English subtitles for clip: File:5-3-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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I hope you've all recovered
from a busy weekend of

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source-building.

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(laughter)

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I know it was all business
all the time over the

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weekend for everybody
in this room.

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So hope you found time
for a little fun, as well.

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I do not have any
announcements to start.

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So, Kevin, we can go
straight to your questions.

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The Press: Thank you, Josh.

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What is the White House's
reaction to Puerto Rico's

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default of $370 million
in bond payments?

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Did it have better options?

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And will this default create
more urgency for lawmakers

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and the Obama administration
to work something out?

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Mr. Earnest: Kevin, I sure
hope it creates a new sense

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of urgency for members of
Congress to address

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this situation.

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It's a situation that we've
been concerned about for

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quite some time.

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It's now been 194 days since
the administration put

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forward our legislative
proposal for addressing this

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situation.

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So I think that should be an
indication to you and to the

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people of Puerto Rico that
the administration has been

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focused on this
for six months now.

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And unfortunately, we
haven't seen the kind of

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movement in the
Republican-led Congress that

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we need to see to make a
bailout of Puerto Rico less

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likely.

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The truth is, what the
administration is seeking is

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to empower the Puerto Rican
government with the kind of

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restructuring authority
that cities all across the

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country have.

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And the administration
believes that that

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restructuring authority
should be contingent on the

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Puerto Rican government
making some needed financial

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reforms.

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We also believe that there
should be a mechanism for

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accountability and verifying
that those reforms are being

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appropriately implemented.

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So that's why it's wrong for
people to describe this as a

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bailout.

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But the situation
gets worse by the day.

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And some days, in some
situations -- in some days,

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the situation gets
notably worse.

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And it only makes a bailout
more likely, which is why we

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continue to press hard for
Republicans in Congress to

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stop dragging their feet
and to address a situation

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that's having a negative
impact on more than 3

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million Americans who
live in Puerto Rico.

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The Press: Were there
better options than today's

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default, such as maybe
slashing government services?

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Is that the route Puerto
Rico should have gone?

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Mr. Earnest: I think you'd
be hard-pressed to make

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that case.

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But I'm certainly no
financial expert.

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I'm not aware of all of the
options that were available

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to the Puerto
Rican government.

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And I don't think there's
anybody here who can --

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well, I'll just say, I don't
think there are any good

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options for the Puerto Rican
government at this point.

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And that's exactly why this
restructuring authority is

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badly needed.

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You might even say
that it's overdue.

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And it's also why a set
of financial reforms is

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overdue, because there
clearly are some significant

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problems that are
plaguing the Puerto Rican

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government's budget but also
having a negative impact on

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the broader economy.

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So this situation requires
an urgent response, and

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Republicans in Congress have
been dragging their feet for

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too long.

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The Press: Can you talk
about where the President

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stands on this idea of
creating safe zones

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within Syria?

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In the past, he's described
them as impractical.

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And I would like to ask you,
what has changed and what is

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the U.S.

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prepared to do to enforce
these safe zones?

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Mr. Earnest: So, Kevin, I
think there has been, in the

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lexicon here of describing
the chaotic situation in

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Syria, there has been some,
shall we say, confusion.

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The confusion does not
stem from any government

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officials that I've seen,
but it does apply to some

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observers of the situation.

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The President's view of
safe zones has not changed.

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The President does not
believe at this point that

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safe zones are a practical
alternative to what

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currently is happening
in Syria right now.

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There have been some who
have advocated for the

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creation of no-fly zones or
safe zones inside of Syria

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that would essentially
provide a sanctuary for

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Syrian citizens.

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The President is concerned
about that kind of proposal

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because it puts the United
States on the hook for

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essentially safeguarding
the safe zones.

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That would require a
significant commitment of

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ground troops.

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It would also put those
ground troops on the front

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lines, because presumably
you would have ISIL trying

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to encroach on those
safe zones or trying to

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infiltrate them, and
it could set up a very

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dangerous situation for
American forces that doesn't

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actually make a lot of
progress in terms of

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degrading and
destroying ISIL.

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Now, the context in which
safe zones has most recently

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been mentioned has been in
the context of the cessation

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of hostilities.

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The cessation of hostilities
was an agreement that the

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United States, Russia,
and the rest of the

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international community,
including the Assad regime,

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signed on to at the
beginning of the year.

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And we warned -- we were
aware at the beginning of

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the implementation of that
cessation of hostilities

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that there were likely to
be violations; that the

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implementation of that
cessation of hostilities was

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likely to be bumpy.

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And the truth is, for most
of the last couple of

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months, that cessation of
hostilities has worked more

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effectively in reducing the
violence in Syria than most

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people thought.

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And we were, frankly,
surprised that the level of

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violence did reduce as much
-- did come down as far as

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it did.

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There have been
violations all along.

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What's happened in the last
couple of weeks is that

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we've seen an increase in
the severity and frequency

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of violations of the
cessation of hostilities.

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And what we have sought
to do is to refresh that

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cessation of hostilities in
those areas of the country

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where we've seen
it start to fray.

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And the United States
has been engaged in

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conversations with the
Russians to try to get them

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to use their influence with
the Assad regime to go back

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to living up to the
commitments that they made

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in the context of the
cessation of hostilities all

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across the country.

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This is a nationwide
commitment that has been

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made.

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And in many places in the
country it has yielded

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positive impacts
on the ground.

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But there are some areas
where it has started to

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fray.

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And that is where we are
reinforcing our efforts to

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refresh the cessation
of hostilities.

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The Press: Are you saying
this is a much narrower area

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of safe zones?

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Mr. Earnest: I would
not call it safe zones.

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I would not call
it safe zones.

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I know that there are some
observers who are describing

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it as safe zones.

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I have not seen
anybody in the U.S.

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government refer to
them as safe zones.

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I certainly haven't referred
to them as safe zones.

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And the reason is that it
gets too complicated to try

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to differentiate between
what we're talking about

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here.

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Let's be clear: The
President is against safe

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zones.

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He's expressed that from the
beginning because he doesn't

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want to put the United
States in the situation of

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trying to enforce it.

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The focus of our military
should be on degrading and

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destroying ISIL.

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We should, however,
collectively as an

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international community, be
conscientious about living

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up to the commitments that
were made by all the parties

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in the context of the
cessation of hostilities.

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In those areas where we've
seen the cessation start to

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fray in recent weeks, we
need to reinforce our

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efforts to refresh the
cessation of hostilities.

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And in particular, the Assad
regime needs to live up to

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the commitments
that they have made.

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And we would like to see the
Russians use the influence

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that they have with the
Assad regime to get them to

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do it.

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I guess this is the last
thing I'll say about it.

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Russia did that once before.

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For several weeks we
did have the effective

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implementation of a
cessation of hostilities in

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which the Assad regime
did curb their military

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activities.

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Just in the last couple of
weeks we've seen the Assad

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regime go back to some
of the nasty tactics.

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And we'd like to see the
Russians go back to using

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their influence with the
Assad regime to get them to

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live up to the cessation of
hostilities in the way that

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they did before.

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Roberta.

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The Press: I wanted to ask
about the Greenpeace leaks

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of T-TIP.

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Today, Greenpeace published
about half of the deal

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that's being negotiated,
on a website.

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And we've already seen the
response from USTR on this.

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But I'm wondering if you can
tell us how damaging the

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White House feels that these
leaks are for the prospects

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of reaching some kind of
deal before the President

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leaves office.

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Mr. Earnest: I can't speak
to the veracity of any of

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the documents that
have been published.

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But I can tell you that
we're not particularly

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concerned about these
purported leaks.

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The truth is the President
has been very clear about

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what our strategy is when
it comes to international

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trade.

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The President around
the world has sought

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high-standard agreements.

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The reason for that is
simple: That's consistent

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with our values.

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We believe that there should
be high standards when it

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comes to human rights and
labor rights and worker

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rights and environmental
standards.

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And that's a good thing.

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So we want the world to
observe higher standards.

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But we also know that if the
rest of the world observes

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those higher standards,
that's going to level the

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playing field for American
businesses and workers that

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already observe
those standards.

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And that's going to
create expanded economic

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opportunity for the
American people.

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So that's the kind of trade
strategy that the President

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has pursued in Asia, and
it's the kind of strategy

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that has guided our
participation in the T-TIP

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talks.

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But as it relates to the
veracity of those documents,

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I just don't
have any comment.

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The Press: But are you
concerned about the

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implications of these leaks
on public opinion about

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T-TIP and how that might
affect the eventual

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negotiations toward a deal
by the end of the year?

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Mr. Earnest: No, I'm not.

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And as the President
described when he was in

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Europe just last week,
our focus is on trying to

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complete these negotiations
by the end of the year.

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I do not anticipate that
we're going to be able to

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get Congress to act on it
and have this agreement

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going into effect before the
President leaves office.

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But there is the potential
-- and we certainly are

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aiming -- to complete these
talks by the end of the

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year.

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And I don't think there's
anything about this leak

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that is going to have a
material impact on our

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ability to do that.

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The Press: And over the
weekend there was what's

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being called an
unprecedented breach of

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Baghdad's Green Zone --
hundreds of people storming

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over the glass walls
around the zone, demanding

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political reforms.

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And this happened right
after the Vice President's

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visit, obviously.

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So I'm wondering what your
assessment is of what the

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visit accomplished and how
concerned is the White House

254
00:11:19,245 --> 00:11:22,245
that this upheaval is really
starting to -- or going to

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interfere with the fight
against the Islamic State

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00:11:24,483 --> 00:11:28,283
and plans for the coalition
to support Iraqi and Kurdish

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00:11:28,287 --> 00:11:31,387
forces as they begin
to look at Mosul.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, it's
almost two weeks ago now

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00:11:33,592 --> 00:11:35,862
that the President did a
news conference in Riyadh,

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00:11:35,861 --> 00:11:42,301
Saudi Arabia where he was
asked quite directly by a

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00:11:42,301 --> 00:11:44,301
journalist from The
Washington Post about the

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political situation
inside of Iraq.

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And the President noted
at the time that he was

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concerned about the
situation there.

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He noted that the dynamics
of the political debate

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inside of *Syria Iraq
right now are a little bit

267
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different than they
traditionally have been;

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that the political dialogue
right now that has been so

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00:12:04,056 --> 00:12:06,456
challenging is not one that
breaks down along sectarian

270
00:12:06,459 --> 00:12:12,029
lines, but rather some
disagreement within the Shia

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00:12:12,031 --> 00:12:14,471
community in Iraq about the
proper way

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00:12:14,467 --> 00:12:18,137
to govern the country.

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So this presents some
unique challenges.

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00:12:20,473 --> 00:12:25,583
And given the concerns about
the situation inside of

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00:12:25,578 --> 00:12:29,518
Iraq, Vice President Biden
made his first trip to Iraq

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00:12:29,515 --> 00:12:31,785
in more than four years.

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So I think the significance
of a vice presidential visit

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00:12:39,391 --> 00:12:43,131
underscores the significance
of the challenges that are

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facing Iraq right now.

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00:12:45,498 --> 00:12:48,568
Obviously the Vice
President's message was to

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00:12:48,567 --> 00:12:55,337
reiterate our support for
the reforms that are being

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00:12:55,341 --> 00:12:57,681
pursued by the
Abadi-led government.

283
00:13:00,546 --> 00:13:04,186
The Vice President also used
his visit to underscore the

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00:13:04,183 --> 00:13:05,183
U.S.

285
00:13:05,184 --> 00:13:07,184
and international
community's commitment to

286
00:13:07,186 --> 00:13:09,386
economic support for Iraq.

287
00:13:09,388 --> 00:13:11,388
There are significant
economic reforms that the

288
00:13:11,390 --> 00:13:12,730
government needs
to implement.

289
00:13:12,725 --> 00:13:18,095
There's also some needed
assistance that can be

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00:13:18,097 --> 00:13:22,467
provided to Iraqi
authorities that are seeking

291
00:13:22,468 --> 00:13:25,738
to rebuild communities
that ISIL had previously

292
00:13:25,738 --> 00:13:27,178
controlled.

293
00:13:27,173 --> 00:13:29,173
And that is going to be a
critical part of our effort

294
00:13:29,175 --> 00:13:33,775
to prevent ISIL from
retaking those communities.

295
00:13:33,779 --> 00:13:36,349
And the President spent a
lot of time talking about

296
00:13:36,348 --> 00:13:39,588
the need to support this
Iraqi effort when he met

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00:13:39,585 --> 00:13:42,455
with the GCC countries in
Riyadh last week

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00:13:42,454 --> 00:13:45,654
-- two weeks ago.

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00:13:45,658 --> 00:13:47,658
And then the final thing
that I think is important

300
00:13:47,660 --> 00:13:51,130
for people to understand is
Vice President Biden was

301
00:13:51,130 --> 00:13:54,600
also there to talk
about ongoing U.S.

302
00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,040
and international support
for the military campaign to

303
00:13:57,036 --> 00:13:59,576
degrade and ultimately
destroy ISIL.

