you talk to
him about it?

646
00:31:40,832 --> 00:31:41,662
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
spoken to him about the

647
00:31:41,666 --> 00:31:42,966
picture, but I did see the
news reports about the

648
00:31:42,967 --> 00:31:48,737
decision that was made by
officials at West Point.

649
00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:49,870
The Press: So speaking
for the White House --

650
00:31:49,874 --> 00:31:51,774
Mr. Earnest: I'm confident
that the President would not

651
00:31:51,776 --> 00:31:54,616
second-guess a decision that
was made by those who are

652
00:31:54,612 --> 00:31:57,252
responsible for
discipline at West Point.

653
00:31:57,248 --> 00:31:58,048
Margaret.

654
00:31:58,049 --> 00:32:01,149
The Press: Josh, given what
a deadly it was in Baghdad,

655
00:32:01,152 --> 00:32:03,292
are there any plans for the
President or perhaps the

656
00:32:03,288 --> 00:32:06,928
Vice President to reach out
to the Abadi leadership?

657
00:32:06,924 --> 00:32:08,924
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any calls to announce at

658
00:32:08,926 --> 00:32:09,926
this point.

659
00:32:09,927 --> 00:32:11,927
But, typically, when either
the President or the Vice

660
00:32:11,929 --> 00:32:14,099
President is in touch with
Prime Minister Abadi, we

661
00:32:14,098 --> 00:32:16,398
read out the call after it's
taken place, and I'm sure

662
00:32:16,401 --> 00:32:18,401
we'll do that in
this case, as well.

663
00:32:18,403 --> 00:32:21,073
The Press: Given not just
today's violence, but the

664
00:32:21,072 --> 00:32:24,172
political crisis that's
ongoing in Baghdad, I mean,

665
00:32:24,175 --> 00:32:26,445
does the White House still
believe that Abadi is

666
00:32:26,444 --> 00:32:29,144
strong, as the Secretary of
Defense described him just a

667
00:32:29,147 --> 00:32:30,577
week ago?

668
00:32:30,581 --> 00:32:33,181
Mr. Earnest: The
administration is still

669
00:32:33,184 --> 00:32:34,184
committed -- the U.S.

670
00:32:34,185 --> 00:32:36,185
government is still
committed to supporting

671
00:32:36,187 --> 00:32:38,187
Prime Minister Abadi's
efforts to reform the

672
00:32:38,189 --> 00:32:41,629
political system and to
govern that country in an

673
00:32:41,626 --> 00:32:44,526
inclusive way.

674
00:32:44,529 --> 00:32:48,729
That's going to be critical
to the ability of Iraq to

675
00:32:48,733 --> 00:32:50,903
secure their country and to
face down the threat that is

676
00:32:50,902 --> 00:32:52,402
posed by ISIL.

677
00:32:52,403 --> 00:32:55,473
That is the approach that
Prime Minister Abadi has

678
00:32:55,473 --> 00:32:58,443
pursued, even under
unquestionably

679
00:32:58,443 --> 00:32:59,713
challenging circumstances.

680
00:32:59,711 --> 00:33:03,511
And the United States will
continue to strongly support

681
00:33:03,514 --> 00:33:07,014
Prime Minister Abadi and the
Iraqi people as they work to

682
00:33:07,018 --> 00:33:09,518
unite their country to face
down that threat from ISIL.

683
00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:12,020
The Press: But do you
believe a political crisis

684
00:33:12,023 --> 00:33:13,393
-- I'm sorry, does the
White House believe that a

685
00:33:13,391 --> 00:33:16,631
political crisis is adding
to this insecurity that

686
00:33:16,627 --> 00:33:19,197
we're seeing on the
streets of Baghdad?

687
00:33:19,197 --> 00:33:22,297
Mr. Earnest: Well, there's
no denying that what we see

688
00:33:22,300 --> 00:33:25,500
is a chaotic
situation in Iraq.

689
00:33:25,503 --> 00:33:29,003
I suspect that the direction
of influence, though, is a

690
00:33:29,006 --> 00:33:32,806
little more along the lines
of what Brad laid out, which

691
00:33:32,810 --> 00:33:38,450
is that the instability
around the security

692
00:33:38,449 --> 00:33:41,789
situation in Iraq is making
governing that

693
00:33:41,786 --> 00:33:44,056
country more challenging.

694
00:33:44,055 --> 00:33:46,125
And those are the
challenging circumstances I

695
00:33:46,124 --> 00:33:48,824
was referring to in terms
of Prime Minister Abadi's

696
00:33:48,826 --> 00:33:50,826
tenure as Prime Minister.

697
00:33:52,430 --> 00:33:56,400
So that certainly is why the
United States has been so

698
00:33:56,401 --> 00:33:59,001
invested -- along with our
coalition partners -- in

699
00:33:59,003 --> 00:34:02,303
trying to stabilize the --
trying to help the Iraqi

700
00:34:02,306 --> 00:34:04,506
government and the Iraqi
security forces stabilize

701
00:34:04,509 --> 00:34:06,649
the situation
inside of Iraq.

702
00:34:06,644 --> 00:34:08,644
There's a lot of important
progress that we've made

703
00:34:08,646 --> 00:34:11,916
over the last almost two
years now in driving ISIL

704
00:34:11,916 --> 00:34:16,316
out of significant populated
areas that they used to

705
00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:20,360
control, but there obviously
is a lot more work to be done.

706
00:34:20,358 --> 00:34:23,658
And there was a reference
earlier to the effort to

707
00:34:23,661 --> 00:34:27,101
drive ISIL out of Mosul, and
that will be a tall order.

708
00:34:27,098 --> 00:34:30,798
But the United States and
our coalition partners have

709
00:34:30,802 --> 00:34:33,602
worked effectively with
Iraqi security forces to

710
00:34:33,604 --> 00:34:38,614
begin the effort to shape
that military strategy.

711
00:34:41,712 --> 00:34:43,712
And we're going to continue
to support Prime Minister

712
00:34:43,714 --> 00:34:48,724
Abadi as he pursues a
governing agenda that

713
00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,219
reflects the diversity
of the nation of Iraq.

714
00:34:51,222 --> 00:34:54,292
The Press: I imagine some of
this came out during the NSC

715
00:34:54,292 --> 00:34:55,062
meeting yesterday.

716
00:34:55,059 --> 00:34:58,959
The government spokesperson
in Baghdad today said that

717
00:34:58,963 --> 00:35:02,103
just 14 percent of territory
in Iraq is still under the

718
00:35:02,099 --> 00:35:03,869
control of ISIS.

719
00:35:03,868 --> 00:35:05,468
Do those numbers
sound right to you?

720
00:35:05,470 --> 00:35:08,610
Mr. Earnest: I haven't seen
that specific statistic.

721
00:35:08,606 --> 00:35:10,606
I would encourage you to
check with the Department of

722
00:35:10,608 --> 00:35:11,608
Defense to try
to confirm it.

723
00:35:11,609 --> 00:35:13,579
The statistic that we've
used comes at it from a

724
00:35:13,578 --> 00:35:14,848
different perspective.

725
00:35:14,846 --> 00:35:19,116
What we have said is that
our coalition, working

726
00:35:19,116 --> 00:35:22,256
closely with Iraqi security
forces, has driven ISIL out

727
00:35:22,253 --> 00:35:24,723
of about 40 percent of the
populated territory that

728
00:35:24,722 --> 00:35:26,892
ISIL previously controlled.

729
00:35:26,891 --> 00:35:29,091
What that says in terms of
the overall percentage of

730
00:35:29,093 --> 00:35:32,863
the country, I haven't seen
a statistic along those

731
00:35:32,864 --> 00:35:36,334
lines, so I'd encourage you
to check with either the

732
00:35:36,334 --> 00:35:37,534
State Department or the
Department of the Defense to

733
00:35:37,535 --> 00:35:41,075
try to confirm that
specific statement.

734
00:35:41,072 --> 00:35:44,742
But I think the statistic
that we have confirmed I

735
00:35:44,742 --> 00:35:48,412
think does illustrate the
important progress against

736
00:35:48,412 --> 00:35:49,612
ISIL that's been made.

737
00:35:49,614 --> 00:35:53,954
That progress was only
possible because of the

738
00:35:53,951 --> 00:35:59,791
willingness and courage
of Iraqi forces that were

739
00:35:59,790 --> 00:36:01,790
willing to fight
for their country.

740
00:36:01,792 --> 00:36:04,292
And the weakness that we
saw in the Iraqi security

741
00:36:04,295 --> 00:36:09,235
forces, back in the summer
of 2014, was a symptom of a

742
00:36:09,233 --> 00:36:11,973
lack of a willingness
to fight for the entire country.

743
00:36:11,969 --> 00:36:18,409
There is a part of those
Iraqi forces that, based on

744
00:36:18,409 --> 00:36:22,249
sectarian considerations,
left them less willing to

745
00:36:22,246 --> 00:36:24,316
defend certain parts
of their country.

746
00:36:24,315 --> 00:36:27,715
And working to pursue a
governing agenda, working to

747
00:36:27,718 --> 00:36:31,318
diversify Iraq's security
forces and to bring them

748
00:36:31,322 --> 00:36:33,322
under the command and
control of the Iraqi central

749
00:36:33,324 --> 00:36:37,164
government -- all those are
positive steps and all of

750
00:36:37,161 --> 00:36:41,061
those have contributed to
the progress that we've

751
00:36:41,065 --> 00:36:42,335
against ISIL thus far.

752
00:36:42,333 --> 00:36:44,903
And it's a testament to
Prime Minister Abadi's

753
00:36:44,902 --> 00:36:47,142
leadership that he was able
to do that -- again, under

754
00:36:47,138 --> 00:36:49,838
some very difficult and
challenging circumstances.

755
00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:54,280
But, look, it's also
understandable that there

756
00:36:54,278 --> 00:36:59,348
would be some impatience on
the part of the Iraqi people

757
00:36:59,350 --> 00:37:02,450
and other figures in the
Iraqi government about the

758
00:37:02,453 --> 00:37:04,093
security situation there.

759
00:37:04,088 --> 00:37:06,828
But Prime Minister Abadi
has clearly made

760
00:37:06,824 --> 00:37:08,264
this a priority.