304
00:13:59,572 --> 00:14:03,242
Those military efforts in
Iraq are led by Iraqi forces

305
00:14:03,242 --> 00:14:05,242
that are under the command
and control of the Iraqi

306
00:14:05,244 --> 00:14:06,944
central government.

307
00:14:06,946 --> 00:14:10,516
And we have been able to
effectively work with Iraqi

308
00:14:10,516 --> 00:14:13,986
forces to drive ISIL out
of about 40 percent of the

309
00:14:13,986 --> 00:14:16,386
populated territory that
they previously held.

310
00:14:16,388 --> 00:14:18,388
That represents
important progress.

311
00:14:18,390 --> 00:14:20,860
And we are looking for ways
to keep that momentum going,

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00:14:20,859 --> 00:14:25,599
including beginning to
support Iraqi operations

313
00:14:25,598 --> 00:14:29,268
around Mosul to eventually
prepare for the retaking of

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00:14:29,268 --> 00:14:30,268
that city.

315
00:14:30,269 --> 00:14:32,969
So there is obviously a
lot of business that Vice

316
00:14:32,972 --> 00:14:36,672
President Biden was engaged
in while he was in Iraq.

317
00:14:36,675 --> 00:14:40,615
And those conversations took
place at a critical time for

318
00:14:40,613 --> 00:14:41,613
that country.

319
00:14:41,614 --> 00:14:44,084
Let's move around
a little bit.

320
00:14:44,083 --> 00:14:45,213
Andrew.

321
00:14:45,217 --> 00:14:48,257
The Press: A follow-up
question on Iraq.

322
00:14:48,254 --> 00:14:51,194
The events of the weekend
have obviously shown again

323
00:14:51,190 --> 00:14:53,790
how powerful
Muqtada al-Sadr is.

324
00:14:53,792 --> 00:14:55,762
I was wondering if you could
just remind us of what the

325
00:14:55,761 --> 00:14:58,461
U.S. position is with
regard to him?

326
00:14:58,464 --> 00:15:00,504
Do U.S. officials meet with him?

327
00:15:00,499 --> 00:15:03,569
Do you consider him
an interlocutor?

328
00:15:03,569 --> 00:15:07,739
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any high-level government

329
00:15:07,740 --> 00:15:09,810
meetings between U.S.

330
00:15:09,808 --> 00:15:13,348
officials and
Muqtada al-Sadr.

331
00:15:13,345 --> 00:15:15,915
But I'd check with the State
Department about that.

332
00:15:15,914 --> 00:15:20,084
I don't know if he's
participated in any other

333
00:15:20,085 --> 00:15:21,325
broader meetings that
may have included

334
00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:22,050
U.S. officials.

335
00:15:22,054 --> 00:15:24,194
So you should confirm that
information with them.

336
00:15:24,189 --> 00:15:25,089
The Press: But you would
acknowledge that he is an

337
00:15:25,090 --> 00:15:27,130
important figure in Iraqi
politics, even if he doesn't

338
00:15:27,126 --> 00:15:28,426
play a formal role?

339
00:15:28,427 --> 00:15:30,397
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm
certainly no expert in

340
00:15:30,396 --> 00:15:33,066
trying to divine what sort
of influence individual

341
00:15:33,065 --> 00:15:35,135
figures in Iraq may have
in the political situation

342
00:15:35,134 --> 00:15:36,134
there.

343
00:15:36,135 --> 00:15:38,135
I think as a matter
of policy, the U.S.

344
00:15:38,137 --> 00:15:40,137
government certainly
respects the sovereignty of

345
00:15:40,139 --> 00:15:42,609
the nation of Iraq and the
responsibility that the

346
00:15:42,608 --> 00:15:46,648
Iraqi people have to
determine political outcomes

347
00:15:46,645 --> 00:15:47,615
in their country.

348
00:15:47,613 --> 00:15:49,613
We're entirely respectful
of that process.

349
00:15:49,615 --> 00:15:55,325
And, Andrew, in reading
the news coverage over the

350
00:15:55,321 --> 00:15:58,061
weekend and in talking to
some senior officials here

351
00:15:58,057 --> 00:16:01,797
at the White House who work
on this issue all the time,

352
00:16:01,794 --> 00:16:05,894
I was reminded of
the summer of 2014.

353
00:16:05,898 --> 00:16:08,338
You'll recall that when ISIL
made its dramatic advance

354
00:16:08,334 --> 00:16:11,504
across the Iraqi desert and
deeply encroached into Iraqi

355
00:16:11,503 --> 00:16:13,873
territory, there were
significant questions raised

356
00:16:13,872 --> 00:16:14,872
about what the U.S.

357
00:16:14,873 --> 00:16:19,913
role would be in trying to
get ISIL out of the country.

358
00:16:19,912 --> 00:16:21,912
In those early days the
question was what the United

359
00:16:21,914 --> 00:16:25,684
States would do to
protect Iraq from ISIL.

360
00:16:25,684 --> 00:16:27,684
And you'll recall at the
time the President laid down

361
00:16:27,686 --> 00:16:33,596
a pretty clear marker that
addressing the political

362
00:16:33,592 --> 00:16:39,562
failures of the Maliki
government in Iraq was

363
00:16:39,565 --> 00:16:43,365
necessary before the United
States could commit to the

364
00:16:43,369 --> 00:16:46,639
kind of military support
that we're providing now.

365
00:16:46,638 --> 00:16:49,078
The reason for that is
-- the assessment of our

366
00:16:49,074 --> 00:16:54,914
experts here is that
Maliki's focus on governing

367
00:16:54,913 --> 00:17:00,753
along sectarian lines inside
of Iraq significantly

368
00:17:00,753 --> 00:17:03,053
weakened the Iraqi
government, but it also had

369
00:17:03,055 --> 00:17:09,425
a deleterious impact on the
competence of

370
00:17:09,428 --> 00:17:10,968
Iraqi security forces.

371
00:17:10,963 --> 00:17:14,903
You essentially had some
forces that were unwilling

372
00:17:14,900 --> 00:17:18,740
to defend some parts of
the country based on the

373
00:17:18,737 --> 00:17:21,577
sectarian identification
of the population.

374
00:17:21,573 --> 00:17:23,943
And President Obama made
clear that a military

375
00:17:23,942 --> 00:17:25,942
commitment on the part of
the United States would be

376
00:17:25,944 --> 00:17:27,944
contingent upon the
establishment of an Iraqi

377
00:17:27,946 --> 00:17:32,686
central government that
prioritized uniting the

378
00:17:32,684 --> 00:17:36,354
country across sectarian
lines; that the ability of

379
00:17:36,355 --> 00:17:41,765
Kurds and Sunnis and Shia
in Iraq to work together to

380
00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,230
defeat ISIL was going to be
critical to their success.

381
00:17:45,230 --> 00:17:47,370
And Prime Minister Abadi has
demonstrated a commitment to

382
00:17:47,366 --> 00:17:52,376
prioritizing a government
philosophy that unites the

383
00:17:55,774 --> 00:17:56,944
country.

384
00:17:56,942 --> 00:18:00,612
And that's why the United
States has been supportive

385
00:18:00,612 --> 00:18:03,752
of his efforts to implement
reforms, but ultimately

386
00:18:03,749 --> 00:18:07,649
those reforms need to be
responsive to the concerns

387
00:18:07,653 --> 00:18:09,993
and priorities of
the Iraqi people.

388
00:18:09,988 --> 00:18:11,428
That's his top priority.

389
00:18:11,423 --> 00:18:14,063
He's the leader of
a sovereign nation.

390
00:18:14,059 --> 00:18:18,929
And that's why the United
States can be supportive of

391
00:18:18,931 --> 00:18:22,401
his efforts, but ultimately
it's Prime Minister Abadi

392
00:18:22,401 --> 00:18:26,541
listening to the Iraqi
people that will make

393
00:18:26,538 --> 00:18:28,538
decisions about how to
effectively run that

394
00:18:28,540 --> 00:18:29,540
country.

395
00:18:29,541 --> 00:18:31,011
The Press: Do you think
Abadi is backsliding

396
00:18:31,009 --> 00:18:33,979
slightly on his promises
to make a non-sectarian

397
00:18:33,979 --> 00:18:34,949
government?

398
00:18:34,947 --> 00:18:37,147
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
he has demonstrated during

399
00:18:37,149 --> 00:18:39,149
his time -- speaking
broadly, he has demonstrated

400
00:18:39,151 --> 00:18:44,621
during his time in office
that he's committed to a

401
00:18:44,623 --> 00:18:50,063
multi-sectarian Iraq, and he
has governed consistent with

402
00:18:50,062 --> 00:18:51,332
that vision.

403
00:18:51,330 --> 00:18:55,430
For him, it's a legitimate
national security priority

404
00:18:55,434 --> 00:18:58,674
and I think he
understands the stakes.

405
00:18:58,670 --> 00:19:02,370
I also think he's not just
doing that because it's his

406
00:19:02,374 --> 00:19:07,244
own personal preference and
because it's critical to the

407
00:19:07,246 --> 00:19:09,646
national security of the
country; I think he's doing

408
00:19:09,648 --> 00:19:15,158
that because he thinks
it's a reflection of the

409
00:19:15,153 --> 00:19:17,923
ambitions of the Iraqi
people and that the success

410
00:19:17,923 --> 00:19:22,423
of his country will depend
upon his success in unifying

411
00:19:22,427 --> 00:19:25,697
that country to counter
the challenges that they

412
00:19:25,697 --> 00:19:26,697
currently face.

413
00:19:26,698 --> 00:19:30,098
Because, look, we also have
to remember it's not just

414
00:19:30,102 --> 00:19:34,172
ISIL that poses
a threat to Iraq.

415
00:19:34,172 --> 00:19:36,412
Iraq is going through
some pretty challenging,

416
00:19:36,408 --> 00:19:40,348
wrenching changes
to their economy.

417
00:19:40,345 --> 00:19:46,955
The significantly lower
price of oil has proved to

418
00:19:46,952 --> 00:19:50,252
be a significant challenge
to that country.

419
00:19:50,255 --> 00:19:52,255
There are also challenges
related to their

420
00:19:52,257 --> 00:19:54,257
infrastructure, like
repairing the Mosul Dam,

421
00:19:54,259 --> 00:20:00,729
that are time-consuming both
in terms of the amount of

422
00:20:00,732 --> 00:20:02,732
money that's required to
deal with that situation but

423
00:20:02,734 --> 00:20:07,704
it also requires a level of
expertise that is not easily

424
00:20:10,208 --> 00:20:11,208
found.

425
00:20:11,209 --> 00:20:13,209
So there are some
significant challenges, and

426
00:20:13,211 --> 00:20:16,511
Prime Minister Abadi is
dealing with a lot right

427
00:20:16,515 --> 00:20:17,515
now.

428
00:20:17,516 --> 00:20:19,486
And the rest of the
international community is

429
00:20:19,484 --> 00:20:23,254
going to be supportive of
him as he tries to make the

430
00:20:23,255 --> 00:20:26,325
changes consistent with his
responsibilities as the

431
00:20:26,325 --> 00:20:28,195
Prime Minister of Iraq.

432
00:20:28,193 --> 00:20:29,193
Justin.

433
00:20:29,194 --> 00:20:31,394
The Press: First, I just
wanted to follow on the

434
00:20:31,396 --> 00:20:33,466
second part of Roberta's
question, which is the

435
00:20:33,465 --> 00:20:36,435
impact of the instability.

436
00:20:36,435 --> 00:20:41,035
Over the weekend, on plans
to retake Mosul, obviously

437
00:20:41,039 --> 00:20:43,039
those efforts are going to
take buy-in from all the

438
00:20:43,041 --> 00:20:45,941
different parts of competing
interests within Iraq.

439
00:20:45,944 --> 00:20:48,844
And there had been a sense,
I think after the trip, that

440
00:20:48,847 --> 00:20:52,487
the political situation had
calmed, planning to kind of

441
00:20:52,484 --> 00:20:56,224
finalize how they were going
to go into Mosul could

442
00:20:56,221 --> 00:20:59,161
continue and be completed
to prevent inaction.

443
00:20:59,157 --> 00:21:01,327
So I'm wondering, now
that there seems to be

444
00:21:01,326 --> 00:21:03,826
backsliding there, if
the President's sort of

445
00:21:03,829 --> 00:21:07,599
perceived deadline at the
end of the year is in danger

446
00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:09,369
or could be pushed
back farther.

447
00:21:09,368 --> 00:21:12,108
Mr. Earnest: Well, based
on the briefings that I've

448
00:21:12,104 --> 00:21:15,974
received this morning,
our national security

449
00:21:15,974 --> 00:21:20,944
professionals have not
detected any impact on our

450
00:21:23,015 --> 00:21:26,115
ongoing counter-ISIL
activities in Iraq, based on

451
00:21:26,118 --> 00:21:30,158
the political instability in
Baghdad over the weekend.

452
00:21:30,155 --> 00:21:33,325
The United States and our
coalition partners conducted

453
00:21:33,325 --> 00:21:37,125
59 airstrikes and six
artillery strikes against

454
00:21:37,129 --> 00:21:40,229
ISIL targets in northern
Iraq and Anbar Province.

455
00:21:40,232 --> 00:21:42,232
That was just
over the weekend.

456
00:21:44,202 --> 00:21:47,772
And the ongoing effort to
offer training, advice, and

457
00:21:47,773 --> 00:21:51,913
assistance to Iraqi forces
has continued unabated.

458
00:21:51,910 --> 00:21:56,920
So what we have said all
along is that specific

459
00:21:59,418 --> 00:22:03,318
military decisions like
when to begin the operation

460
00:22:03,321 --> 00:22:08,031
against Mosul will be made
by Iraqi forces and the

461
00:22:08,026 --> 00:22:10,026
Iraqi central government.

462
00:22:10,028 --> 00:22:12,828
Again, we continue to
respect the sovereignty of

463
00:22:12,831 --> 00:22:15,501
this independent nation, and
we continue to partner with

464
00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:21,840
them and work effectively
with them, both to carry out

465
00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,010
ongoing operations to
degrade and ultimately

466
00:22:24,009 --> 00:22:27,949
destroy ISIL, but also to
plan for future military

467
00:22:27,946 --> 00:22:28,946
operations.

468
00:22:28,947 --> 00:22:30,317
The Press: I wanted to ask
about the President's trip

469
00:22:30,315 --> 00:22:33,215
to Flint later this week.

470
00:22:33,218 --> 00:22:35,718
Governor Snyder has been
under a lot of pressure, and

471
00:22:35,721 --> 00:22:38,491
eventually he kind of did a
photo-op to drink the tap

472
00:22:38,490 --> 00:22:41,360
water in Flint as a
sign of solidarity.

473
00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,459
So I'm wondering if the
President is going to drink

474
00:22:43,462 --> 00:22:46,662
the filtered Flint water
while he is there and if he

475
00:22:46,665 --> 00:22:49,905
also plans to meet
with Governor Snyder.

476
00:22:49,901 --> 00:22:52,501
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any photo-ops that

477
00:22:52,504 --> 00:22:55,174
involve the President's
consumption of water.

478
00:22:57,309 --> 00:23:01,809
Based on what the EPA has
communicated to the public,

479
00:23:01,813 --> 00:23:04,653
is that properly filtered
water in Flint is safe to

480
00:23:04,649 --> 00:23:05,919
drink.

481
00:23:05,917 --> 00:23:08,217
So I certainly would
encourage people to continue

482
00:23:08,220 --> 00:23:12,560
to listen to the advice that
they get from our scientific

483
00:23:12,557 --> 00:23:16,867
and public health experts
about what water is safe to

484
00:23:16,862 --> 00:23:19,132
drink, and the President
will certainly follow that

485
00:23:19,131 --> 00:23:20,131
advice.

486
00:23:20,132 --> 00:23:23,672
The Press: And then the
last thing is, news came of

487
00:23:23,668 --> 00:23:26,138
Malia's college plans
over the weekend, and I'm

488
00:23:26,138 --> 00:23:28,238
wondering if you might be
able to shed any insight on

489
00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,740
what she's doing
with her gap year.

490
00:23:30,742 --> 00:23:32,412
Mr. Earnest: I cannot.

491
00:23:32,410 --> 00:23:33,250
April.

492
00:23:33,245 --> 00:23:36,085
The Press: Josh, I want to
follow up kind of on Justin.

493
00:23:36,081 --> 00:23:37,521
And I have another question.

494
00:23:37,516 --> 00:23:39,356
It's kind of an urban
week for the President.

495
00:23:39,351 --> 00:23:41,751
He's traveling to Flint and
then he's also doing the

496
00:23:41,753 --> 00:23:43,493
Howard University
commencement.

497
00:23:43,488 --> 00:23:46,058
Are there any threads that
are going to travel through

498
00:23:46,057 --> 00:23:50,097
to both of his speeches,
in Flint and in Howard?

499
00:23:50,095 --> 00:23:51,865
And will he be making any
news when it comes to the

500
00:23:51,863 --> 00:23:53,633
urban front?

501
00:23:53,632 --> 00:23:55,202
Mr. Earnest:
Well, stay tuned.

502
00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,140
I'm not in a position
to begin previewing the

503
00:23:58,136 --> 00:23:59,936
President's commencement
address at Howard at this

504
00:23:59,938 --> 00:24:02,738
point, but the President and
his team have been working

505
00:24:02,741 --> 00:24:06,111
on his speech for a
couple of weeks now.

506
00:24:06,111 --> 00:24:07,981
But check in later this
week, and maybe I'll be able

507
00:24:07,979 --> 00:24:10,219
to give you a better sense
of what the President's

508
00:24:10,215 --> 00:24:11,815
plans are for that speech.

509
00:24:11,817 --> 00:24:12,447
The Press: All right.

510
00:24:12,450 --> 00:24:17,220
And I also want to ask you
-- this weekend at his last

511
00:24:17,222 --> 00:24:20,392
White House Correspondents'
Association Dinner, he gave

512
00:24:20,392 --> 00:24:23,092
jokes, got some ribbing.

513
00:24:23,094 --> 00:24:25,234
What did he think about
the final words that were

514
00:24:25,230 --> 00:24:28,870
delivered to him and of him,
the President of the United

515
00:24:28,867 --> 00:24:33,137
States -- a word that is
one of the worst words many

516
00:24:33,138 --> 00:24:35,578
people say you could say to
anyone,

517
00:24:35,574 --> 00:24:37,274
that's gone down in history?

518
00:24:37,275 --> 00:24:38,275
What did he
think about that?

519
00:24:38,276 --> 00:24:40,246
What's his reaction?

520
00:24:40,245 --> 00:24:42,115
Mr. Earnest: Well, April, I
think the first thing that I

521
00:24:42,113 --> 00:24:46,553
would observe is that any
comedian who signed up to

522
00:24:46,551 --> 00:24:48,151
follow President Obama
at the White House

523
00:24:48,153 --> 00:24:51,653
Correspondents' Dinner is
assuming one of the most

524
00:24:51,656 --> 00:24:54,696
difficult tasks in comedy.

525
00:24:54,693 --> 00:24:58,363
Just by nature of the
engagement, that's a tough

526
00:24:58,363 --> 00:25:02,663
job, following the President
of the United States.

527
00:25:02,667 --> 00:25:04,737
President Obama also, over
the years, has shown himself

528
00:25:04,736 --> 00:25:10,806
to be rather adept at
delivering a speech that

529
00:25:10,809 --> 00:25:14,179
consists primarily of one-
or two-liners, and the

530
00:25:14,179 --> 00:25:15,979
President enjoys
that opportunity.

531
00:25:15,981 --> 00:25:20,481
So the point is that Mr.
Wilmore had a difficult

532
00:25:20,485 --> 00:25:23,485
job that he was facing
on Saturday, and the

533
00:25:23,488 --> 00:25:26,088
President's expectation is
he took -- as Mr. Wilmore

534
00:25:26,091 --> 00:25:29,061
took on that responsibility,
is that comedians are going

535
00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:31,200
to go right up to the line.

536
00:25:31,196 --> 00:25:32,426
The Press: Did he
cross the line?

537
00:25:32,430 --> 00:25:34,970
Many African Americans in
that room, to include civil

538
00:25:34,966 --> 00:25:39,166
rights leaders, black
comedians, were very appalled.

539
00:25:39,170 --> 00:25:41,010
Even members of the
Republican Party -- black

540
00:25:41,006 --> 00:25:44,046
Republicans were upset,
black Democrats were upset.

541
00:25:44,042 --> 00:25:46,342
People felt that not just
throwing it at him, but

542
00:25:46,344 --> 00:25:49,484
throwing it at them, and
also it diminished the

543
00:25:49,481 --> 00:25:52,121
office of the presidency
and it diminished him.

544
00:25:52,117 --> 00:25:54,617
Did he cross the line?

545
00:25:54,619 --> 00:25:56,019
Mr. Earnest: April, what I
would say is that it's not

546
00:25:56,021 --> 00:25:59,261
the first time that people,
on the Monday after the

547
00:25:59,257 --> 00:26:01,227
White House Correspondent's
Dinner, that some people

548
00:26:01,226 --> 00:26:04,296
have observed that the
comedian on Saturday night

549
00:26:04,296 --> 00:26:05,726
crossed the line.

550
00:26:05,730 --> 00:26:08,400
That happened in 2006, after
Stephen Colbert delivered

551
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:09,770
his speech.

552
00:26:09,768 --> 00:26:12,168
There were many people who
felt like he had overstepped

553
00:26:12,170 --> 00:26:14,670
his bounds in
delivering his remarks.

554
00:26:14,673 --> 00:26:16,043
To a lesser extent, many
people made the same

555
00:26:16,041 --> 00:26:18,941
observation about the
presentation of Wanda Sykes

556
00:26:18,944 --> 00:26:20,784
in 2009.

557
00:26:20,779 --> 00:26:22,979
So it's not the first
time that we've had a

558
00:26:22,981 --> 00:26:24,981
conversation like this
in which these kinds of

559
00:26:24,983 --> 00:26:28,083
concerns have been
raised or expressed.

560
00:26:28,086 --> 00:26:30,086
Look, I had an opportunity
to speak to the President

561
00:26:30,088 --> 00:26:32,888
about this briefly this
morning, and he said that he

562
00:26:32,891 --> 00:26:35,491
appreciated the spirit
of the sentiments that

563
00:26:35,493 --> 00:26:38,193
Mr. Wilmore expressed.

564
00:26:38,196 --> 00:26:41,036
He ended his speech by
saying that he couldn't put

565
00:26:41,032 --> 00:26:45,372
into words the pride that
he felt in the President.

566
00:26:45,370 --> 00:26:47,240
And he made the observation
that our country has make

567
00:26:47,238 --> 00:26:51,348
remarkable progress just in
his lifetime -- from not

568
00:26:51,343 --> 00:26:53,783
being willing to accept
an African American

569
00:26:53,778 --> 00:27:00,648
quarterback, to electing
and reelecting an African

570
00:27:00,652 --> 00:27:02,292
American not just to lead
the United States, but to

571
00:27:02,287 --> 00:27:06,157
lead the free world.

572
00:27:06,157 --> 00:27:09,197
Again, I take Mr. Wilmore at
his words that he found that

573
00:27:09,194 --> 00:27:16,904
to be a powerful
transformation just in his

574
00:27:16,901 --> 00:27:22,641
lifetime, and something
that he seemed to be pretty

575
00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:23,440
obviously proud of.

576
00:27:23,441 --> 00:27:26,611
The Press: Did Mr. Wilmore's
use of freedom of speech

577
00:27:26,611 --> 00:27:29,481
give the President's
detractors fodder now to be

578
00:27:29,481 --> 00:27:34,421
able to be able to call him
that and call others that?

579
00:27:34,419 --> 00:27:37,919
Mr. Earnest: Well, I have
no idea what impact Larry

580
00:27:37,922 --> 00:27:40,622
Wilmore's speech is going
to have on the President's

581
00:27:40,625 --> 00:27:42,995
critics, and I don't think
I'm going to spend much time

582
00:27:42,994 --> 00:27:43,724
worrying about it.

583
00:27:43,728 --> 00:27:45,568
The Press: I understand that
there is a conversation

584
00:27:45,563 --> 00:27:46,503
about that word.

585
00:27:46,498 --> 00:27:49,538
The President, in June of
last year, used it as a

586
00:27:49,534 --> 00:27:54,004
teaching moment to show that
issues of race are still a

587
00:27:54,005 --> 00:27:55,475
problem in this country.

588
00:27:55,473 --> 00:27:58,643
But Wilmore used it for the
President somewhat as a butt

589
00:27:58,643 --> 00:27:59,313
of the joke.

590
00:27:59,310 --> 00:28:01,080
And you were in that
room, as well as I was.

591
00:28:01,079 --> 00:28:03,779
There was an eerie, awkward
silence and quietness.

592
00:28:03,782 --> 00:28:05,452
And people didn't know
how to handle that.

593
00:28:05,450 --> 00:28:09,450
Mr. Earnest: Well, April,
I know this is a word that

594
00:28:09,454 --> 00:28:13,754
does -- let me say it this
way: I'm confident that

595
00:28:13,758 --> 00:28:17,058
Mr. Wilmore used
the word by design.

596
00:28:17,062 --> 00:28:18,902
He was seeking to
be provocative.

597
00:28:18,897 --> 00:28:22,697
But I think any reading of
his comments makes clear he

598
00:28:22,700 --> 00:28:27,670
was not using the President
as the butt of a joke.

599
00:28:27,672 --> 00:28:34,382
So what is true is that this
is a tough assignment that

600
00:28:34,379 --> 00:28:37,749
any comedian takes on when
they sign up for this job.

601
00:28:37,749 --> 00:28:40,119
And the President's
expectation when he walks in

602
00:28:40,118 --> 00:28:43,088
that room is that that
comedian and other people

603
00:28:43,088 --> 00:28:46,128
are going to get much closer
to the line than they

604
00:28:46,124 --> 00:28:50,324
ordinarily would as
they try to make a joke.