761
00:37:08,259 --> 00:37:10,259
And the American government
and the United States

762
00:37:10,261 --> 00:37:15,801
military and the 65 nations
who are part of our

763
00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:18,740
coalition have been strongly
supportive of Prime Minister

764
00:37:18,736 --> 00:37:21,706
Abadi's efforts and pleased
with the important progress

765
00:37:21,706 --> 00:37:23,236
that's been made over the
last year and a half or so.

766
00:37:23,240 --> 00:37:26,610
The Press: Quickly,
on Syrian refugees.

767
00:37:26,611 --> 00:37:29,311
Does the President get
updates on the numbers of

768
00:37:29,313 --> 00:37:32,313
refugees that are being
processed into the U.S.? And

769
00:37:32,316 --> 00:37:36,456
do you still believe that
10,000 is roughly the number

770
00:37:36,454 --> 00:37:38,224
that are going to be
taken in this year?

771
00:37:38,222 --> 00:37:40,122
Mr. Earnest: The President
does receive periodic

772
00:37:40,124 --> 00:37:43,694
updates about the progress
that's being made to

773
00:37:43,694 --> 00:37:46,394
accomplish the goal that he
laid out, I believe at the

774
00:37:46,397 --> 00:37:51,337
end of last year, to take
in 10,000 Syrian refugees

775
00:37:51,335 --> 00:37:53,375
during this fiscal year.

776
00:37:53,371 --> 00:37:55,841
There are reports indicating
that we've got some work to

777
00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:56,640
do to meet that goal.

778
00:37:56,641 --> 00:38:00,411
The President has made
clear, both publicly and

779
00:38:00,411 --> 00:38:02,911
privately, that
this is a priority.

780
00:38:02,913 --> 00:38:08,053
And the national security
officials that are

781
00:38:08,052 --> 00:38:12,492
responsible for implementing
this progress understand

782
00:38:12,490 --> 00:38:14,490
exactly what the
Commander-in-Chief's

783
00:38:14,492 --> 00:38:16,492
priorities are.

784
00:38:17,895 --> 00:38:19,895
The President acknowledged
at the beginning that this

785
00:38:19,897 --> 00:38:23,797
would be a challenging goal
to meet, in part because

786
00:38:23,801 --> 00:38:25,801
individuals who enter the
United States through the

787
00:38:25,803 --> 00:38:30,643
refugee program are
subjected to more background

788
00:38:30,641 --> 00:38:33,341
checks and screening than
anybody else who enters the

789
00:38:33,344 --> 00:38:35,114
United States.

790
00:38:35,112 --> 00:38:39,382
And the President was clear
that we would meet this goal

791
00:38:39,383 --> 00:38:42,523
without cutting any corners
when it comes to security.

792
00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:47,120
So I think that sort of
describes the nature of the

793
00:38:47,124 --> 00:38:49,794
challenge facing those
who are implementing

794
00:38:49,794 --> 00:38:50,794
this program.

795
00:38:50,795 --> 00:38:55,435
But the President is serious
about meeting this goal, and

796
00:38:55,433 --> 00:38:58,573
there's a lot of work to
do to make that a reality.

797
00:38:58,569 --> 00:38:59,839
Kevin.

798
00:38:59,837 --> 00:39:01,337
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

799
00:39:01,338 --> 00:39:04,678
Interesting piece by David
Ignatius in the Post,

800
00:39:04,675 --> 00:39:08,845
quoting Director Clapper,
who said, among other

801
00:39:08,846 --> 00:39:13,586
things, about the battle to
retake Mosul -- you admitted

802
00:39:13,584 --> 00:39:16,954
it's a tall order -- he said
he didn't think it could be

803
00:39:16,954 --> 00:39:22,124
accomplished within the
time frame under this

804
00:39:22,126 --> 00:39:23,766
administration.

805
00:39:23,761 --> 00:39:25,761
How much of a surprise
is that to you?

806
00:39:25,763 --> 00:39:27,763
And is that something that
the President anticipated?

807
00:39:27,765 --> 00:39:29,765
Mr. Earnest: Well, when the
President has talked about

808
00:39:29,767 --> 00:39:32,267
this, the President has
been focused on the kind of

809
00:39:32,269 --> 00:39:34,909
shaping operations that
I described earlier.

810
00:39:34,905 --> 00:39:38,205
And the goal that we've laid
out is to try and put in

811
00:39:38,209 --> 00:39:41,949
place the conditions by the
end of the year where Mosul

812
00:39:41,946 --> 00:39:43,686
could be retaken.

813
00:39:43,681 --> 00:39:46,121
So that is the goal
that we're aiming for.

814
00:39:46,117 --> 00:39:49,057
Obviously, all of this work
is being led by the Iraqi

815
00:39:49,053 --> 00:39:52,093
central government and the
Iraqi security forces, but

816
00:39:52,089 --> 00:39:53,989
the United States and the
rest of the international

817
00:39:53,991 --> 00:39:57,291
community has bought in
on this strategy, and the

818
00:39:57,294 --> 00:39:59,764
groundwork is being
laid even as we speak.

819
00:39:59,764 --> 00:40:00,764
But this is a tall order.

820
00:40:00,765 --> 00:40:02,765
This is the second-largest
city in Iraq.

821
00:40:02,767 --> 00:40:06,467
So this is going to be a big
challenge, but it obviously

822
00:40:06,470 --> 00:40:12,040
would be, and will be,
a significant strategic

823
00:40:12,042 --> 00:40:14,682
accomplishment once that
city has been retaken.

824
00:40:14,678 --> 00:40:16,748
The Press: He went on to say
that he didn't think that the

825
00:40:16,747 --> 00:40:20,087
U.S. could fix it -- talking
about the grander problems

826
00:40:20,084 --> 00:40:23,754
that are prevalent not
just on the ground, but

827
00:40:23,754 --> 00:40:25,394
systematic problems
that are there.

828
00:40:25,389 --> 00:40:27,489
What does the President
think of that perspective?

829
00:40:27,491 --> 00:40:29,731
Mr. Earnest: The President
agrees wholeheartedly.

830
00:40:29,727 --> 00:40:31,727
This is a problem that the
Iraqi people are going to

831
00:40:31,729 --> 00:40:33,729
have to solve when it comes
to addressing the challenges

832
00:40:33,731 --> 00:40:35,201
in their own country.

833
00:40:35,199 --> 00:40:38,499
We've tried the path of the
United States trying to

834
00:40:38,502 --> 00:40:42,672
impose a solution on these
countries that are facing so

835
00:40:42,673 --> 00:40:46,143
much turmoil and violence,
and that didn't work out

836
00:40:46,143 --> 00:40:47,143
very well.

837
00:40:47,144 --> 00:40:49,144
It didn't work out very well
for the United States; it

838
00:40:49,146 --> 00:40:51,416
didn't work out very well
for the Iraqi people, either.

839
00:40:51,415 --> 00:40:53,415
So we need to pursue a
strategy where we are

840
00:40:53,417 --> 00:40:56,187
empowering the Iraqi
government, the Iraqi

841
00:40:56,187 --> 00:40:59,887
security forces, and the
Iraqi people to confront

842
00:40:59,890 --> 00:41:02,160
successfully the problems
that are plaguing their

843
00:41:02,159 --> 00:41:02,959
own nation.

844
00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:04,430
The Press: And the President
then, you would say, also

845
00:41:04,428 --> 00:41:07,928
agrees with his assessment
that we should be there

846
00:41:07,932 --> 00:41:11,002
because leaving would
create a problem as well?

847
00:41:11,001 --> 00:41:13,841
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President believes that, at

848
00:41:13,838 --> 00:41:16,638
this point in time,
we should be actively

849
00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:20,080
supporting the efforts of
Prime Minister Abadi to

850
00:41:20,077 --> 00:41:23,217
unite his country to face
down the threat from ISIL.

851
00:41:23,214 --> 00:41:27,014
We cannot afford to take the
risk of allowing ISIL to

852
00:41:27,017 --> 00:41:29,157
fill a security vacuum.

853
00:41:29,153 --> 00:41:32,693
We know that that would have
a direct and negative impact

854
00:41:32,690 --> 00:41:36,290
on the United States'
national security.

855
00:41:36,293 --> 00:41:38,493
So we take this quite
seriously, and I think it

856
00:41:38,495 --> 00:41:41,135
would explain why the
President has ordered more

857
00:41:41,131 --> 00:41:44,831
than 12,000 airstrikes
against ISIL targets in Iraq

858
00:41:44,835 --> 00:41:45,835
and in Syria.

859
00:41:45,836 --> 00:41:49,606
It's why the President has
given his military orders to

860
00:41:49,607 --> 00:41:53,977
implement a strategy to
build up the capacity of

861
00:41:53,978 --> 00:41:56,118
Iraqi security forces to
degrade and ultimately

862
00:41:56,113 --> 00:41:57,213
destroy ISIL.

863
00:41:57,214 --> 00:41:59,314
It's also why we've pursued
the other elements of our

864
00:41:59,316 --> 00:42:02,286
strategy to shut down ISIL's
financing and stop the flow

865
00:42:02,286 --> 00:42:04,826
of foreign fighters, all in
an effort to degrade and

866
00:42:04,822 --> 00:42:08,092
ultimately destroy ISIL,
because we know that the

867
00:42:08,092 --> 00:42:11,892
consequences of allowing
ISIL to establish a safe

868
00:42:11,896 --> 00:42:14,836
haven inside of Iraq would
be dire, both for the United

869
00:42:14,832 --> 00:42:17,872
States but for our partners
and allies around the world.

870
00:42:17,868 --> 00:42:19,868
The Press: And based on
that, should the American

871
00:42:19,870 --> 00:42:21,370
people receive that as a
message that it's

872
00:42:21,372 --> 00:42:22,642
going as expected?

873
00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:24,880
Mr. Earnest: I think the
American people can be

874
00:42:24,875 --> 00:42:26,845
confident that the
Commander-in-Chief

875
00:42:26,844 --> 00:42:28,844
understands what's necessary
to protect the

876
00:42:28,846 --> 00:42:30,076
American people.