605
00:28:50,328 --> 00:28:52,798
The Press: I just want to be
very clear: So the President

606
00:28:52,797 --> 00:28:57,367
is okay with his use and
how he used the N-word,

607
00:28:57,368 --> 00:29:00,568
"jiggaboo," "Negro
Night," and thug"?

608
00:29:00,572 --> 00:29:02,472
Mr. Earnest: Well, April,
I'll just restate what I

609
00:29:02,474 --> 00:29:07,274
said before, which is that
the President expressed --

610
00:29:07,278 --> 00:29:09,418
well, what the President
said is that he appreciated

611
00:29:09,414 --> 00:29:16,654
the spirit of Mr. Wilmore's
expressions on Saturday night.

612
00:29:16,654 --> 00:29:17,354
Jordan.

613
00:29:17,355 --> 00:29:18,725
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

614
00:29:18,723 --> 00:29:20,623
I want to follow up on one
of Justin's questions about

615
00:29:20,625 --> 00:29:22,225
the Flint trip.

616
00:29:22,227 --> 00:29:24,297
Governor Snyder told
reporters this morning he's

617
00:29:24,295 --> 00:29:25,865
looking to meet
with the President.

618
00:29:25,864 --> 00:29:28,234
So is that meeting going
to happen on Wednesday?

619
00:29:28,233 --> 00:29:28,933
Mr. Earnest: I guess his
schedule got a little freed

620
00:29:28,933 --> 00:29:30,373
up, huh?

621
00:29:30,368 --> 00:29:31,098
The Press: I guess so.

622
00:29:31,102 --> 00:29:32,502
Mr. Earnest: I guess so.

623
00:29:32,504 --> 00:29:34,674
We're still putting together
the President's visit.

624
00:29:34,672 --> 00:29:36,312
It's traditional for the
President, when he travels

625
00:29:36,307 --> 00:29:41,117
to a state, to invite the
governor to at least greet

626
00:29:41,112 --> 00:29:42,652
him on the tarmac.

627
00:29:42,647 --> 00:29:47,047
That invitation was extended
to Governor Snyder in the

628
00:29:47,051 --> 00:29:48,451
context of this visit.

629
00:29:48,453 --> 00:29:52,723
And we're obviously pleased
that it looks like he'll now

630
00:29:52,724 --> 00:29:56,594
be in Flint on that day.

631
00:29:56,594 --> 00:29:57,964
So we'll keep you posted on
what sort of interactions

632
00:29:57,962 --> 00:29:59,302
they may have.

633
00:29:59,297 --> 00:30:01,397
The Press: And on the
Supreme Court fight, the

634
00:30:01,399 --> 00:30:04,399
President is doing a series
of local interviews

635
00:30:04,402 --> 00:30:05,432
this afternoon.

636
00:30:05,436 --> 00:30:06,136
Mr. Earnest: He is.

637
00:30:06,137 --> 00:30:07,107
The Press: And I know some
of the groups that are

638
00:30:07,105 --> 00:30:09,175
allied with the White House
are doing some protests and

639
00:30:09,174 --> 00:30:12,874
other things like that in
some of the states where

640
00:30:12,877 --> 00:30:15,677
Republican senators
reside, over the recess.

641
00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:19,120
But what I'm wondering from
you is, what are you looking

642
00:30:19,117 --> 00:30:21,487
for out of these
actions over this week?

643
00:30:21,486 --> 00:30:23,086
I know your ultimate goal
is hearings and a vote.

644
00:30:23,087 --> 00:30:26,357
But what needs to happen
over this week for you to

645
00:30:26,357 --> 00:30:29,427
define your efforts
as a success?

646
00:30:29,427 --> 00:30:30,697
Mr. Earnest: Jordan, we're
going to continue to apply

647
00:30:30,695 --> 00:30:33,165
pressure to Republicans
to do their job.

648
00:30:33,164 --> 00:30:35,864
It's a pretty simple message
that we're delivering.

649
00:30:35,867 --> 00:30:38,937
Since 1875, every Supreme
Court nominee, who hasn't

650
00:30:38,937 --> 00:30:40,807
later been retracted by the
President of the United

651
00:30:40,805 --> 00:30:43,845
States, has received a
hearing and/or a vote by the

652
00:30:43,841 --> 00:30:45,641
United States Senate.

653
00:30:45,643 --> 00:30:48,483
That's why what Republicans
are vowing to do is

654
00:30:48,479 --> 00:30:59,119
unprecedented and a dramatic
escalation of partisan politics.

655
00:30:59,123 --> 00:31:03,963
That's problematic because,
even in this era of divided

656
00:31:03,962 --> 00:31:10,732
government and polarized
politics, there's been an

657
00:31:10,735 --> 00:31:16,305
effort by both sides to
try to insulate the U.S.

658
00:31:16,307 --> 00:31:17,977
justice system and the
institution of the United

659
00:31:17,976 --> 00:31:24,586
States Supreme Court from
that political stray voltage.

660
00:31:24,582 --> 00:31:32,522
But Republicans have, in
this case, ramped it up.

661
00:31:32,523 --> 00:31:36,223
Look, even Senator Graham,
who served four years on the

662
00:31:36,227 --> 00:31:38,427
Senate Judiciary Committee,
has acknowledged that what

663
00:31:38,429 --> 00:31:42,499
Republicans are vowing
to do and are doing

664
00:31:42,500 --> 00:31:44,540
is unprecedented.

665
00:31:44,535 --> 00:31:47,505
Several Republicans -- or at
least a couple of them come

666
00:31:47,505 --> 00:31:51,575
to mind -- have indicated
that they're treating

667
00:31:51,576 --> 00:31:55,276
President Obama's nominee
differently than they would

668
00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:57,780
treat a nominee that's put
forward by a Republican

669
00:31:57,782 --> 00:31:59,182
President.

670
00:31:59,183 --> 00:32:02,123
They're acknowledging that
this is not driven by some

671
00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:05,320
peculiar reading of the
Constitution, but it's

672
00:32:05,323 --> 00:32:08,263
driven by a raw, partisan
political calculation that

673
00:32:08,259 --> 00:32:10,759
Republicans in the Senate
have made to obstruct this

674
00:32:10,762 --> 00:32:15,902
nominee not because of any
concerns about the nominee's

675
00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:19,170
judicial philosophy; they're
obstructing this nominee

676
00:32:19,170 --> 00:32:21,540
simply because Chief Judge
Garland was put forward by

677
00:32:21,539 --> 00:32:24,039
Barack Obama.

678
00:32:24,042 --> 00:32:26,242
That's unfortunate
particularly when you

679
00:32:26,244 --> 00:32:28,944
consider that Chief Judge
Garland is somebody who has

680
00:32:28,946 --> 00:32:32,686
more experience on the
federal judiciary than any

681
00:32:32,684 --> 00:32:35,324
Supreme Court nominee
in American history.

682
00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:36,620
He served on the
second-highest court in the

683
00:32:36,621 --> 00:32:38,521
land for 19 years.

684
00:32:38,523 --> 00:32:40,863
In taking a close look at
that record, it's evident

685
00:32:40,858 --> 00:32:43,398
that he understands that the
job of a federal judge is to

686
00:32:43,394 --> 00:32:46,494
interpret the law, not
advance a political agenda.

687
00:32:46,497 --> 00:32:50,867
So that's the argument
that we'll make.

688
00:32:50,868 --> 00:32:53,438
I recognize -- I would
acknowledge that this is an

689
00:32:53,438 --> 00:32:55,178
argument that we've spent a
lot of the last two months

690
00:32:55,173 --> 00:32:56,673
making.

691
00:32:56,674 --> 00:32:59,174
But this is an opportunity
for the President to sit

692
00:32:59,177 --> 00:33:03,217
before local television
anchors and make the

693
00:33:03,214 --> 00:33:06,754
argument once again, and
present it, hopefully, in a

694
00:33:06,751 --> 00:33:10,121
compelling way that will
have an impact on the

695
00:33:10,121 --> 00:33:13,991
constituents of five or
six Republican senators.

696
00:33:13,991 --> 00:33:14,421
The Press: Right.

697
00:33:14,425 --> 00:33:17,365
But we haven't seen any real
movement on the question of

698
00:33:17,362 --> 00:33:19,462
hearings or -- hearings
or a vote from these five

699
00:33:19,464 --> 00:33:21,864
senators, despite you making
these arguments over and

700
00:33:21,866 --> 00:33:22,536
over again.

701
00:33:22,533 --> 00:33:25,703
So if we don't hear movement
over this next week when

702
00:33:25,703 --> 00:33:27,403
you're applying that
pressure, is that going to

703
00:33:27,405 --> 00:33:28,635
be concerning to you?

704
00:33:28,639 --> 00:33:31,279
Mr. Earnest: Well, we
started out with Republicans

705
00:33:31,275 --> 00:33:33,115
across the board -- at least
the Senate Republican Leader

706
00:33:33,111 --> 00:33:35,381
saying that Republicans
wouldn't meet with the

707
00:33:35,380 --> 00:33:37,010
President's nominee.

708
00:33:37,014 --> 00:33:39,154
But as you know, Chief Judge
Garland has now met with 14

709
00:33:39,150 --> 00:33:41,890
different Republican
senators, and there are more

710
00:33:41,886 --> 00:33:45,056
plans for when Congress
returns from their weeklong

711
00:33:45,056 --> 00:33:47,226
recess next week.

712
00:33:47,225 --> 00:33:52,595
So we have made some
progress in that regard, and

713
00:33:52,597 --> 00:33:54,197
we're going to continue
to just apply pressure to

714
00:33:54,198 --> 00:33:58,338
Republicans until I make the
case that they should do

715
00:33:58,336 --> 00:33:59,406
their job.

716
00:33:59,404 --> 00:34:01,974
Look, I've said this before
too: The American people

717
00:34:01,973 --> 00:34:04,573
expect that if you're going
to show up every two weeks

718
00:34:04,575 --> 00:34:07,815
and collect a paycheck, that
you should do your job.

719
00:34:07,812 --> 00:34:09,382
And right now, Senate
Republicans aren't doing it

720
00:34:09,380 --> 00:34:11,220
despite the fact they are
picking up a six-figure

721
00:34:11,215 --> 00:34:13,215
paycheck.

722
00:34:13,217 --> 00:34:14,317
Mike.

723
00:34:14,318 --> 00:34:15,188
The Press: Two topics.

724
00:34:15,186 --> 00:34:18,586
First, back to the
safe zones question.

725
00:34:18,589 --> 00:34:20,859
So I just want to clarify --
what you guys call them are

726
00:34:20,858 --> 00:34:24,698
"safe areas," not
"safe zones," correct?

727
00:34:24,695 --> 00:34:26,435
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
think there's a term of art,

728
00:34:26,431 --> 00:34:26,961
Mike.

729
00:34:26,964 --> 00:34:27,394
What we're trying to do
--

730
00:34:27,398 --> 00:34:30,368
The Press: Well, the President called it safe areas

731
00:34:30,368 --> 00:34:31,198
when he was asked

732
00:34:31,202 --> 00:34:33,742
about this during the press
conference with

733
00:34:33,738 --> 00:34:36,778
President (sic) Merkel in Germany,

734
00:34:36,774 --> 00:34:38,414
and
he said there's no space

735
00:34:38,409 --> 00:34:42,409
between him and Chancellor
Merkel on the question of

736
00:34:42,413 --> 00:34:45,483
whether or not there are
areas to carve out in Syria

737
00:34:45,483 --> 00:34:47,353
that he would support the
idea of carving out what he

738
00:34:47,351 --> 00:34:51,821
called "safe areas" through
the political process.

739
00:34:51,823 --> 00:34:56,023
So I just want to make sure
that what you're suggesting

740
00:34:56,027 --> 00:34:57,357
seems to be different than
what the President said

741
00:34:57,361 --> 00:34:58,361
during that news conference.

742
00:34:58,362 --> 00:35:00,602
He says he supports the idea
of carving out some safe

743
00:35:00,598 --> 00:35:03,598
areas in Syria through
the political process.

744
00:35:03,601 --> 00:35:09,041
You're saying he doesn't
support any such thing?

745
00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:09,970
Mr. Earnest: Mike, what
we're trying to do is we're

746
00:35:09,974 --> 00:35:12,914
trying to put back in place
a cessation of hostilities

747
00:35:12,910 --> 00:35:14,550
across the country.

748
00:35:14,545 --> 00:35:18,385
The cessation of hostilities
applies everywhere in Syria.

749
00:35:18,382 --> 00:35:19,882
The Press: So the President
said, "If we can get the

750
00:35:19,884 --> 00:35:22,654
political transition to
separate out areas where a

751
00:35:22,653 --> 00:35:25,093
moderate oppositions that's
at the table controls it,

752
00:35:25,089 --> 00:35:27,229
that should be a safe area.

753
00:35:27,225 --> 00:35:29,695
If it's ISIL or Nusra,
that's not a safe area.

754
00:35:29,694 --> 00:35:32,134
And that's the concept we've
been trying to build."