877
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:32,520
They can also be confident
that President Obama

878
00:42:32,516 --> 00:42:35,816
understands that getting
the United States directly

879
00:42:35,819 --> 00:42:39,519
involved on the frontlines
of a ground war in the

880
00:42:39,523 --> 00:42:42,563
Middle East where the United
States has committed tens of

881
00:42:42,559 --> 00:42:45,829
thousands of ground troops
in a combat operation would

882
00:42:45,829 --> 00:42:48,029
be a bad idea and contrary
to our interests.

883
00:42:48,032 --> 00:42:49,262
This President --

884
00:42:49,266 --> 00:42:50,066
The
Press: I wasn't clear.

885
00:42:50,067 --> 00:42:51,707
I meant based on what you
were saying -- some of the

886
00:42:51,702 --> 00:42:55,142
things you just
pointed had successes.

887
00:42:55,139 --> 00:42:58,639
Should the American people
then take from that the

888
00:42:58,642 --> 00:43:00,782
President feels like it's
going as it should be?

889
00:43:00,778 --> 00:43:02,778
Mr. Earnest: I think people
can be confident that the

890
00:43:02,780 --> 00:43:05,850
President recognizes the
stakes; that people can be

891
00:43:05,849 --> 00:43:10,489
confident that the President
believes that we've made

892
00:43:10,487 --> 00:43:14,157
important progress, but
I think we can also be

893
00:43:14,158 --> 00:43:16,158
confident, and the American
people can be confident,

894
00:43:16,160 --> 00:43:21,970
that what the President
expects to do is to continue

895
00:43:21,966 --> 00:43:23,966
this progress through the
eight months that are

896
00:43:23,968 --> 00:43:29,808
remaining, and present the
next President with a path

897
00:43:29,807 --> 00:43:32,947
toward accomplishing
this broader goal.

898
00:43:32,943 --> 00:43:34,943
But it's going to require
the United States to

899
00:43:34,945 --> 00:43:38,515
continue to support the
Abadi-led government that's

900
00:43:38,515 --> 00:43:42,585
committed to an inclusive
agenda, and it's also going

901
00:43:42,586 --> 00:43:45,886
to require continuing to
engage the rest of the

902
00:43:45,889 --> 00:43:47,889
international community
in this effort.

903
00:43:47,891 --> 00:43:49,891
This is not something that
the United States can or

904
00:43:49,893 --> 00:43:53,563
will do alone, but we will
play a leading role in

905
00:43:53,564 --> 00:43:56,064
leading an international
coalition to degrade and

906
00:43:56,066 --> 00:43:57,236
ultimately destroy ISIL.

907
00:43:57,234 --> 00:43:59,234
And under President Obama's
leadership, that's exactly

908
00:43:59,236 --> 00:44:00,236
what we've done.

909
00:44:00,237 --> 00:44:01,237
The Press: Last one.

910
00:44:01,238 --> 00:44:04,008
Would the President
consider backing an idea of

911
00:44:04,008 --> 00:44:06,608
partitioning the country?

912
00:44:06,610 --> 00:44:10,650
Mr. Earnest: Well, there are
obviously people that have

913
00:44:10,647 --> 00:44:13,147
floated this idea in a
variety of contexts,

914
00:44:13,150 --> 00:44:16,020
including even the
Vice President in his

915
00:44:16,020 --> 00:44:18,960
presidential campaign
eight years ago.

916
00:44:18,956 --> 00:44:25,466
What our policy and our
belief continues to be is

917
00:44:25,462 --> 00:44:29,702
that Iraq will be most
successful in their fight

918
00:44:29,700 --> 00:44:33,400
against ISIL if they can
succeed in uniting that

919
00:44:33,404 --> 00:44:37,444
country to face down the
security threat that

920
00:44:37,441 --> 00:44:39,441
ISIL poses.

921
00:44:40,711 --> 00:44:45,211
We believe that Iraq is
stronger when it's united.

922
00:44:47,885 --> 00:44:49,885
And I think the best
evidence that we have of

923
00:44:49,887 --> 00:44:53,087
this is that President
Abadi's predecessor, Prime

924
00:44:53,090 --> 00:44:56,930
Minister Maliki, did pursue
a rather sectarian governing

925
00:44:56,927 --> 00:45:02,267
agenda, and the
vulnerabilities in that

926
00:45:02,266 --> 00:45:06,806
agenda were laid bare when
you saw Iraqi security

927
00:45:06,804 --> 00:45:11,104
forces that were charged
with protecting that country

928
00:45:11,108 --> 00:45:14,608
essentially melt away when
ISIL began their initial

929
00:45:14,611 --> 00:45:17,051
assault on their country.

930
00:45:17,047 --> 00:45:22,187
So that's why the President
essentially made a

931
00:45:22,186 --> 00:45:24,686
precondition of robust U.S.

932
00:45:24,688 --> 00:45:28,928
military involvement in the
counter-ISIL effort in Iraq

933
00:45:28,926 --> 00:45:33,696
that the Iraqi people elect
and support a Prime Minister

934
00:45:33,697 --> 00:45:36,797
who's committed to reforming
the government in pursuing

935
00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:39,440
the kind of inclusive
governing agenda that would

936
00:45:39,436 --> 00:45:41,436
unite the country
to face the threat.

937
00:45:41,438 --> 00:45:43,438
That's exactly what Prime
Minister Abadi has done.

938
00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:45,040
That's why the U.S.

939
00:45:45,042 --> 00:45:48,042
government has been
supportive of his efforts to

940
00:45:48,045 --> 00:45:49,045
do so.

941
00:45:49,046 --> 00:45:51,046
And that's why we continue
to stand with the Iraqi

942
00:45:51,048 --> 00:45:52,518
people in this very
difficult time.

943
00:45:52,516 --> 00:45:54,116
Ron.

944
00:45:54,118 --> 00:45:54,918
The Press: A couple
of quick ones.

945
00:45:54,918 --> 00:45:58,388
Zika -- there was money
taken from the emergency

946
00:45:58,388 --> 00:46:01,628
fund, right --
the Ebola fund?

947
00:46:01,625 --> 00:46:02,625
What is the status of that?

948
00:46:02,626 --> 00:46:05,126
And is it your position that
that money is going to run

949
00:46:05,129 --> 00:46:09,069
out soon and that there is
no other opportunity to tap

950
00:46:09,066 --> 00:46:12,606
into that same fund if
Congress doesn't come up

951
00:46:12,603 --> 00:46:15,143
with something?

952
00:46:15,139 --> 00:46:20,349
Mr. Earnest: Our posture on
this has been that using

953
00:46:20,344 --> 00:46:27,084
that money was essentially a
last resort to try and do as

954
00:46:27,084 --> 00:46:31,854
much as we possibly can to
protect the American people

955
00:46:31,855 --> 00:46:33,355
from the Zika virus.

956
00:46:33,357 --> 00:46:35,797
But what our public health
professionals have said,

957
00:46:35,792 --> 00:46:37,792
what Dr. Fauci said when he
was standing at this podium

958
00:46:37,794 --> 00:46:41,434
about a month or so ago is
that that money, about $600

959
00:46:41,431 --> 00:46:46,441
million, was insufficient to
fund all of the things that

960
00:46:48,839 --> 00:46:52,039
the federal government can
and should be doing to try

961
00:46:52,042 --> 00:46:54,612
to prepare for the
onset of the Zika virus.

962
00:46:54,611 --> 00:46:56,611
The Press: So there's no
more money in that fund?

963
00:46:56,613 --> 00:46:58,253
There's no more money
available from that

964
00:46:58,248 --> 00:47:00,618
emergency fund to
the administration?

965
00:47:00,617 --> 00:47:02,617
Mr. Earnest: Well, we can
check with OMB on this.

966
00:47:02,619 --> 00:47:04,619
I think what it actually is,
is that we have basically

967
00:47:04,621 --> 00:47:07,461
taken as much money as we
can from those accounts

968
00:47:07,457 --> 00:47:09,457
without undermining the
important public health work

969
00:47:09,459 --> 00:47:11,029
that they're already doing.

970
00:47:11,028 --> 00:47:13,368
We didn't want to be in a
situation where we were

971
00:47:13,363 --> 00:47:15,803
essentially eliminating all
of the funding to fight

972
00:47:15,799 --> 00:47:20,709
Ebola to try to come back
and fight Zika, because that

973
00:47:20,704 --> 00:47:22,704
would be a pretty unwise
decision, as well.

974
00:47:22,706 --> 00:47:24,706
So what we've done is
basically taken as much

975
00:47:24,708 --> 00:47:27,848
money as we possibly can
without totally gutting the

976
00:47:27,844 --> 00:47:31,144
Ebola program to
direct it towards Zika.

977
00:47:31,148 --> 00:47:35,018
Now, to succeed against
Ebola, we're going to need

978
00:47:35,018 --> 00:47:37,988
that money to be repaid,
and to be repaid quickly.

979
00:47:37,988 --> 00:47:40,628
So we need Congress to
act on that, as well.

980
00:47:40,624 --> 00:47:42,624
I don't want them to think
that this is money that was

981
00:47:42,626 --> 00:47:44,626
just sitting around
with nothing to do.

982
00:47:44,628 --> 00:47:48,128
The fact is, this is money
that was available that we

983
00:47:48,131 --> 00:47:51,331
could use toward Zika
without undermining the

984
00:47:51,335 --> 00:47:54,605
Ebola effort, but we need
the Ebola effort to be fully

985
00:47:54,605 --> 00:47:55,605
funded, as well.

986
00:47:55,606 --> 00:47:58,976
And I think everybody who
covered this White House in

987
00:47:58,976 --> 00:48:02,676
the fall of 2014 would
acknowledge that we're not

988
00:48:02,679 --> 00:48:04,719
going to take Ebola lightly
and that that would be a bad

989
00:48:04,715 --> 00:48:05,715
decision for the country.

990
00:48:05,716 --> 00:48:08,056
The Press: In Iraq,
following the breach of the

991
00:48:08,051 --> 00:48:11,791
Green Zone, is the -- what
has been done by the United

992
00:48:11,788 --> 00:48:14,758
States to make sure that --
and are you confident that

993
00:48:14,758 --> 00:48:15,488
that will not happen again?