755
00:35:32,129 --> 00:35:36,199
So that suggests that there
are -- I mean, short of a

756
00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:37,640
complete cessation of
hostilities -- which I

757
00:35:37,635 --> 00:35:40,075
suppose you would support,
first and foremost -- but

758
00:35:40,071 --> 00:35:42,811
short of that, it does seem
like the President supports

759
00:35:42,807 --> 00:35:47,107
the idea of creating some
space inside Syria that is

760
00:35:47,111 --> 00:35:49,451
safe, whether you call
it a zone or an area.

761
00:35:49,447 --> 00:35:53,187
Mr. Earnest: Well, what our
goal, Mike, is to reinforce

762
00:35:53,184 --> 00:35:55,454
the effective implementation
of a cessation of

763
00:35:55,453 --> 00:35:58,293
hostilities
nationwide in Syria.

764
00:35:58,289 --> 00:36:02,429
And there are particular
areas where there have been

765
00:36:02,426 --> 00:36:06,296
repeated and increasing
violations of the cessation

766
00:36:06,297 --> 00:36:07,497
of hostilities.

767
00:36:07,498 --> 00:36:12,408
And our goal is to reinforce
our effort to refresh the

768
00:36:12,403 --> 00:36:14,973
cessation of hostilities in
those areas where we've seen

769
00:36:14,972 --> 00:36:16,572
violations.

770
00:36:16,574 --> 00:36:22,344
But that is not a reference
to any sort of new tactic to

771
00:36:22,346 --> 00:36:24,546
try to address the political
situation in Syria.

772
00:36:24,549 --> 00:36:27,189
Our goal all along has been
to implement a cessation of

773
00:36:27,184 --> 00:36:31,324
hostilities all across the
country to try to add some

774
00:36:31,322 --> 00:36:34,962
momentum to the ongoing
political talks.

775
00:36:34,959 --> 00:36:38,929
The other thing that I have
said before, but not from

776
00:36:38,930 --> 00:36:40,900
the context of these
conversations that's a

777
00:36:40,898 --> 00:36:45,138
relevant fact, is neither
Nusra or other extremist

778
00:36:45,136 --> 00:36:47,806
groups like ISIL have signed
on to the cessation of

779
00:36:47,805 --> 00:36:48,635
hostilities.

780
00:36:48,639 --> 00:36:50,679
So we would like to see a
cessation of hostilities all

781
00:36:50,675 --> 00:36:52,775
across the country, but that
is not going to have an

782
00:36:52,777 --> 00:36:54,817
impact on the ability of
the United States or our

783
00:36:54,812 --> 00:36:57,082
coalition partners
to go after ISIL.

784
00:36:57,081 --> 00:37:02,251
The Press: And then on a
second topic, back to Flint.

785
00:37:02,253 --> 00:37:04,223
The President and the White
House has been highly

786
00:37:04,221 --> 00:37:07,421
critical I think of the
state environmental

787
00:37:07,425 --> 00:37:11,165
apparatus in Michigan for
their failures, as have a

788
00:37:11,162 --> 00:37:13,302
lot of people.

789
00:37:13,297 --> 00:37:16,737
As the President goes back,
what is the President

790
00:37:16,734 --> 00:37:21,274
prepared to say or apologize
for in terms of the federal

791
00:37:21,272 --> 00:37:24,712
government and the EPA's
failures to act more quickly

792
00:37:24,709 --> 00:37:27,809
in the face of the water
problems in Flint?

793
00:37:27,812 --> 00:37:30,782
I mean, there have been some
lower-level resignations

794
00:37:30,781 --> 00:37:35,551
from EPA -- and I know
that some of the federal

795
00:37:35,553 --> 00:37:38,423
officials have been there
since and are I guess going

796
00:37:38,422 --> 00:37:39,762
back ahead of the
President's visit -- but is

797
00:37:39,757 --> 00:37:43,457
the President prepared to
say to the people of Flint

798
00:37:43,461 --> 00:37:46,031
that we screwed up too,
at the federal level?

799
00:37:46,030 --> 00:37:47,500
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President is prepared to

800
00:37:47,498 --> 00:37:48,738
acknowledge that, as
President of the United

801
00:37:48,733 --> 00:37:50,303
States, he takes
responsibility for lots of

802
00:37:50,301 --> 00:37:51,401
things.

803
00:37:51,402 --> 00:37:53,772
But what's also true is that
the blue-ribbon independent

804
00:37:53,771 --> 00:37:55,571
commission that was
appointed by the Republican

805
00:37:55,573 --> 00:37:59,543
governor of the state of
Michigan found, "primary

806
00:37:59,543 --> 00:38:02,643
responsibility for the water
contamination in Flint lies

807
00:38:02,647 --> 00:38:05,717
with the MDEQ," which is
the state-run environmental

808
00:38:05,716 --> 00:38:08,256
agency in Michigan.

809
00:38:08,252 --> 00:38:11,822
What's also true is that the
Attorney General has filed

810
00:38:11,822 --> 00:38:14,162
criminal charges against
some state employees for

811
00:38:14,158 --> 00:38:17,228
their role in this as well.

812
00:38:17,228 --> 00:38:20,968
So I don't, however, expect
for the President to spend a

813
00:38:20,965 --> 00:38:25,265
lot of time talking about
specific accountability,

814
00:38:25,269 --> 00:38:27,469
primarily because there
continues to be ongoing

815
00:38:27,471 --> 00:38:29,741
investigations into that
accountability, and the

816
00:38:29,740 --> 00:38:32,910
President doesn't want to be
perceived as weighing in on

817
00:38:32,910 --> 00:38:34,610
one side or the other.

818
00:38:34,612 --> 00:38:37,952
But the President will
certainly go to Michigan and

819
00:38:37,948 --> 00:38:42,888
make a forceful case that as
the President of the United

820
00:38:42,887 --> 00:38:46,787
States, he feels responsible
for the safety and wellbeing

821
00:38:46,791 --> 00:38:49,891
of every American, no matter
which community they live in.

822
00:38:49,894 --> 00:38:53,194
And I think that would
certainly explain the

823
00:38:53,197 --> 00:38:59,637
widespread federal effort in
Flint to help the people of

824
00:38:59,637 --> 00:39:02,677
Flint deal with this
emergency situation.

825
00:39:02,673 --> 00:39:06,173
7.3 million liters of water
have been distributed by

826
00:39:06,177 --> 00:39:08,947
federal employees.

827
00:39:08,946 --> 00:39:15,156
We've seen 55,000 water
and pitcher filters be

828
00:39:15,152 --> 00:39:17,122
distributed in
communities there.

829
00:39:17,121 --> 00:39:22,031
About a quarter of a million
replacement cartridges have

830
00:39:22,026 --> 00:39:23,296
been passed out as well.

831
00:39:23,294 --> 00:39:26,664
There's been a significant
expansion of health care

832
00:39:26,664 --> 00:39:28,864
access, paid for by the
federal government.

833
00:39:31,268 --> 00:39:33,338
This access comes both in
the forms of expanding

834
00:39:33,337 --> 00:39:36,877
Medicaid eligibility, but
also in terms of offering

835
00:39:36,874 --> 00:39:39,414
grants to local health care
providers so that they have

836
00:39:39,410 --> 00:39:41,510
more resources to
treat more people.

837
00:39:41,512 --> 00:39:45,012
So this is all a reflection
of the federal government's

838
00:39:45,015 --> 00:39:47,755
commitment to helping the
people of Flint deal with

839
00:39:47,752 --> 00:39:49,282
what's a tragic situation.

840
00:39:49,286 --> 00:39:51,386
The Press: But
one last thing.

841
00:39:51,388 --> 00:39:53,388
I mean, that's sort of
post-crisis, right?

842
00:39:53,390 --> 00:39:56,530
That's the response to the
crisis once it had been

843
00:39:56,527 --> 00:39:57,327
fully realized.

844
00:39:57,328 --> 00:39:57,928
Mr. Earnest: That's right.

845
00:39:57,928 --> 00:40:02,668
The Press: I guess the
question is, is the

846
00:40:02,666 --> 00:40:05,436
President prepared to --
he's going to be meeting

847
00:40:05,436 --> 00:40:09,336
with a group of people, I
guess, around the table.

848
00:40:09,340 --> 00:40:12,910
If they look at him and say,
yes, obviously there were

849
00:40:12,910 --> 00:40:15,150
failures at the state level
but where was the federal

850
00:40:15,146 --> 00:40:17,846
government a year ago, a
year and a half ago, two

851
00:40:17,848 --> 00:40:20,418
years ago when this was all
happening -- what does he

852
00:40:20,417 --> 00:40:21,857
say to them?

853
00:40:21,852 --> 00:40:24,452
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
he says that the EPA takes

854
00:40:24,455 --> 00:40:26,195
very seriously the
responsibility that they

855
00:40:26,190 --> 00:40:31,000
have to work effectively
with state regulators to

856
00:40:30,995 --> 00:40:33,635
ensure the clean air and
clean water of everybody in

857
00:40:33,631 --> 00:40:34,631
America.

858
00:40:34,632 --> 00:40:39,202
And that's why more than six
weeks ago, the administrator

859
00:40:39,203 --> 00:40:41,403
of the EPA sent a letter to
governors all across the

860
00:40:41,405 --> 00:40:43,945
country, making
clear exactly what

861
00:40:43,941 --> 00:40:45,941
responsibilities state
regulators have when it

862
00:40:45,943 --> 00:40:49,213
comes to enforcing the
lead and copper rule.

863
00:40:49,213 --> 00:40:53,753
She was also clear in that
letter that there will be a

864
00:40:53,751 --> 00:40:57,491
response from the EPA if the
state regulators fall down

865
00:40:57,488 --> 00:40:59,158
on the job.

866
00:40:59,156 --> 00:41:05,966
So that level of clarity
hopefully will prevent the

867
00:41:05,963 --> 00:41:07,963
situation in Flint from
reemerging in other

868
00:41:07,965 --> 00:41:09,505
communities.

869
00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:12,500
And that obviously is a top
priority of the President's

870
00:41:12,503 --> 00:41:14,073
as well.

871
00:41:14,071 --> 00:41:15,211
Josh.

872
00:41:15,206 --> 00:41:16,006
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

873
00:41:16,006 --> 00:41:19,646
Back to the Supreme Court.

874
00:41:19,643 --> 00:41:21,983
I just want to ask you the
question: Have you given any

875
00:41:21,979 --> 00:41:24,079
consideration to the
thought process of Senate

876
00:41:24,081 --> 00:41:27,081
Republicans that you
mentioned are taking some

877
00:41:27,084 --> 00:41:29,654
heat from their constituents
on Merrick Garland and their

878
00:41:29,653 --> 00:41:31,953
decision to completely
dismiss the nominating

879
00:41:31,956 --> 00:41:34,626
process rather than go ahead
and at least go through the

880
00:41:34,625 --> 00:41:37,125
motions of the process,
even if the outcome is

881
00:41:37,127 --> 00:41:38,327
predetermined?

882
00:41:38,329 --> 00:41:40,069
Mr. Earnest: Look, I think
it's pretty clear what's

883
00:41:40,064 --> 00:41:41,704
happening here.

884
00:41:41,699 --> 00:41:46,269
The reason that the leader
of Republicans in the

885
00:41:46,270 --> 00:41:48,910
Senate, Mitch McConnell,
issued a statement just

886
00:41:48,906 --> 00:41:55,576
hours after the announcement
of Justice Scalia's death is

887
00:41:55,579 --> 00:41:58,049
that he wanted to try to
shut down the process as

888
00:41:58,048 --> 00:41:59,088
soon as possible.

889
00:41:59,083 --> 00:42:02,983
He recognized that if the
President put forward a

890
00:42:02,987 --> 00:42:06,557
highly qualified,
experienced, respectable

891
00:42:06,557 --> 00:42:09,957
individual with impeccable
legal credentials to fill

892
00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:12,560
that vacancy, that there
would be enormous pressure

893
00:42:12,563 --> 00:42:17,873
on Republicans to vote and
confirm this individual.

894
00:42:17,868 --> 00:42:21,368
And that's exactly what
Republicans are trying not

895
00:42:21,372 --> 00:42:23,512
to do.

896
00:42:23,507 --> 00:42:25,847
The President effectively
called their bluff by

897
00:42:25,843 --> 00:42:28,613
nominating someone that even
Republicans have described

898
00:42:28,612 --> 00:42:29,582
as a consensus nominee.

899
00:42:30,648 --> 00:42:33,148
Even Republicans who have
met with Chief Judge Garland

900
00:42:33,684 --> 00:42:37,624
have had very positive
things to say about his

901
00:42:37,621 --> 00:42:40,591
character and about his
aptitude for the job.

902
00:42:41,458 --> 00:42:45,598
So people like Pat Toomey
said that he was "very, very

903
00:42:45,596 --> 00:42:47,596
smart and very
knowledgeable." Republican

904
00:42:47,598 --> 00:42:50,298
Senator Rob Portman from
Ohio described Chief Judge

905
00:42:50,301 --> 00:42:52,471
Garland as "an
impressive guy."