994
00:48:15,492 --> 00:48:19,062
There were reports that
Iraqi security forces

995
00:48:19,062 --> 00:48:20,962
basically let these
protesters in.

996
00:48:20,964 --> 00:48:24,034
There was some concern about
the American embassy and

997
00:48:24,034 --> 00:48:27,804
that -- there's been
more Marines sent in.

998
00:48:27,804 --> 00:48:31,874
What is the administration's
level of concern about that

999
00:48:31,875 --> 00:48:33,875
embassy, and who is
responsible for that?

1000
00:48:33,877 --> 00:48:38,287
Mr. Earnest: Well, obviously
the nation of Iraq has

1001
00:48:38,282 --> 00:48:41,052
obligations to protect all
of the diplomatic facilities

1002
00:48:41,051 --> 00:48:44,351
on their soil, and we've
received assurances from the

1003
00:48:44,354 --> 00:48:46,154
Iraqi government that they
understand that that's

1004
00:48:46,156 --> 00:48:47,426
their obligation.

1005
00:48:47,424 --> 00:48:50,424
In addition to that, the
State Department has ordered

1006
00:48:50,427 --> 00:48:55,267
some steps to ensure that
the embassy -- the U.S.

1007
00:48:55,265 --> 00:48:59,605
embassy in
Baghdad is secure.

1008
00:48:59,603 --> 00:49:01,603
I think for obvious reasons
I won't be able to detail

1009
00:49:01,605 --> 00:49:03,605
all of the security
precautions that have been

1010
00:49:03,607 --> 00:49:07,447
taken, but the safety and
security of our diplomats

1011
00:49:07,444 --> 00:49:09,744
serving the United States
around the world is the

1012
00:49:09,746 --> 00:49:12,346
President's top priority.

1013
00:49:12,349 --> 00:49:19,259
And he has made clear to his
team that all the necessary

1014
00:49:19,256 --> 00:49:22,596
steps that need to be taken
to ensure their safety at

1015
00:49:22,592 --> 00:49:24,662
the embassy in
Baghdad are taken.

1016
00:49:24,661 --> 00:49:27,761
And I'm confident that the
State Department has done that.

1017
00:49:27,764 --> 00:49:30,364
The Press: And given the
continued violence there,

1018
00:49:30,367 --> 00:49:34,107
and the concern obviously
about embassies everywhere

1019
00:49:34,104 --> 00:49:37,274
in light of the Benghazi
situation and because that's

1020
00:49:37,274 --> 00:49:39,844
become such a political
issue, the administration is

1021
00:49:39,843 --> 00:49:43,643
confident that that embassy
-- that leaving the primary

1022
00:49:43,647 --> 00:49:46,387
responsibility to the
Iraqis is sufficient?

1023
00:49:46,383 --> 00:49:49,583
Mr. Earnest: Well, every
nation has an obligation to

1024
00:49:49,586 --> 00:49:51,726
safeguard the diplomatic
facilities that are on their

1025
00:49:51,722 --> 00:49:53,222
country's soil.

1026
00:49:53,223 --> 00:49:56,363
The United States, for
example, has an obligation

1027
00:49:56,360 --> 00:49:58,330
to ensure the safety
and security of foreign

1028
00:49:58,328 --> 00:50:00,128
diplomats that are serving
here in the United States.

1029
00:50:00,130 --> 00:50:03,230
We take that obligation
seriously, and we obviously

1030
00:50:03,233 --> 00:50:05,403
expect that other countries
around the world take that

1031
00:50:05,402 --> 00:50:07,272
obligation seriously.

1032
00:50:07,270 --> 00:50:09,540
But, of course, at U.S.

1033
00:50:09,539 --> 00:50:12,009
diplomatic facilities all
around the world there are

1034
00:50:12,008 --> 00:50:14,748
United States Marine Corps
servicemembers who are

1035
00:50:14,745 --> 00:50:16,015
standing guard.

1036
00:50:16,012 --> 00:50:19,852
And the President takes that
security quite seriously,

1037
00:50:19,850 --> 00:50:23,390
but that certainly does not
absolve local governments of

1038
00:50:23,387 --> 00:50:26,057
the responsibility that they
have to ensure the safety

1039
00:50:26,056 --> 00:50:27,596
and security of our
diplomats as well.

1040
00:50:27,591 --> 00:50:28,361
The Press: One more.

1041
00:50:28,358 --> 00:50:30,228
On this issue of the
President and the press

1042
00:50:30,227 --> 00:50:32,767
that's been out there lately
-- I sent you this this

1043
00:50:32,763 --> 00:50:36,163
earlier -- the American
Presidency Project in Santa

1044
00:50:36,166 --> 00:50:38,806
Barbara -- UC Santa Barbara
-- did an analysis that

1045
00:50:38,802 --> 00:50:41,472
shows that President
Obama has had fewer press

1046
00:50:41,471 --> 00:50:43,141
conferences -- is on pace to
have fewer press conferences

1047
00:50:43,140 --> 00:50:46,210
than his previous
two predecessors.

1048
00:50:46,209 --> 00:50:48,579
And the monthly and average
rate that he's been doing

1049
00:50:48,578 --> 00:50:52,918
these at is less than his
three previous predecessors.

1050
00:50:52,916 --> 00:50:53,916
Is that correct?

1051
00:50:53,917 --> 00:50:55,917
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
there are a lot of different

1052
00:50:55,919 --> 00:50:57,919
ways to slice and
dice these numbers.

1053
00:50:57,921 --> 00:51:00,261
Obviously the President was
just out here five days ago

1054
00:51:00,257 --> 00:51:02,257
doing a news conference with
all of you, standing

1055
00:51:02,259 --> 00:51:03,259
at this podium.

1056
00:51:03,260 --> 00:51:05,900
So he does them with
some regularity.

1057
00:51:05,896 --> 00:51:10,806
But there are a lot of
different ways to slice and

1058
00:51:10,801 --> 00:51:11,801
dice the numbers here.

1059
00:51:11,802 --> 00:51:12,802
The Press: But they counted
press conferences -- formal

1060
00:51:12,803 --> 00:51:15,343
press conferences, briefing
room appearances, joint

1061
00:51:15,338 --> 00:51:17,938
press conferences with
other world leaders.

1062
00:51:17,941 --> 00:51:20,741
I believe it's a fairly
credible institution.

1063
00:51:20,744 --> 00:51:23,944
But the point is that,
by a couple of different

1064
00:51:23,947 --> 00:51:26,017
measurements, the President
has been much less

1065
00:51:26,016 --> 00:51:28,516
accessible -- less
accessible -- I don't want

1066
00:51:28,518 --> 00:51:33,058
to put an adjective in there
-- to the press than his

1067
00:51:33,056 --> 00:51:34,656
previous predecessors.

1068
00:51:34,658 --> 00:51:37,458
And, of course, there
is still time to go.

1069
00:51:37,461 --> 00:51:40,961
But you don't see it that
way or he doesn't see it

1070
00:51:40,964 --> 00:51:42,064
that way?

1071
00:51:42,065 --> 00:51:44,435
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President has done a lot

1072
00:51:44,434 --> 00:51:45,434
of news conferences.

1073
00:51:45,435 --> 00:51:48,435
It certainly is your job as
you sit here in the briefing

1074
00:51:48,438 --> 00:51:50,538
room and as you cover the
President every day to

1075
00:51:50,540 --> 00:51:52,540
advocate for more access to
the President and for more

1076
00:51:52,542 --> 00:51:53,942
news conferences and more
opportunities to

1077
00:51:53,944 --> 00:51:55,374
ask him questions.

1078
00:51:55,378 --> 00:51:57,918
We certainly understand
that's a part of your job

1079
00:51:57,914 --> 00:52:01,884
and that's part of the
give and take that has

1080
00:52:01,885 --> 00:52:05,425
characterized the
relationship between the

1081
00:52:05,422 --> 00:52:08,492
White House and White House
press corps for at least one

1082
00:52:08,492 --> 00:52:11,192
century, probably two.

1083
00:52:11,194 --> 00:52:13,494
I think what is also true is
that this President has done

1084
00:52:13,497 --> 00:52:17,997
more one-on-one interviews
with reporters, both from

1085
00:52:18,001 --> 00:52:22,101
the White House and from
other places, than any of

1086
00:52:22,105 --> 00:52:23,475
his predecessors.

1087
00:52:23,473 --> 00:52:25,773
I think that is a testament
to the President's desire to

1088
00:52:25,775 --> 00:52:29,115
try to engage with
independent professional

1089
00:52:29,112 --> 00:52:32,552
journalists who are
interested in understanding

1090
00:52:32,549 --> 00:52:33,549
exactly what he's doing.

1091
00:52:33,550 --> 00:52:38,560
But, look, I don't take any
exception to your advocacy

1092
00:52:40,690 --> 00:52:42,690
for more access
to the President.

1093
00:52:42,692 --> 00:52:47,462
That certainly is part
of your job description.

1094
00:52:47,464 --> 00:52:48,464
Mark.

1095
00:52:48,465 --> 00:52:52,135
The Press: Josh, is there
any White House response to

1096
00:52:52,135 --> 00:52:55,505
the growing complaints about
the TSA and the long lines

1097
00:52:55,505 --> 00:52:59,305
at airport security
checkpoints lately, with the

1098
00:52:59,309 --> 00:53:00,849
summer travel
season nearing?

1099
00:53:00,844 --> 00:53:05,314
Mr. EARNEST: I'm not aware
of any specific White House

1100
00:53:05,315 --> 00:53:07,385
order that's been
issued on this.

1101
00:53:07,384 --> 00:53:09,984
I do know that the TSA
certainly takes very

1102
00:53:09,986 --> 00:53:13,586
seriously the responsibility
that they have to protect

1103
00:53:13,590 --> 00:53:16,090
our aviation system, but
also to minimize the

1104
00:53:16,092 --> 00:53:19,632
inconvenience to U.S. travelers.

1105
00:53:19,629 --> 00:53:23,769
So they're mindful of the
responsibility that they have.

1106
00:53:23,767 --> 00:53:25,337
Certainly some of the
challenges that they're

1107
00:53:25,335 --> 00:53:28,535
facing right now could be
alleviated if they got all

1108
00:53:28,538 --> 00:53:30,538
of the funding that we would
like to see them have.