906
00:42:52,469 --> 00:42:55,009
Senator Flake from Arizona
described Chief Judge

907
00:42:55,005 --> 00:42:57,975
Garland as "obviously a man
of accomplishment and keen

908
00:42:57,975 --> 00:42:59,145
intellect."

909
00:42:59,143 --> 00:43:02,343
Senator Lindsey Graham from
South Carolina described him

910
00:43:02,346 --> 00:43:05,786
as "honest and capable" and
described his reputation as

911
00:43:05,783 --> 00:43:07,653
"beyond reproach."

912
00:43:07,651 --> 00:43:10,791
So what Republicans are
trying to do is they're

913
00:43:10,788 --> 00:43:14,288
trying to prevent a
situation in which Chief

914
00:43:14,291 --> 00:43:16,461
Judge Garland sits before
the Senate Judiciary

915
00:43:16,460 --> 00:43:19,400
Committee and answers any
questions that come his way.

916
00:43:19,396 --> 00:43:21,396
We know that if there's a
hearing like this, it's

917
00:43:21,398 --> 00:43:23,468
going to be -- it's going
to get lots of attention.

918
00:43:23,467 --> 00:43:26,237
It will be carried live on
many of the networks that

919
00:43:26,236 --> 00:43:28,236
are represented in this
room, at least for parts of

920
00:43:28,238 --> 00:43:29,608
the hearing.

921
00:43:29,606 --> 00:43:32,306
And the expectation the
President has is that Chief

922
00:43:32,309 --> 00:43:34,879
Judge Garland is going to
use his brilliant legal mind

923
00:43:34,878 --> 00:43:37,748
and 19 years of judicial
experience to effectively

924
00:43:37,748 --> 00:43:39,048
answer those questions.

925
00:43:39,049 --> 00:43:42,519
And once that hearing is
completed, you'll really see

926
00:43:42,519 --> 00:43:45,989
pressure on Republicans to
explain their position,

927
00:43:45,990 --> 00:43:47,990
trying to block his
confirmation to the Supreme

928
00:43:47,992 --> 00:43:48,992
Court.

929
00:43:48,993 --> 00:43:51,793
So what we have seen from
Republicans, particularly

930
00:43:51,795 --> 00:43:53,795
Republican leaders in
Washington, is to shut down

931
00:43:53,797 --> 00:43:55,797
this effort before it
can build momentum.

932
00:43:55,799 --> 00:43:57,799
But I think in spite of
their efforts, we have built

933
00:43:57,801 --> 00:44:01,401
up some momentum and some
pressure on Republicans.

934
00:44:01,405 --> 00:44:05,105
And I do think this is why
every Republican senator

935
00:44:05,109 --> 00:44:07,109
across the country,
including Senator Ayotte, is

936
00:44:07,111 --> 00:44:11,451
facing a central question:
Are they going to listen to

937
00:44:11,448 --> 00:44:14,048
Republican leaders in the
United States Senate and not

938
00:44:14,051 --> 00:44:15,051
do their job?

939
00:44:15,052 --> 00:44:17,792
Or are they going to do
what the United States

940
00:44:17,788 --> 00:44:19,558
Constitution requires?

941
00:44:19,556 --> 00:44:23,356
And that is to offer their
advice and consent for the

942
00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:25,360
President's choice to fill
a vacancy on the Supreme

943
00:44:25,362 --> 00:44:27,362
Court.

944
00:44:28,699 --> 00:44:30,899
Following the instructions
of Republican leaders in

945
00:44:30,901 --> 00:44:33,371
Washington I don't think is
going to be a particularly

946
00:44:33,370 --> 00:44:36,310
persuasive explanation
for their conduct when

947
00:44:36,306 --> 00:44:39,246
Republican senators are
facing their constituents.

948
00:44:39,243 --> 00:44:40,373
Mark.

949
00:44:40,377 --> 00:44:41,417
The Press: I'm sorry,
on Syria, I still don't

950
00:44:41,412 --> 00:44:43,312
understand.

951
00:44:43,313 --> 00:44:47,153
If safe zones or safe areas
is not the purpose in

952
00:44:47,151 --> 00:44:49,651
Geneva, then why are
negotiators there looking at

953
00:44:49,653 --> 00:44:53,123
maps and drawing up lines
of areas where allegedly

954
00:44:53,123 --> 00:44:56,423
civilians and/or members
of the moderate opposition

955
00:44:56,427 --> 00:44:58,127
could shelter?

956
00:44:58,128 --> 00:44:59,198
They're looking at maps.

957
00:44:59,196 --> 00:45:00,266
That's what our
people are telling us.

958
00:45:00,264 --> 00:45:01,764
Mr. Earnest: Yes, Mark, the
goal of the conversations in

959
00:45:01,765 --> 00:45:05,465
Geneva are to build
confidence

960
00:45:05,469 --> 00:45:08,069
in a political transition.

961
00:45:08,072 --> 00:45:12,172
And what the negotiators in
Geneva on the opposition

962
00:45:12,176 --> 00:45:16,646
side of the table have
indicated is it's very

963
00:45:16,647 --> 00:45:19,317
difficult for them to engage
in political talks when

964
00:45:19,316 --> 00:45:25,426
their constituents back home
are being bombed recklessly

965
00:45:25,422 --> 00:45:28,092
and tragically
by the regime.

966
00:45:28,092 --> 00:45:32,262
And so the idea behind the
cessation of hostilities was

967
00:45:32,262 --> 00:45:36,532
to try to bring the violence
between the opposition and

968
00:45:36,533 --> 00:45:38,503
the government to an end so
that negotiations

969
00:45:38,502 --> 00:45:40,672
could take place.

970
00:45:40,671 --> 00:45:46,041
So what the negotiators are
doing is trying to find a

971
00:45:46,043 --> 00:45:49,883
way to get the regime to
stop bombing their people so

972
00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:51,880
that they can try to come
to some sort of political

973
00:45:51,882 --> 00:45:52,882
agreement.

974
00:45:52,883 --> 00:45:58,223
What we found is that at
least for a while, when the

975
00:45:58,222 --> 00:46:00,892
cessation of hostilities was
initially implemented, that

976
00:46:00,891 --> 00:46:02,891
that actually worked out
a little bit better than

977
00:46:02,893 --> 00:46:03,863
anybody expected.

978
00:46:03,861 --> 00:46:07,101
And part of that was because
the Russian government,

979
00:46:07,097 --> 00:46:09,337
President Putin, was willing
to put his own credibility

980
00:46:09,333 --> 00:46:13,403
on the line and was willing
to make a strong case to the

981
00:46:13,403 --> 00:46:15,673
Assad regime that they
needed to abide by the

982
00:46:15,672 --> 00:46:17,142
cessation of hostilities.

983
00:46:17,141 --> 00:46:18,771
And we want them to just go
back and do the same thing.

984
00:46:18,775 --> 00:46:19,275
The Press: No, I get that.

985
00:46:19,276 --> 00:46:22,016
But what I don't understand
is, if they're sitting down

986
00:46:22,012 --> 00:46:25,582
and drawing lines on a map
and saying this area is

987
00:46:25,582 --> 00:46:28,122
going to be off limits, is
that not a safe zone or a

988
00:46:28,118 --> 00:46:31,858
safe area, or propose some
other way to call it?

989
00:46:31,855 --> 00:46:35,755
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
the reason that I don't

990
00:46:35,759 --> 00:46:39,329
think I would describe it
that way is that ISIL and

991
00:46:39,329 --> 00:46:43,129
Nusra are not part of the
cessation of hostilities.

992
00:46:43,133 --> 00:46:45,133
It's the Assad regime
that has signed onto the

993
00:46:45,135 --> 00:46:46,935
cessation of hostilities.

994
00:46:46,937 --> 00:46:49,377
So I think when there was
a broader discussion about

995
00:46:49,373 --> 00:46:51,513
safe zones and the President
was asked directly in a news

996
00:46:51,508 --> 00:46:53,508
conference about whether or
not he would support the

997
00:46:53,510 --> 00:46:55,680
concept of a safe zone, and
the President expressed his

998
00:46:55,679 --> 00:46:58,549
strong opposition to it,
is that he didn't want to

999
00:46:58,549 --> 00:47:01,789
create a situation in which
the United States was on the

1000
00:47:01,785 --> 00:47:05,955
hook for protecting that
safe zone from incursions by

1001
00:47:05,956 --> 00:47:10,326
extremists, by Nusra, by
ISIL, or by the regime.

1002
00:47:10,360 --> 00:47:12,500
So the conversations that
are taking place in Geneva

1003
00:47:12,496 --> 00:47:16,166
right now are focused very
specifically on where we can

1004
00:47:16,166 --> 00:47:18,406
reinforce our efforts to
implement successfully a

1005
00:47:18,402 --> 00:47:21,772
cessation of hostilities, to
try to lower the violence,

1006
00:47:21,772 --> 00:47:25,672
to advance political talks,
but also allow the shipment

1007
00:47:25,676 --> 00:47:30,916
of humanitarian relief into
areas that have long been

1008
00:47:30,914 --> 00:47:33,484
caught in the crossfire.

1009
00:47:33,483 --> 00:47:34,323
Megan.

1010
00:47:34,318 --> 00:47:34,848
The Press: Josh, thanks.

1011
00:47:34,851 --> 00:47:36,651
There's two topics I
wanted to ask about.

1012
00:47:36,653 --> 00:47:39,853
First, the 28 pages of
classified documents in the

1013
00:47:39,856 --> 00:47:41,196
9/11 Commission report.

1014
00:47:41,191 --> 00:47:44,091
CIA Director John Brennan
over the weekend saying that

1015
00:47:44,094 --> 00:47:47,964
there could be some
inaccuracies in there and

1016
00:47:47,965 --> 00:47:50,065
some unvetted information.

1017
00:47:50,067 --> 00:47:51,867
Is the President
concerned about that?

1018
00:47:51,868 --> 00:47:53,638
And how close is the White
House to releasing those

1019
00:47:53,637 --> 00:47:54,537
documents?

1020
00:47:54,538 --> 00:47:56,578
Mr. Earnest: Well, I saw
that there was a little

1021
00:47:56,573 --> 00:47:59,073
attention that was generated
by Director Brennan's

1022
00:47:59,076 --> 00:47:59,706
comments.

1023
00:47:59,710 --> 00:48:02,610
I have to admit I was
surprised by that attention

1024
00:48:02,613 --> 00:48:04,613
because there was an op-ed
that was written just last

1025
00:48:04,615 --> 00:48:08,155
week by Lee Hamilton and
Governor Kean from New

1026
00:48:08,151 --> 00:48:09,891
Jersey.

1027
00:48:09,886 --> 00:48:12,556
Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Kean
were the chair of the

1028
00:48:12,556 --> 00:48:15,556
independent commission that
took a look at the 9/11

1029
00:48:15,559 --> 00:48:21,799
attacks, both the events
that led to the attacks but

1030
00:48:21,798 --> 00:48:24,338
also proposed reforms that
would prevent those kinds of

1031
00:48:24,334 --> 00:48:27,334
attacks from occurring on
American soil ever again.

1032
00:48:27,337 --> 00:48:30,237
They wrote that op-ed and
indicated that they also saw

1033
00:48:30,240 --> 00:48:32,180
the 28 pages.

1034
00:48:32,175 --> 00:48:35,415
They described those 28
pages as unvetted, law

1035
00:48:35,412 --> 00:48:38,582
enforcement
investigative materials.

1036
00:48:38,582 --> 00:48:42,252
And they said they had an
opportunity to review that

1037
00:48:42,252 --> 00:48:44,922
material, to follow up
on leads, and that they

1038
00:48:44,921 --> 00:48:46,921
actually conducted
interviews not just in the

1039
00:48:46,923 --> 00:48:49,563
United States but around the
world to follow up on that

1040
00:48:49,559 --> 00:48:50,899
information.

1041
00:48:50,894 --> 00:48:53,634
And as we've discussed many
times in this room over the

1042
00:48:53,630 --> 00:48:56,900
last several weeks, the
conclusion of their report

1043
00:48:57,501 --> 00:48:59,601
is that they found no
evidence that the Saudi

1044
00:48:59,603 --> 00:49:03,843
government as an institution
had supported al Qaeda.

1045
00:49:03,840 --> 00:49:07,210
So Director Brennan's
comments are entirely in

1046
00:49:07,210 --> 00:49:11,720
line with those that were
put forward by Governor Kean

1047
00:49:11,715 --> 00:49:15,755
and Congressman Hamilton,
who had a responsibility to

1048
00:49:15,752 --> 00:49:18,092
look at that material, to
follow up on the claims, and

1049
00:49:18,088 --> 00:49:22,758
to offer up an unclassified
conclusion about what was

1050
00:49:22,759 --> 00:49:23,759
included there.

1051
00:49:23,760 --> 00:49:25,000
The Press: So how close is
the White House to releasing

1052
00:49:24,995 --> 00:49:25,795
the documents?

1053
00:49:25,796 --> 00:49:27,336
And is there concern that
releasing them is going to

1054
00:49:27,331 --> 00:49:29,401
be a mistake?

1055
00:49:29,399 --> 00:49:30,739
Mr. Earnest: The White House
is not responsible for

1056
00:49:30,734 --> 00:49:32,034
releasing the documents.

1057
00:49:32,035 --> 00:49:34,775
Those documents are
currently in the possession

1058
00:49:34,771 --> 00:49:37,011
of the Office of the
Director of National

1059
00:49:37,007 --> 00:49:38,007
Intelligence.

1060
00:49:38,008 --> 00:49:40,308
That is the office that is
responsible for processing

1061
00:49:40,310 --> 00:49:42,950
sensitive information that
is being considered for

1062
00:49:42,946 --> 00:49:44,146
public release.

1063
00:49:44,147 --> 00:49:47,817
They have a declassification
process that they conduct

1064
00:49:49,052 --> 00:49:51,052
that is part of their
standard operating

1065
00:49:51,054 --> 00:49:52,054
procedure.

1066
00:49:52,055 --> 00:49:54,055
I would acknowledge that
they have been conducting

1067
00:49:54,057 --> 00:49:56,057
that process on this
material for quite some

1068
00:49:56,059 --> 00:49:57,059
time.

1069
00:49:57,060 --> 00:50:01,160
And the Director of National
Intelligence, Jim Clapper,

1070
00:50:01,164 --> 00:50:03,304
has indicated that they are
hopeful they can complete

1071
00:50:03,300 --> 00:50:05,870
that process by
the end of June.

1072
00:50:05,869 --> 00:50:08,569
The Press: And second,
on Donald Trump and some

1073
00:50:08,572 --> 00:50:09,872
comments that he made
over the weekend.

1074
00:50:09,873 --> 00:50:12,473
He seemed to indicate
that campaigning is more

1075
00:50:12,476 --> 00:50:14,816
difficult than governing,
saying, "It's harder to

1076
00:50:14,811 --> 00:50:17,011
become President, in my
opinion, than to do a great

1077
00:50:17,013 --> 00:50:19,253
job at being President."

1078
00:50:19,249 --> 00:50:20,749
Would the President agree with that assessment?

1079
00:50:20,751 --> 00:50:23,221
Or do you have a comment?

1080
00:50:23,220 --> 00:50:24,990
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any comment on that.

1081
00:50:24,988 --> 00:50:26,688
Julianna, nice to see you.

1082
00:50:26,690 --> 00:50:28,530
I'm used to you sitting
one chair behind you.

1083
00:50:28,525 --> 00:50:29,595
The Press: I know, me too.

1084
00:50:29,593 --> 00:50:30,563
Mr. Earnest: So welcome
back to the briefing.

1085
00:50:30,560 --> 00:50:31,500
The Press: It's good
to be in the front row.

1086
00:50:31,495 --> 00:50:32,495
Thank you.

1087
00:50:32,496 --> 00:50:35,296
Just going back to Saturday
night, can you talk a little

1088
00:50:35,298 --> 00:50:39,238
bit about how the cameo with
former Speaker John Boehner

1089
00:50:39,236 --> 00:50:43,836
came about in the
President's speech?

1090
00:50:43,840 --> 00:50:44,510
Mr. Earnest: Sure.

1091
00:50:44,508 --> 00:50:45,578
Well, it's pretty simple and
in some ways depicted in the

1092
00:50:45,575 --> 00:50:47,145
video, which is that the
White House called Speaker

1093
00:50:47,144 --> 00:50:49,844
Boehner and asked him if
he'd be interested in

1094
00:50:49,846 --> 00:50:50,816
participating in the video.

1095
00:50:50,814 --> 00:50:54,484
And I think as was evident
from the finished product,

1096
00:50:54,484 --> 00:50:59,354
he was an enthusiastic
participant in the

1097
00:50:59,356 --> 00:51:00,186
production.

1098
00:51:00,190 --> 00:51:02,590
Look, Speaker Boehner has
a well-known and very good

1099
00:51:02,592 --> 00:51:04,262
sense of humor.

1100
00:51:04,261 --> 00:51:07,031
And he made I think a very
positive contribution to our

1101
00:51:07,030 --> 00:51:08,630
comedic efforts in the film.

1102
00:51:08,632 --> 00:51:09,962
The Press: When
was it filmed?

1103
00:51:09,966 --> 00:51:13,436
And did they meet in
addition to the taping to

1104
00:51:13,437 --> 00:51:17,277
talk about current events,
politics, Congress?

1105
00:51:17,274 --> 00:51:18,674
Mr. Earnest: They had an
opportunity to spend time

1106
00:51:18,675 --> 00:51:22,645
together in the context
of filming the video.

1107
00:51:22,646 --> 00:51:25,186
There was no
separate meeting.

1108
00:51:25,182 --> 00:51:28,222
But the video was actually
just filmed on Friday, so

1109
00:51:28,218 --> 00:51:29,988
just a few days ago.

1110
00:51:29,986 --> 00:51:32,456
The Press: And did they talk
about the Speaker's comments

1111
00:51:32,456 --> 00:51:35,926
about Ted Cruz from
the night before?

1112
00:51:35,926 --> 00:51:37,326
Mr. Earnest: There was not a
detailed discussion of those

1113
00:51:37,327 --> 00:51:38,567
comments, no.

1114
00:51:38,562 --> 00:51:40,632
The Press: And then, also,
over the weekend, Bernie

1115
00:51:40,630 --> 00:51:44,700
Sanders said that there was
going to be a contested

1116
00:51:44,701 --> 00:51:47,171
convention, and essentially
called on Democratic

1117
00:51:47,170 --> 00:51:50,510
super-delegates to
flip to support him.

1118
00:51:50,507 --> 00:51:51,807
Is that something the
President thinks is

1119
00:51:51,808 --> 00:51:53,548
appropriate?

1120
00:51:53,543 --> 00:51:54,713
Mr. Earnest: Well, what
the President thinks is

1121
00:51:54,711 --> 00:51:57,181
appropriate is individual
candidates should make their

1122
00:51:57,180 --> 00:51:59,350
own decisions about
running their campaign.

1123
00:51:59,349 --> 00:52:02,019
And we've obviously seen a
very rigorous campaign on

1124
00:52:02,018 --> 00:52:05,118
the Democratic side, and
there's still some contests

1125
00:52:05,121 --> 00:52:09,091
to go and more opportunities
for Democratic voters across

1126
00:52:09,092 --> 00:52:12,132
the country to weigh in on
who they believe should

1127
00:52:12,128 --> 00:52:13,728
represent our party in
the general election.

1128
00:52:13,730 --> 00:52:20,140
And the President thus far
has refrained from weighing

1129
00:52:20,136 --> 00:52:21,706
on that debate too much.

1130
00:52:21,705 --> 00:52:23,505
Ron.

1131
00:52:23,507 --> 00:52:26,277
The Press: On Flint and the
governor, you mentioned that

1132
00:52:26,276 --> 00:52:27,876
the White House has extended
an invitation for him to

1133
00:52:27,878 --> 00:52:29,818
meet the President
at the airport.

1134
00:52:29,813 --> 00:52:32,453
Its sounds like the governor
wants a lot more in terms of

1135
00:52:32,449 --> 00:52:34,689
a substantive meeting with
the President, and has

1136
00:52:34,684 --> 00:52:36,424
requested that.

1137
00:52:36,419 --> 00:52:38,989
Has there been a
response to that request?

1138
00:52:38,989 --> 00:52:40,259
Mr. Earnest: We haven't
determined the President's

1139
00:52:40,257 --> 00:52:42,597
schedule for his
trip to Flint.

1140
00:52:42,592 --> 00:52:44,792
As a matter of standard
operating procedure, we

1141
00:52:44,794 --> 00:52:47,634
invited the governor
to come to the airport.

1142
00:52:47,631 --> 00:52:49,671
So the invitation to
Governor Snyder's office was

1143
00:52:49,666 --> 00:52:52,536
not unique; it's one that's
even been extended to him a

1144
00:52:52,536 --> 00:52:55,536
few times before.

1145
00:52:55,539 --> 00:52:56,169
The Press: I guess the
question is, does the

1146
00:52:56,172 --> 00:52:58,742
President see the governor
as someone that he thinks is

1147
00:52:58,742 --> 00:53:02,782
important to meet and spend
some time with there as a

1148
00:53:02,779 --> 00:53:05,449
solution found
to the problem?

1149
00:53:05,448 --> 00:53:07,318
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President certainly intends

1150
00:53:07,317 --> 00:53:11,857
to spend quite a bit of time
when he's in Flint talking

1151
00:53:11,855 --> 00:53:15,895
to local residents, talking
to local officials.

1152
00:53:15,892 --> 00:53:18,832
I don't know at this point
exactly the extent of the

1153
00:53:18,828 --> 00:53:22,068
conversations that the
President will have with

1154
00:53:22,065 --> 00:53:24,065
Governor Snyder, but
we'll let you know.

1155
00:53:24,067 --> 00:53:26,107
The Press: And given what
you were saying about how

1156
00:53:26,102 --> 00:53:28,172
the state has been sort of
blamed for all this, I was

1157
00:53:28,171 --> 00:53:31,641
wondering how could he see
the Governor as having the

1158
00:53:31,641 --> 00:53:35,241
capacity and the credibility
to be a viable partner in

1159
00:53:35,245 --> 00:53:36,375
this whole process
going forward.

1160
00:53:36,379 --> 00:53:37,919
Mr. Earnest: Well, Governor
Snyder, to his credit, has

1161
00:53:37,914 --> 00:53:41,014
recognized that there is an
important role for the state

1162
00:53:41,017 --> 00:53:43,217
to play in helping the
citizens of Flint recover.

1163
00:53:43,219 --> 00:53:44,819
And obviously the U.S.

1164
00:53:44,821 --> 00:53:46,891
government, the federal
government, at the direction

1165
00:53:46,890 --> 00:53:49,360
of President Obama, has been
deeply involved in that

1166
00:53:49,359 --> 00:53:51,129
recovery effort.

1167
00:53:51,127 --> 00:53:53,097
But state officials
have been, too.

1168
00:53:53,096 --> 00:53:55,096
I'll leave it to the state
officials to detail what

1169
00:53:55,098 --> 00:53:57,098
contributions they
have made to that.

1170
00:53:57,100 --> 00:53:59,100
But look, this is a
situation that should

1171
00:53:59,102 --> 00:54:00,102
transcend politics.

1172
00:54:00,103 --> 00:54:02,103
This should be an
opportunity for Democrats

1173
00:54:02,105 --> 00:54:04,145
and Republicans to come
together and try to right

1174
00:54:04,140 --> 00:54:07,180
many of the wrongs that
have been sustained by the

1175
00:54:07,177 --> 00:54:08,247
citizens of Flint.

1176
00:54:08,244 --> 00:54:09,314
The Press: And does the
President have any specific

1177
00:54:09,312 --> 00:54:11,852
priorities in terms of what
he wants to see happen as a

1178
00:54:11,848 --> 00:54:12,818
result of this visit?

1179
00:54:12,816 --> 00:54:15,056
I know that there's the idea
of generally reassuring

1180
00:54:15,051 --> 00:54:18,551
residents, and you
delineated the

1181
00:54:18,555 --> 00:54:18,985
list of the water.

1182
00:54:18,989 --> 00:54:23,129
So is there some aspect
of this crisis that the

1183
00:54:23,126 --> 00:54:27,736
President thinks should
be changed, focused on,

1184
00:54:27,731 --> 00:54:30,031
alleviated as a
result of this?

1185
00:54:30,033 --> 00:54:33,073
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
-- I would not anticipate

1186
00:54:33,069 --> 00:54:36,239
that the President will make
big news by announcing a new

1187
00:54:36,239 --> 00:54:39,709
package of relief for
the city of Flint.

1188
00:54:39,709 --> 00:54:41,179
Obviously, there's been a
significant commitment of

1189
00:54:41,177 --> 00:54:44,617
resources to try to help
the people of Flint in this

1190
00:54:44,614 --> 00:54:47,214
urgent situation.

1191
00:54:47,217 --> 00:54:49,317
You've heard me here
advocate on a couple of

1192
00:54:49,319 --> 00:54:51,789
occasions that Congress
should get involved here.

1193
00:54:52,589 --> 00:54:55,129
Congress should mobilize
some resources that could be

1194
00:54:55,125 --> 00:54:58,025
used to address the
situation in Flint.

1195
00:54:59,062 --> 00:55:02,532
I think what's also true is
the President will make a

1196
00:55:02,532 --> 00:55:06,432
broader argument about just
how important it is for

1197
00:55:06,436 --> 00:55:09,806
government at all levels
to function effectively.

1198
00:55:09,806 --> 00:55:13,146
That stands in pretty stark
contrast to some Republican

1199
00:55:13,143 --> 00:55:17,583
candidates who suggest that
environmental agencies

1200
00:55:17,580 --> 00:55:19,480
shouldn't even exist.

1201
00:55:19,482 --> 00:55:23,452
The Press: On the Iraq
situation, just quickly.

1202
00:55:23,453 --> 00:55:26,153
The Green Zone
barriers were breached.