1109
00:53:30,540 --> 00:53:37,310
So once again, a problem
that people have noticed can

1110
00:53:37,314 --> 00:53:40,714
be traced back pretty
directly to the inability of

1111
00:53:40,717 --> 00:53:42,717
Republicans in Congress
to govern the country.

1112
00:53:42,719 --> 00:53:46,889
But what I also know that
the TSA has done is they've

1113
00:53:46,890 --> 00:53:49,090
brought on some additional
staff, including those with

1114
00:53:49,092 --> 00:53:53,192
some management expertise,
to try to address some of

1115
00:53:53,196 --> 00:53:55,766
these problems, given the
resource constraints that

1116
00:53:55,765 --> 00:53:56,735
they're operating under.

1117
00:53:56,733 --> 00:54:00,003
The Press: I also wanted
to ask about the national

1118
00:54:00,003 --> 00:54:03,673
mammal bill that the
President signed on Monday.

1119
00:54:03,673 --> 00:54:07,613
Were there any White House
deliberations on honoring

1120
00:54:07,611 --> 00:54:10,911
the North American bison
among all other mammals,

1121
00:54:10,914 --> 00:54:12,514
including people, I guess?

1122
00:54:12,515 --> 00:54:13,355
(laughter)

1123
00:54:13,350 --> 00:54:15,990
Mr. Earnest: Well, Mark, I
can tell you -- that's an

1124
00:54:15,986 --> 00:54:18,586
interesting question.

1125
00:54:18,588 --> 00:54:21,058
Well, I can tell you
that there was a robust

1126
00:54:21,057 --> 00:54:23,057
legislative effort on the
part of the White House on

1127
00:54:23,059 --> 00:54:24,059
this one.

1128
00:54:24,060 --> 00:54:25,560
We were determined not to
get buffaloed on this.

1129
00:54:25,562 --> 00:54:28,302
(laughter)

1130
00:54:28,298 --> 00:54:29,268
The Press: I did
not set him up.

1131
00:54:29,265 --> 00:54:31,565
(laughter)

1132
00:54:31,568 --> 00:54:33,868
Mr. Earnest: But obviously,
this is a piece of

1133
00:54:33,870 --> 00:54:35,310
legislation that's passed
through the Congress and I

1134
00:54:35,305 --> 00:54:36,475
would anticipate that the
President will sign it.

1135
00:54:36,473 --> 00:54:39,543
The Press: I also wondered
if you saw that New York

1136
00:54:39,542 --> 00:54:43,652
Times story yesterday about
Mrs. Clinton promising to

1137
00:54:43,647 --> 00:54:47,987
get to the bottom of the UFO
and Area 51 conspiracies.

1138
00:54:47,984 --> 00:54:50,254
And I wondered if the
President would like to beat

1139
00:54:50,253 --> 00:54:56,563
her to the punch by showing
his degree of transparency

1140
00:54:56,559 --> 00:54:59,529
on this issue, which is
of concern to a

1141
00:54:59,529 --> 00:55:00,529
lot of Americans.

1142
00:55:00,530 --> 00:55:04,030
Mr. Earnest: I have to
admit, I don't have a tab in

1143
00:55:04,034 --> 00:55:06,204
my briefing book
for Area 51 today.

1144
00:55:06,202 --> 00:55:06,572
The Press: Or a joke.

1145
00:55:06,569 --> 00:55:07,169
Mr. Earnest: Or a joke.

1146
00:55:07,170 --> 00:55:08,540
The Press: Because
it's (inaudible).

1147
00:55:08,538 --> 00:55:12,978
Mr. Earnest: Maybe it has --
part of a grand conspiracy.

1148
00:55:12,976 --> 00:55:17,116
I'm not aware of any plans
that the President has to

1149
00:55:17,113 --> 00:55:19,113
make public any
information about this.

1150
00:55:19,115 --> 00:55:21,985
The Press: Does he feel he's
gotten to the bottom of it?

1151
00:55:21,985 --> 00:55:25,155
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that he has joked publicly

1152
00:55:25,155 --> 00:55:28,425
before about one of the
benefits of the presidency

1153
00:55:28,425 --> 00:55:30,395
is having access to
that information.

1154
00:55:30,393 --> 00:55:32,433
I don't know whether or not
he has availed himself of

1155
00:55:32,429 --> 00:55:33,429
that opportunity.

1156
00:55:33,430 --> 00:55:37,570
But if we have more on
this, we'll let you know.

1157
00:55:37,567 --> 00:55:40,307
The Press: At night, under
the cover of darkness?

1158
00:55:40,303 --> 00:55:41,203
(laughter)

1159
00:55:41,204 --> 00:55:42,844
Mr. Earnest: Potentially.

1160
00:55:42,839 --> 00:55:43,939
Scott.

1161
00:55:43,940 --> 00:55:47,180
The Press: Is the
President's meeting with the

1162
00:55:47,177 --> 00:55:48,847
Secretary of Treasury this
afternoon mostly about

1163
00:55:48,845 --> 00:55:50,485
Puerto Rico, or could you
give us a little insight on

1164
00:55:50,480 --> 00:55:51,250
what they're talking about?

1165
00:55:51,247 --> 00:55:53,717
Mr. Earnest: Well, this is
just part of the regular --

1166
00:55:53,717 --> 00:55:55,717
I believe it's a bi-weekly
meeting that the President

1167
00:55:55,719 --> 00:55:58,019
has with the Secretary
of the Treasury.

1168
00:55:58,021 --> 00:56:01,721
I would anticipate that
high on the agenda will be

1169
00:56:01,725 --> 00:56:03,925
getting a readout from
Secretary Lew about his trip

1170
00:56:03,927 --> 00:56:05,097
to Puerto Rico.

1171
00:56:05,095 --> 00:56:08,295
And I just described to you
some of what Secretary Lew

1172
00:56:08,298 --> 00:56:10,298
saw firsthand when he
visited Puerto Rico, and I

1173
00:56:10,300 --> 00:56:12,340
would anticipate that he'll
talk with the President

1174
00:56:12,335 --> 00:56:16,075
about that a little
bit more as well.

1175
00:56:16,072 --> 00:56:20,582
I would also anticipate that
other budgetary issues will

1176
00:56:20,577 --> 00:56:23,447
be on the agenda as well.

1177
00:56:23,446 --> 00:56:25,446
But once that meeting
concludes, we'll see if we

1178
00:56:25,448 --> 00:56:27,448
can get you some more
details about what

1179
00:56:27,450 --> 00:56:28,450
they discussed.

1180
00:56:28,451 --> 00:56:29,451
Angela.

1181
00:56:29,452 --> 00:56:30,452
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1182
00:56:30,453 --> 00:56:32,453
Following up on the line of
questioning about Brazil,

1183
00:56:32,455 --> 00:56:34,455
there's a very real
possibility that there could

1184
00:56:34,457 --> 00:56:35,697
for some time be two
Brazilian Presidents

1185
00:56:35,692 --> 00:56:39,062
concurrently, one interim
President and one

1186
00:56:39,062 --> 00:56:40,962
suspended President.

1187
00:56:40,964 --> 00:56:44,064
How would the administration
handle relations with Brazil

1188
00:56:44,067 --> 00:56:45,337
if that does come to pass?

1189
00:56:45,335 --> 00:56:47,505
Mr. Earnest: Well, we
obviously would follow the

1190
00:56:47,504 --> 00:56:50,274
traditions and the
laws of Brazil.

1191
00:56:50,273 --> 00:56:52,373
And, again, what I
understand about this

1192
00:56:52,375 --> 00:56:56,375
process comes entirely from
reading news accounts of

1193
00:56:56,379 --> 00:56:59,949
what's happening there --
or almost entirely of news

1194
00:56:59,949 --> 00:57:01,419
accounts from what's
happening there.

1195
00:57:01,417 --> 00:57:03,817
And the way that I
understand how this process

1196
00:57:03,820 --> 00:57:08,830
works is that if the vote in
the Senate goes the way that

1197
00:57:12,395 --> 00:57:16,065
many people are predicting,
then President Rousseff

1198
00:57:16,065 --> 00:57:20,805
would step aside while the
charges against her are

1199
00:57:20,804 --> 00:57:23,674
heard by the appropriate
legislative body.

1200
00:57:23,673 --> 00:57:28,443
And the current Vice
President would assume the

1201
00:57:28,444 --> 00:57:31,744
constitutional powers of the
presidency until such time

1202
00:57:31,748 --> 00:57:38,488
as the allegations against
President Rousseff are resolved.

1203
00:57:38,488 --> 00:57:40,488
That's my understanding
about the way the process

1204
00:57:40,490 --> 00:57:41,860
works, and the U.S.

1205
00:57:41,858 --> 00:57:44,498
government and our diplomats
who are serving in Brazil

1206
00:57:44,494 --> 00:57:47,394
would engage with the
Brazilian government

1207
00:57:47,397 --> 00:57:49,397
according to their
rules and traditions.

1208
00:57:49,399 --> 00:57:51,539
The Press: And does this
situation provide an

1209
00:57:51,534 --> 00:57:55,804
opening, potentially, for
an improvement of relations

1210
00:57:55,805 --> 00:57:56,575
with Brazil?

1211
00:57:56,573 --> 00:57:58,243
They've been an important
partner of the U.S., but the

1212
00:57:58,241 --> 00:58:01,381
government has been in power
for over a decade -- the

1213
00:58:01,377 --> 00:58:04,847
party has been in power that
was aligned with the

1214
00:58:04,848 --> 00:58:06,118
U.S. interests.

1215
00:58:06,115 --> 00:58:08,555
Is there a silver lining
here for the U.S.

1216
00:58:08,551 --> 00:58:10,621
in the disarray of the
Brazilian government?

1217
00:58:10,620 --> 00:58:12,560
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
President Rousseff was here

1218
00:58:12,555 --> 00:58:15,625
at the White House a little
over a year ago, and I think

1219
00:58:15,625 --> 00:58:20,195
that a hallmark of that
visit was effective

1220
00:58:20,196 --> 00:58:22,236
coordination between the
United States and Brazil on

1221
00:58:22,232 --> 00:58:24,232
a whole range of issues --
everything from the economy

1222
00:58:24,234 --> 00:58:26,674
to national security
to even climate change.

1223
00:58:26,669 --> 00:58:30,309
So we've been able to do a
lot of important work with

1224
00:58:30,306 --> 00:58:33,276
the Brazilian government,
and we'd certainly look for

1225
00:58:33,276 --> 00:58:35,846
any additional opportunities
that are available to

1226
00:58:35,845 --> 00:58:40,385
cooperate with them even
further to make progress on

1227
00:58:40,383 --> 00:58:43,083
priorities that President
Obama has identified.

1228
00:58:43,086 --> 00:58:44,486
Gardiner.

1229
00:58:44,487 --> 00:58:47,127
The Press: Does the
President support Paul

1230
00:58:47,123 --> 00:58:49,823
Ryan's plan to confront
the opioid crisis?

1231
00:58:49,826 --> 00:58:51,996
He recently came
out with a plan.

1232
00:58:51,995 --> 00:58:55,065
Mr. Earnest: Well, I have
heard some discussion about

1233
00:58:55,064 --> 00:58:56,064
their plan.

1234
00:58:56,065 --> 00:58:59,605
I think it's a series of
bills that they have -- I

1235
00:58:59,602 --> 00:59:01,602
believe it's 18 different
bills that they're

1236
00:59:01,604 --> 00:59:03,604
considering, none of which
actually include any

1237
00:59:03,606 --> 00:59:07,046
funding, which is
unfortunate and it raises

1238
00:59:07,043 --> 00:59:10,083
questions about what exactly
they hope the impact of

1239
00:59:10,079 --> 00:59:11,779
these bills would be.

1240
00:59:11,781 --> 00:59:16,081
I know that there has been
some concern expressed by

1241
00:59:16,085 --> 00:59:22,025
the Speaker's office that
the political turmoil inside

1242
00:59:22,025 --> 00:59:25,225
the Republican Party
is overshadowing this

1243
00:59:25,228 --> 00:59:26,298
particular
legislative effort.

1244
00:59:26,296 --> 00:59:29,896
I think my observation would
be, if there were actually

1245
00:59:29,899 --> 00:59:32,499
some substance behind this
legislative effort, it might

1246
00:59:32,502 --> 00:59:34,502
get some more
deserved attention.

1247
00:59:34,504 --> 00:59:38,344
If there were actual funding
in here to support more

1248
00:59:38,341 --> 00:59:42,281
access to treatment and more
evidence-based treatment

1249
00:59:42,278 --> 00:59:46,788
options for people across
the country, I suspect it

1250
00:59:46,783 --> 00:59:49,223
would be worthy of
more public attention.

1251
00:59:49,218 --> 00:59:53,828
But, unfortunately, that's
not the option that

1252
00:59:53,823 --> 00:59:54,823
Republicans have chosen.

1253
00:59:54,824 --> 00:59:58,294
It is particularly
unfortunate because the

1254
00:59:58,294 --> 01:00:01,594
President put forward his
own proposal, totaling about

1255
01:00:01,597 --> 01:00:04,197
a billion dollars that would
make important investments

1256
01:00:04,200 --> 01:00:08,740
in research and treatment
and recovery programs.

1257
01:00:08,738 --> 01:00:10,838
But as you'll recall,
Gardiner, Republicans for

1258
01:00:10,840 --> 01:00:13,480
the first time in four
decades declined to even

1259
01:00:13,476 --> 01:00:15,446
hear from the President's
Budget Director about

1260
01:00:15,445 --> 01:00:17,445
that priority.

1261
01:00:18,581 --> 01:00:23,351
So Republicans paying lip
service to an issue that

1262
01:00:23,353 --> 01:00:26,523
they know is important to
voters, without actually

1263
01:00:26,522 --> 01:00:31,832
doing something substantive
to address it, and, in fact,

1264
01:00:31,828 --> 01:00:35,898
actively blocking Obama
administration efforts to

1265
01:00:35,898 --> 01:00:41,108
address it is kind of an
old story, but it's the

1266
01:00:41,104 --> 01:00:45,574
reputation that Republicans
have embraced for seven

1267
01:00:45,575 --> 01:00:50,015
years now and it's a
reputation that they

1268
01:00:50,013 --> 01:00:51,113
demonstrate is well-earned.

1269
01:00:51,114 --> 01:00:53,754
The Press: Back to
the refugee numbers.

1270
01:00:53,750 --> 01:00:58,220
The President is hosting a
refugee summit in September.

1271
01:00:58,221 --> 01:01:01,821
It looks like, as you have
somewhat admitted, you're

1272
01:01:01,824 --> 01:01:06,464
going to be way behind on
admitting even the small

1273
01:01:06,462 --> 01:01:09,662
number of Syrian refugees
that the President has vowed

1274
01:01:09,665 --> 01:01:11,665
to admit.

1275
01:01:11,667 --> 01:01:14,867
How is the administration,
how is the President going

1276
01:01:14,871 --> 01:01:19,711
to speak with these world
leaders and urge them to do

1277
01:01:19,709 --> 01:01:22,579
more when the United States
seems to not only have such

1278
01:01:22,578 --> 01:01:26,178
a paltry goal on Syrian
refugees to begin with but

1279
01:01:26,182 --> 01:01:29,782
is probably not even going
to be close to meeting even

1280
01:01:29,786 --> 01:01:32,426
that small goal
at that point?

1281
01:01:32,422 --> 01:01:34,492
Mr. Earnest: Well, Gardiner,
there are several more

1282
01:01:34,490 --> 01:01:36,460
months left in
the fiscal year.

1283
01:01:36,459 --> 01:01:41,569
And at this point in time in
the last fiscal year, there

1284
01:01:41,564 --> 01:01:44,104
was skepticism about whether
or not the administration

1285
01:01:44,100 --> 01:01:46,570
would succeed in meeting the
goal for admitting refugees

1286
01:01:46,569 --> 01:01:48,769
that we had set
for last year.

1287
01:01:48,771 --> 01:01:54,141
And in the last few months
of the fiscal year, the pace

1288
01:01:54,143 --> 01:01:56,683
ramped up and
that goal was met.

1289
01:01:59,482 --> 01:02:03,482
This administration is
focused on doing that again,

1290
01:02:03,486 --> 01:02:08,726
but we will not do that
in a way that results in a

1291
01:02:08,724 --> 01:02:10,694
weakening of
security standards.

1292
01:02:10,693 --> 01:02:12,893
This is a challenging task.

1293
01:02:12,895 --> 01:02:14,895
Individuals who enter the
United States through the

1294
01:02:14,897 --> 01:02:17,537
refugee program are
subjected to more scrutiny,

1295
01:02:17,533 --> 01:02:19,773
more vetting, and more
background checks than

1296
01:02:19,769 --> 01:02:21,769
anybody else who enters
the United States.

1297
01:02:26,008 --> 01:02:28,478
And the President is
determined to keep those

1298
01:02:28,478 --> 01:02:33,278
strict security measures in
place, even as we ramp up

1299
01:02:33,282 --> 01:02:36,322
the number of people who
are admitted to

1300
01:02:36,319 --> 01:02:37,319
the United States.

1301
01:02:37,320 --> 01:02:41,060
That imposes a significant
strain on our system, but

1302
01:02:41,057 --> 01:02:43,857
the President is determined
to meet that goal.

1303
01:02:43,860 --> 01:02:45,860
He has made that clear
to his team, and that's

1304
01:02:45,862 --> 01:02:47,862
something that we're going
to continue to strive for.

1305
01:02:47,864 --> 01:02:50,834
I think when you step back
and look at the longer-term

1306
01:02:50,833 --> 01:02:53,573
picture in terms of the
United States record on the

1307
01:02:53,569 --> 01:02:57,909
U.N. refugee program, it's hard
for other countries to

1308
01:02:57,907 --> 01:03:02,177
criticize, particularly when
you consider that over the

1309
01:03:02,178 --> 01:03:05,648
last several years the
United States has taken in

1310
01:03:05,648 --> 01:03:08,788
more people through the U.N.

1311
01:03:08,784 --> 01:03:12,854
refugee program than every
other nation in the world --

1312
01:03:12,855 --> 01:03:19,795
than all the other nations
in the world combined.

1313
01:03:19,795 --> 01:03:24,605
But given the significant
crisis in Syria, it's clear

1314
01:03:24,600 --> 01:03:26,600
that those efforts need to
be expanded not just here in

1315
01:03:26,602 --> 01:03:28,602
the United States but in
other countries

1316
01:03:28,604 --> 01:03:29,604
around the world.

1317
01:03:29,605 --> 01:03:32,045
And that's what the
goal of the U.N.

1318
01:03:32,041 --> 01:03:35,741
meeting will be, will be to
encourage nations around the

1319
01:03:35,745 --> 01:03:40,755
world to raise their
ambitions when it comes to

1320
01:03:42,919 --> 01:03:45,059
meeting the basic
humanitarian needs of people

1321
01:03:45,054 --> 01:03:47,624
who are fleeing their
homes to escape violence.

1322
01:03:50,126 --> 01:03:51,256
Lauren.

1323
01:03:51,260 --> 01:03:53,130
The Press: On Capitol Hill
today there is a meeting --

1324
01:03:53,129 --> 01:03:57,499
a hearing about Boko Haram,
and one of the people who

1325
01:03:57,500 --> 01:04:00,240
are testifying is a
schoolgirl who was abducted.

1326
01:04:00,236 --> 01:04:03,676
What the lawmakers are
saying is that Boko Haram is

1327
01:04:03,673 --> 01:04:07,113
the most dangerous
terrorist organization.

1328
01:04:07,109 --> 01:04:09,309
Does the White House agree
with that, or does that

1329
01:04:09,312 --> 01:04:11,512
honor go to al
Qaeda and ISIS?

1330
01:04:11,514 --> 01:04:13,914
Mr. Earnest: Well,
obviously, the President

1331
01:04:13,916 --> 01:04:16,456
understands how
dangerous Boko Haram is.

1332
01:04:16,452 --> 01:04:21,362
That is why we have devoted
significant resources to

1333
01:04:21,357 --> 01:04:23,927
assisting the Nigerian
government and building up

1334
01:04:23,926 --> 01:04:29,636
their capacity to confront
Boko Haram in their country.

1335
01:04:29,632 --> 01:04:32,632
We're mindful of that
threat, and we understand

1336
01:04:32,635 --> 01:04:34,635
the terrible violence that
they have perpetrated

1337
01:04:34,637 --> 01:04:38,377
against innocent people not
just in Nigeria but across

1338
01:04:38,374 --> 01:04:40,044
that region.

1339
01:04:40,042 --> 01:04:44,412
So the United States
continues to stand with the

1340
01:04:44,413 --> 01:04:47,583
Nigerian government and the
Nigerian people as they face

1341
01:04:47,583 --> 01:04:48,583
down this threat.

1342
01:04:48,584 --> 01:04:52,384
And we're mindful of the
need to continue to apply

1343
01:04:52,388 --> 01:04:56,358
pressure to those extremist
organizations, and aren't

1344
01:04:56,359 --> 01:05:00,399
able to establish the kind
of foothold that would allow

1345
01:05:00,396 --> 01:05:05,366
them to significantly expand
the territory and people

1346
01:05:07,937 --> 01:05:10,777
that are affected by
their violent acts.

1347
01:05:10,773 --> 01:05:12,273
The Press: Are they worse?

1348
01:05:12,275 --> 01:05:15,345
Mr. Earnest: Well,
again, it's hard to say.

1349
01:05:15,344 --> 01:05:18,314
But obviously we take the
threat that they

1350
01:05:18,314 --> 01:05:19,314
pose quite seriously.

1351
01:05:19,315 --> 01:05:24,455
This is a terrible, violent
extremist organization, and

1352
01:05:24,453 --> 01:05:28,663
we've worked hard to support
the Nigerian government as

1353
01:05:28,658 --> 01:05:30,358
they've gone after them.

1354
01:05:30,359 --> 01:05:33,129
The Press: There were three
suicide bombings in Baghdad

1355
01:05:33,129 --> 01:05:36,169
today, targeting
Shiite Muslims.

1356
01:05:36,165 --> 01:05:38,605
Is it the U.S.'s
responsibility to promote

1357
01:05:38,601 --> 01:05:40,801
religious liberty
in that region?

1358
01:05:40,803 --> 01:05:44,243
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
values of the United States

1359
01:05:44,240 --> 01:05:46,240
are values that we're
interested in promoting

1360
01:05:46,242 --> 01:05:49,012
everywhere, and obviously
there are different

1361
01:05:49,011 --> 01:05:55,181
cultures, different security
climates, but we certainly

1362
01:05:55,184 --> 01:05:58,424
-- the President takes
seriously the responsibility

1363
01:05:58,421 --> 01:06:01,021
that our government has to
promote our values around

1364
01:06:01,023 --> 01:06:02,993
the world.

1365
01:06:02,992 --> 01:06:07,532
And I think that even a
casual observer of this

1366
01:06:07,530 --> 01:06:10,800
situation would acknowledge
that just a little bit of

1367
01:06:10,800 --> 01:06:13,700
religious tolerance in this
part of the world would go a

1368
01:06:13,703 --> 01:06:18,503
long way to addressing the
kind of chaos and violence

1369
01:06:18,507 --> 01:06:23,777
that has stemmed from many
of the sectarian atrocities

1370
01:06:23,779 --> 01:06:25,949
that have been committed.

1371
01:06:25,948 --> 01:06:26,818
Atsushi.

1372
01:06:26,816 --> 01:06:28,016
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1373
01:06:28,017 --> 01:06:31,717
A couple of things about the
President's upcoming trip to

1374
01:06:31,721 --> 01:06:33,321
Vietnam and Japan.

1375
01:06:33,322 --> 01:06:37,662
Firstly, on Japan, I
understand the President

1376
01:06:37,660 --> 01:06:40,860
will provide a
forward-looking vision when

1377
01:06:40,863 --> 01:06:42,503
he visits Hiroshima.

1378
01:06:42,498 --> 01:06:45,298
Will the President also
mention not only about

1379
01:06:45,301 --> 01:06:49,501
Hiroshima but Nagasaki
during the speech or deliver

1380
01:06:49,505 --> 01:06:52,775
that message?

1381
01:06:52,775 --> 01:06:56,245
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
much of a preview of those

1382
01:06:56,245 --> 01:06:59,315
comments to share with
you at this point.

1383
01:06:59,315 --> 01:07:01,555
I know that in some places,
the President's visit to

1384
01:07:01,550 --> 01:07:08,220
Hiroshima was covered as the
President planning to give a

1385
01:07:08,224 --> 01:07:10,294
major speech in Hiroshima.

1386
01:07:10,292 --> 01:07:11,762
That's not accurate.

1387
01:07:11,761 --> 01:07:13,961
When he visits Hiroshima,
I would anticipate the

1388
01:07:13,963 --> 01:07:16,733
President will have an
opportunity to reflect on

1389
01:07:16,732 --> 01:07:22,442
his time there, but the
President does not plan to

1390
01:07:22,438 --> 01:07:27,578
deliver a major
address in Hiroshima.

1391
01:07:27,576 --> 01:07:31,716
But I don't have any more
details about those remarks

1392
01:07:31,714 --> 01:07:33,714
to share at this point, but
as it gets closer, we'll

1393
01:07:33,716 --> 01:07:34,716
keep you posted.

1394
01:07:34,717 --> 01:07:36,857
The Press: How is the
President going to deliver

1395
01:07:36,852 --> 01:07:37,622
the message?

1396
01:07:37,620 --> 01:07:40,390
In front of the audience or
just in front of the

1397
01:07:40,389 --> 01:07:41,789
media outlets?

1398
01:07:41,791 --> 01:07:45,031
Mr. Earnest: Well, our
advance team is preparing to

1399
01:07:45,027 --> 01:07:47,567
arrive in Japan in just a
couple of days, so we're

1400
01:07:47,563 --> 01:07:49,563
still working through the
logistics and we'll

1401
01:07:49,565 --> 01:07:50,565
keep you posted.

1402
01:07:50,566 --> 01:07:52,536
The Press: Does the
President have a plan to

1403
01:07:52,535 --> 01:07:54,535
visit the Peace Memorial
Museum in Hiroshima?

1404
01:07:54,537 --> 01:07:56,537
Mr. Earnest: Again, we're
still working through the

1405
01:07:56,539 --> 01:07:58,539
logistics of the President's
visit, but we'll

1406
01:07:58,541 --> 01:07:59,541
keep you posted.

1407
01:07:59,542 --> 01:08:00,542
These are all
good questions.

1408
01:08:00,543 --> 01:08:02,543
As we get farther down
the line of planning the

1409
01:08:02,545 --> 01:08:04,545
President's visit, we'll be
able to give you more detail

1410
01:08:04,547 --> 01:08:05,747
about what the
President will see.

1411
01:08:05,748 --> 01:08:08,748
The Press: On Vietnam,
President Obama will visit

1412
01:08:08,751 --> 01:08:12,421
Vietnam for the first time
and the second visit of a

1413
01:08:12,421 --> 01:08:14,561
sitting President,
I believe.

1414
01:08:14,557 --> 01:08:17,157
Is there any significant
meaning in terms of

1415
01:08:17,159 --> 01:08:19,859
reconciliation between the
two countries, the United

1416
01:08:19,862 --> 01:08:21,962
States and Vietnam?

1417
01:08:21,964 --> 01:08:28,934
In Ho Chi Minh City,
what's the plan?

1418
01:08:28,938 --> 01:08:33,108
What is the plan for the
President to visit, or what

1419
01:08:33,108 --> 01:08:36,648
kind of message is the
President going to deliver

1420
01:08:36,645 --> 01:08:37,945
in Saigon?

1421
01:08:37,947 --> 01:08:40,347
Mr. Earnest: The President
will spend a couple of days

1422
01:08:40,349 --> 01:08:41,349
in Vietnam.

1423
01:08:41,350 --> 01:08:43,750
It is his first trip to
Vietnam as President of the

1424
01:08:43,752 --> 01:08:45,952
United States, and the
President will spend time

1425
01:08:45,955 --> 01:08:49,425
with the kind of bilateral
program that you've come to

1426
01:08:49,425 --> 01:08:51,425
expect when you see the
President travel overseas.

1427
01:08:51,427 --> 01:08:55,097
He'll meet with high-ranking
government officials and

1428
01:08:55,097 --> 01:08:57,097
spend time talking about the
importance of our

1429
01:08:57,099 --> 01:08:59,199
bilateral relationship.

1430
01:08:59,201 --> 01:09:01,971
And I'm confident that will
touch on aspects of our

1431
01:09:01,971 --> 01:09:05,071
security relationship but
also aspects of our economic

1432
01:09:05,074 --> 01:09:07,344
relationship as well.

1433
01:09:07,343 --> 01:09:13,183
Vietnam has been a part of
the TPP negotiations, and

1434
01:09:13,182 --> 01:09:21,392
the prospect of Vietnam
taking steps to raise labor,

1435
01:09:21,390 --> 01:09:22,860
human rights, and
environmental standards,

1436
01:09:22,858 --> 01:09:24,258
and give U.S.

1437
01:09:24,260 --> 01:09:27,930
businesses more access to a
rapidly growing Vietnamese

1438
01:09:27,930 --> 01:09:31,330
middle class is
a good thing.

1439
01:09:31,333 --> 01:09:36,403
And the President will
certainly continue to assure

1440
01:09:36,405 --> 01:09:38,645
the government and the
people of Vietnam that the

1441
01:09:38,641 --> 01:09:42,581
United States is serious
about implementing the

1442
01:09:42,578 --> 01:09:44,048
TPP agreement.

1443
01:09:44,046 --> 01:09:48,416
We recognize that it would
have a positive impact on

1444
01:09:48,417 --> 01:09:50,517
the U.S. economy and U.S.

1445
01:09:50,519 --> 01:09:52,519
strategic interests
in the region.

1446
01:09:52,521 --> 01:09:54,521
We also recognize it would
have a positive impact on

1447
01:09:54,523 --> 01:09:57,193
Vietnam's economy and on
Vietnam's national security

1448
01:09:57,192 --> 01:09:58,192
as well.

1449
01:09:58,193 --> 01:10:04,503
We would welcome the deeper
ties that would result from

1450
01:10:04,500 --> 01:10:06,670
an enhanced economic
relationship.

1451
01:10:06,669 --> 01:10:07,739
The Press: What about
the maritime security

1452
01:10:07,736 --> 01:10:09,276
cooperation?

1453
01:10:09,271 --> 01:10:11,511
Mr. Earnest: I'm confident
that will be a part of the

1454
01:10:11,507 --> 01:10:12,507
discussion, too.

1455
01:10:12,508 --> 01:10:15,208
Obviously maritime security
is quite relevant to the

1456
01:10:15,210 --> 01:10:17,210
day-to-day security
concerns of the

1457
01:10:17,212 --> 01:10:19,812
Vietnamese government.

1458
01:10:19,815 --> 01:10:23,085
And obviously the United
States would like to see

1459
01:10:23,085 --> 01:10:25,055
those maritime security
questions, particularly as

1460
01:10:25,054 --> 01:10:29,024
it relates to claims on land
features in the South China

1461
01:10:29,024 --> 01:10:31,664
Sea, be resolved through
diplomacy and through

1462
01:10:31,660 --> 01:10:37,300
established international
rules of order.

1463
01:10:37,299 --> 01:10:39,299
So we certainly will support
that effort, and the

1464
01:10:39,301 --> 01:10:41,701
President will lend his
continued support to that in

1465
01:10:41,704 --> 01:10:42,704
the context of this visit.

1466
01:10:42,705 --> 01:10:44,275
Dave, I'll give
you the last one.

1467
01:10:44,273 --> 01:10:45,073
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1468
01:10:45,074 --> 01:10:48,414
Susan Rice gave a speech in
Florida today in which she

1469
01:10:48,410 --> 01:10:51,480
said that the country's
various national security

1470
01:10:51,480 --> 01:10:54,350
agencies suffer from
a lack of diversity.

1471
01:10:54,350 --> 01:10:57,120
And she said that if the
leadership at those agencies

1472
01:10:57,119 --> 01:10:58,989
was more diversified
they would

1473
01:10:58,988 --> 01:11:00,828
"make better decisions."

1474
01:11:00,823 --> 01:11:02,053
Does the President
agree with that?

1475
01:11:02,057 --> 01:11:04,327
Mr. Earnest: The President
certainly believes that our

1476
01:11:04,326 --> 01:11:07,096
government is most effective
and is making the best

1477
01:11:07,096 --> 01:11:10,236
decisions when we have a
government that looks like

1478
01:11:10,232 --> 01:11:11,472
the country.

1479
01:11:11,467 --> 01:11:15,607
And the President has
made a concerted effort to

1480
01:11:15,604 --> 01:11:18,704
encourage Americans of all
backgrounds to consider a

1481
01:11:18,707 --> 01:11:20,077
career in public service.

1482
01:11:20,075 --> 01:11:22,075
There are obviously
a variety of ways to

1483
01:11:22,077 --> 01:11:23,817
contribute to our country.

1484
01:11:23,812 --> 01:11:26,712
In some cases, that might
be joining the military.

1485
01:11:26,715 --> 01:11:30,855
In some cases, that may be
signing up to be a diplomat

1486
01:11:30,853 --> 01:11:31,853
to represent U.S.

1487
01:11:31,854 --> 01:11:33,054
interests around the world.

1488
01:11:33,055 --> 01:11:35,425
In other cases, that might
just be joining civil

1489
01:11:35,424 --> 01:11:38,494
service and finding ways to
serve in communities all

1490
01:11:38,494 --> 01:11:39,494
across the country.

1491
01:11:39,495 --> 01:11:42,065
The President believes that
our country is strongest

1492
01:11:42,064 --> 01:11:45,064
when Americans of all
backgrounds both consider

1493
01:11:45,067 --> 01:11:49,837
that as a career option but
also have an opportunity to

1494
01:11:49,838 --> 01:11:53,108
be promoted and to be
considered for high-ranking

1495
01:11:53,108 --> 01:11:55,978
positions in those
kinds of roles.

1496
01:11:55,978 --> 01:12:00,888
And those opportunities are
I think understandably and

1497
01:12:00,883 --> 01:12:05,253
even rightfully given most
often to people that have a

1498
01:12:05,254 --> 01:12:09,494
lot of experience in those
agencies and in that

1499
01:12:09,491 --> 01:12:10,561
kind of work.

1500
01:12:10,559 --> 01:12:13,729
So encouraging young people
as they are considering the

1501
01:12:13,729 --> 01:12:16,069
start of their career to
consider a career in public

1502
01:12:16,065 --> 01:12:19,535
service isn't just good for
the country, it's also good

1503
01:12:19,535 --> 01:12:24,545
for ensuring over the long
term that the senior levels

1504
01:12:26,675 --> 01:12:27,675
of the U.S.

1505
01:12:27,676 --> 01:12:31,146
government are filled with
government employees that

1506
01:12:31,146 --> 01:12:33,186
reflect the
diversity of America.

1507
01:12:33,182 --> 01:12:36,222
The Press: Talking about
senior-level people, she

1508
01:12:36,218 --> 01:12:39,058
said, minorities still make
up less than 20 percent of

1509
01:12:39,054 --> 01:12:42,154
our senior diplomats and
less than 15 percent of our

1510
01:12:42,157 --> 01:12:44,127
senior military officers
and senior

1511
01:12:44,126 --> 01:12:45,766
intelligence officials.

1512
01:12:45,761 --> 01:12:47,701
Given the fact that the
President has been President

1513
01:12:47,696 --> 01:12:50,136
for almost eight years,
isn't that implicit

1514
01:12:50,132 --> 01:12:52,502
criticism of his
appointments?

1515
01:12:52,501 --> 01:12:56,601
Is he having trouble
finding qualified nominees?

1516
01:12:56,605 --> 01:12:59,575
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I don't think that she

1517
01:12:59,575 --> 01:13:01,545
intended it to be implicit
criticism of the

1518
01:13:01,543 --> 01:13:02,543
President's appointments.

1519
01:13:02,544 --> 01:13:04,544
I think when you take a
look at the effort that the

1520
01:13:04,546 --> 01:13:07,946
President has undertaken
to ensure that we have a

1521
01:13:07,950 --> 01:13:10,690
government that reflects the
diversity of America, we've

1522
01:13:10,686 --> 01:13:12,686
made historic progress
in that regard.

1523
01:13:12,688 --> 01:13:14,688
We've obviously talked about
the President's record of

1524
01:13:14,690 --> 01:13:16,930
judicial appointments, and
so the President has a

1525
01:13:16,925 --> 01:13:17,925
record that he's proud of.

1526
01:13:17,926 --> 01:13:20,966
But let me just go back to
this point because I think

1527
01:13:20,963 --> 01:13:23,063
this is the point that
Susan is trying to make.

1528
01:13:23,065 --> 01:13:26,065
The best way for us to
ensure over the long term

1529
01:13:26,068 --> 01:13:31,778
that the senior ranks of
government positions are

1530
01:13:31,774 --> 01:13:34,714
filled by people who reflect
the diversity of this

1531
01:13:34,710 --> 01:13:41,420
country is to ensure that as
people are considering the

1532
01:13:41,416 --> 01:13:43,416
beginning of their career,
that they're considering a

1533
01:13:43,418 --> 01:13:47,388
career in public service;
that giving more minorities

1534
01:13:47,389 --> 01:13:51,289
in particular the
opportunity to start a

1535
01:13:51,293 --> 01:13:54,233
career in public service and
rise through the ranks means

1536
01:13:54,229 --> 01:13:56,869
that future Presidents will
have a much more diverse

1537
01:13:56,865 --> 01:14:00,635
pool of applicants to
consider when making

1538
01:14:00,636 --> 01:14:03,676
senior-level appointments,
and that's a good thing.

1539
01:14:03,672 --> 01:14:05,912
If you're asking somebody
to take a senior-level

1540
01:14:05,908 --> 01:14:10,008
management position in an
agency, for example, having

1541
01:14:10,012 --> 01:14:13,952
agency experience is a
good credential to have.

1542
01:14:13,949 --> 01:14:16,719
And the President has
certainly considered that

1543
01:14:16,718 --> 01:14:17,918
carefully when he has
made his

1544
01:14:17,920 --> 01:14:19,920
senior-level appointments.

1545
01:14:19,922 --> 01:14:25,392
And so when you have a pool
of applicants that has a lot

1546
01:14:25,394 --> 01:14:28,434
of experience in the
government and that pool of

1547
01:14:28,430 --> 01:14:31,330
applicants in more diverse,
it's going to make it easier

1548
01:14:31,333 --> 01:14:33,333
for future generations
or for future U.S.

1549
01:14:33,335 --> 01:14:38,245
Presidents to have a whole
generation of government

1550
01:14:38,240 --> 01:14:40,810
employees and civil servants
to choose from

1551
01:14:40,809 --> 01:14:41,809
that's more diverse.

1552
01:14:41,810 --> 01:14:43,810
And that's a good thing, and
that will be good for the

1553
01:14:43,812 --> 01:14:45,812
long-term strength
of our country.

1554
01:14:45,814 --> 01:14:48,054
I guess the point is, that
is an effect that is not

1555
01:14:48,050 --> 01:14:52,020
going to be felt in the
short term, and certainly

1556
01:14:52,020 --> 01:14:57,660
not one that is going to be
obviously detected over the

1557
01:14:57,659 --> 01:15:00,629
course of just one
presidency or even two.

1558
01:15:00,629 --> 01:15:04,129
But the President is hopeful
that 15 or 20 years from

1559
01:15:04,132 --> 01:15:06,502
now, that a future President
will have a more diverse

1560
01:15:06,501 --> 01:15:08,871
pool of applicants to choose
from when considering

1561
01:15:08,871 --> 01:15:11,141
senior-level government
appointments.

1562
01:15:11,139 --> 01:15:12,039
Thanks, everybody.

1563
01:15:12,040 --> 01:15:13,310
We'll see you tomorrow.