1203
00:55:26,156 --> 00:55:28,656
And the reporting suggested
that a lot of the security

1204
00:55:28,658 --> 00:55:32,398
forces there basically
let the protesters in.

1205
00:55:32,395 --> 00:55:37,605
So is the United States
confident that won't

1206
00:55:37,600 --> 00:55:38,970
happen again?

1207
00:55:38,968 --> 00:55:41,338
And are you concerned about
the level of security in

1208
00:55:41,337 --> 00:55:42,237
that area?

1209
00:55:42,238 --> 00:55:47,378
And I know the reporting was
that the embassy was never

1210
00:55:47,377 --> 00:55:50,917
evacuations, but that aspect
of the situation, you had

1211
00:55:50,914 --> 00:55:55,484
this fortress for 12 or 13
years, and now it does not

1212
00:55:55,485 --> 00:55:58,255
seem to be a
fortress anymore.

1213
00:55:58,254 --> 00:56:00,024
How concerned about
you about that?

1214
00:56:00,023 --> 00:56:01,593
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ron, the
President of the United

1215
00:56:01,591 --> 00:56:03,361
States is concerned every
day about the safety and

1216
00:56:03,359 --> 00:56:04,999
security of Americans
serving our country

1217
00:56:04,994 --> 00:56:05,694
overseas.

1218
00:56:05,695 --> 00:56:07,895
And that includes
our diplomats.

1219
00:56:07,897 --> 00:56:10,037
That is always a top
priority and at the top of

1220
00:56:10,033 --> 00:56:13,373
the list when it comes to
making decisions about U.S.

1221
00:56:13,369 --> 00:56:15,369
policy in countries
around the world.

1222
00:56:15,371 --> 00:56:19,411
For example, in the
immediate aftermath of the

1223
00:56:19,409 --> 00:56:24,519
ISIL advance across Iraq
in 2014, the President's

1224
00:56:24,514 --> 00:56:27,184
primary concern was about
the safety of American

1225
00:56:27,183 --> 00:56:30,883
diplomats and American
personnel in Erbil and in

1226
00:56:30,887 --> 00:56:31,987
Baghdad.

1227
00:56:31,988 --> 00:56:35,428
And the initial military
response that President Obama

1228
00:56:35,425 --> 00:56:43,565
mobilized was to safeguard those American citizens.

1229
00:56:43,566 --> 00:56:45,566
So this is always
a top priority.

1230
00:56:45,568 --> 00:56:46,568
I can tell you that the U.S.

1231
00:56:46,569 --> 00:56:50,039
has received assurances from
Iraqi officials that they

1232
00:56:50,039 --> 00:56:52,509
understand their obligations
to protect diplomatic

1233
00:56:52,509 --> 00:56:53,809
facilities.

1234
00:56:53,810 --> 00:56:56,750
And we certainly take
them at their word.

1235
00:56:56,746 --> 00:57:00,846
But look, we're going to
continue to closely monitor

1236
00:57:00,850 --> 00:57:02,850
the situation because the
safety and security of our

1237
00:57:02,852 --> 00:57:04,852
personnel is always the
President's top priority.

1238
00:57:04,854 --> 00:57:06,424
The Press: Is it true
that the security guards

1239
00:57:06,422 --> 00:57:07,662
essentially let the
protesters in, didn't stop

1240
00:57:07,657 --> 00:57:08,227
them?

1241
00:57:08,224 --> 00:57:09,694
That's got to be worrying.

1242
00:57:09,692 --> 00:57:11,192
Mr. Earnest: It's a pretty
chaotic situation there.

1243
00:57:11,194 --> 00:57:13,364
I'm not sure that anybody
knows exactly what happened

1244
00:57:13,363 --> 00:57:15,033
on the ground.

1245
00:57:15,031 --> 00:57:17,671
But look, we're always
interested in understanding

1246
00:57:17,667 --> 00:57:19,967
how developments on the
ground could have an impact

1247
00:57:19,969 --> 00:57:21,969
on the safety and security
of American citizens who are

1248
00:57:21,971 --> 00:57:23,541
serving over in Iraq.

1249
00:57:23,540 --> 00:57:25,640
That is the President's
top priority.

1250
00:57:25,642 --> 00:57:27,642
We're going to continue
to monitor the situation

1251
00:57:27,644 --> 00:57:28,644
closely as a result.

1252
00:57:28,978 --> 00:57:32,078
And we have received
assurances from the Iraqi

1253
00:57:32,081 --> 00:57:36,191
government and from Iraqi
security forces that they're

1254
00:57:36,186 --> 00:57:38,886
prepared to live up to their
international obligations to

1255
00:57:38,888 --> 00:57:41,158
protect diplomats that
are serving in Baghdad.

1256
00:57:41,157 --> 00:57:42,757
The Press: Has there been
some contemplation of

1257
00:57:42,759 --> 00:57:45,559
increasing the security
posture at the U.S.

1258
00:57:45,562 --> 00:57:50,062
embassy or inside the Green
Zone as a result of this?

1259
00:57:50,066 --> 00:57:54,106
Mr. Earnest: Decisions that
are made specifically about

1260
00:57:54,103 --> 00:57:57,273
enhancing the security
around any particular

1261
00:57:57,273 --> 00:57:59,443
diplomatic facility would
be made over at the State

1262
00:57:59,442 --> 00:58:00,442
Department.

1263
00:58:00,443 --> 00:58:03,183
But obviously we're
continuing to closely watch

1264
00:58:03,179 --> 00:58:04,179
the situation.

1265
00:58:04,180 --> 00:58:07,420
And if the security experts
determine that additional

1266
00:58:07,417 --> 00:58:10,387
security is needed, we'll
make sure they have the

1267
00:58:10,386 --> 00:58:12,586
resources necessary
to make those changes.

1268
00:58:12,589 --> 00:58:13,359
Kevin.

1269
00:58:13,356 --> 00:58:13,856
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1270
00:58:13,857 --> 00:58:15,557
I want to take you
back to the 28 pages.

1271
00:58:15,558 --> 00:58:17,998
And based on your earlier
comments, you're generally

1272
00:58:17,994 --> 00:58:21,994
aware of what Director
Brennan said, using words

1273
00:58:21,998 --> 00:58:25,568
like, inaccurate,
uncorroborated, and unvetted

1274
00:58:25,568 --> 00:58:28,968
-- echoing the column
that we saw in USA Today.

1275
00:58:28,972 --> 00:58:31,112
Does the President concur
with that assessment, that

1276
00:58:31,107 --> 00:58:33,877
analysis of what's
in those 28 pages?

1277
00:58:33,877 --> 00:58:35,717
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
the President has not read

1278
00:58:35,712 --> 00:58:36,712
the 28 pages.

1279
00:58:36,713 --> 00:58:38,713
He's been briefed
on their contents.

1280
00:58:38,715 --> 00:58:43,215
And look, I think you can
reliably assume that based

1281
00:58:43,219 --> 00:58:49,189
on the comments both of
Director Brennan and

1282
00:58:49,192 --> 00:58:51,532
Governor Kean and
Congressman Hamilton, who

1283
00:58:51,527 --> 00:58:54,197
don't serve in the Obama
administration, that what

1284
00:58:54,197 --> 00:58:57,537
both of them have described
is an accurate understanding

1285
00:58:57,533 --> 00:58:59,573
of the contents
of those 28 pages.

1286
00:58:59,569 --> 00:59:00,099
The Press: Okay.

1287
00:59:00,103 --> 00:59:02,543
And then based on that, does
the President feel like the

1288
00:59:02,538 --> 00:59:05,338
DNI needs to move
forward with its review?

1289
00:59:05,341 --> 00:59:07,811
It's been more than 14 years
-- and you have I have

1290
00:59:07,810 --> 00:59:10,480
talked about this -- it just
doesn't seem like there's

1291
00:59:10,480 --> 00:59:12,680
any reason not to release
it, based on the fact that

1292
00:59:12,682 --> 00:59:15,122
you said a number of people
have looked at this and

1293
00:59:15,118 --> 00:59:17,288
there doesn't seem to be
anything that would affect

1294
00:59:17,287 --> 00:59:18,317
national security.

1295
00:59:18,321 --> 00:59:20,721
Maybe a little embarrassing
perhaps on some

1296
00:59:20,723 --> 00:59:21,893
circumstances.

1297
00:59:21,891 --> 00:59:23,891
But again, it's
preliminary information.

1298
00:59:23,893 --> 00:59:25,463
It's not
hard-and-fast stuff.

1299
00:59:25,461 --> 00:59:28,131
They're saying that this
is partial information.

1300
00:59:28,131 --> 00:59:30,631
And why not just release it
so the American people --

1301
00:59:30,633 --> 00:59:31,973
Mr. Earnest: I'm going to
defer to the experts who

1302
00:59:31,968 --> 00:59:35,438
have a day-to-day
responsibility for

1303
00:59:35,438 --> 00:59:38,478
determining what sensitive
national security

1304
00:59:38,474 --> 00:59:41,874
information can be released
to the public without having

1305
00:59:41,878 --> 00:59:45,848
a negative impact on our
interests or our ability to

1306
00:59:45,848 --> 00:59:46,848
protect the American people.

1307
00:59:46,849 --> 00:59:48,849
And that is what should
drive the decision.

1308
00:59:48,851 --> 00:59:52,491
And the good news is that
our intelligence officials

1309
00:59:52,488 --> 00:59:54,858
have indicated that they
expect to complete that

1310
00:59:54,857 --> 00:59:57,997
process by the end of June.

1311
00:59:57,994 --> 01:00:01,164
And we'll look forward to
their decision at that point.

1312
01:00:01,164 --> 01:00:03,164
The Press: And just one
last nugget on that one.

1313
01:00:03,166 --> 01:00:04,496
Is there any reason why the
President would not have

1314
01:00:04,500 --> 01:00:06,070
read those pages?

1315
01:00:06,069 --> 01:00:08,139
You've said previously he
was generally aware, and

1316
01:00:08,137 --> 01:00:09,937
then you said he's
been briefed on them.

1317
01:00:09,939 --> 01:00:11,739
Why not read them?

1318
01:00:11,741 --> 01:00:12,941
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President obviously reads a

1319
01:00:12,942 --> 01:00:15,582
lot of material on
a day-to-day basis.

1320
01:00:15,578 --> 01:00:17,578
Again, I'm not sure that he
felt it was necessary for

1321
01:00:17,580 --> 01:00:18,580
him to read those 28 pages.

1322
01:00:18,581 --> 01:00:19,381
The Press: He's not
opposed to reading it --

1323
01:00:19,382 --> 01:00:19,852
Mr. Earnest: Correct.

1324
01:00:19,849 --> 01:00:20,819
The Press: -- just hasn't
gotten around to it.

1325
01:00:20,817 --> 01:00:21,487
Mr. Earnest: That's correct.

1326
01:00:21,484 --> 01:00:22,054
The Press: Okay.

1327
01:00:22,051 --> 01:00:24,621
Last, I want to ask you
about the cruise from Miami

1328
01:00:24,620 --> 01:00:25,420
to Cuba.

1329
01:00:25,421 --> 01:00:28,191
An historic day not just in
South Florida but obviously

1330
01:00:28,191 --> 01:00:29,661
over on the island.

1331
01:00:29,659 --> 01:00:31,699
Any thoughts or
comments on that?

1332
01:00:31,694 --> 01:00:33,634
Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't
seen the latest reports on

1333
01:00:33,629 --> 01:00:34,159
this.

1334
01:00:34,163 --> 01:00:41,003
Obviously the goal of the
President's policy changes

1335
01:00:41,004 --> 01:00:45,474
towards Cuba was motivated
by a desire to begin to

1336
01:00:45,475 --> 01:00:49,315
normalize relations between
the United States and Cuba,

1337
01:00:49,312 --> 01:00:52,452
because the President's
assumption is that for 50

1338
01:00:52,448 --> 01:00:56,088
years we tried to isolate
the Cuban government in the

1339
01:00:56,085 --> 01:00:58,425
hopes that that would apply
pressure to them to do a

1340
01:00:58,421 --> 01:01:01,061
better job of respecting the
basic human rights of the

1341
01:01:01,057 --> 01:01:02,457
Cuban people.

1342
01:01:02,458 --> 01:01:04,428
That didn't work
for five decade.

1343
01:01:04,427 --> 01:01:08,227
That policy of isolation
was carried out with little

1344
01:01:08,231 --> 01:01:09,601
tangible impact.

1345
01:01:09,599 --> 01:01:11,799
So the President decided
that we needed to try a

1346
01:01:11,801 --> 01:01:13,871
different strategy, and that
that this strategy would be

1347
01:01:13,870 --> 01:01:18,340
focused on engagement --
engagement between the Cuban

1348
01:01:18,341 --> 01:01:21,741
people and American
citizens; engagement between

1349
01:01:21,744 --> 01:01:23,744
the Cuban government
and the U.S.

1350
01:01:23,746 --> 01:01:25,746
government; engagement
between Cuban businesses and

1351
01:01:25,748 --> 01:01:27,818
American businesses -- and
that by establishing those

1352
01:01:27,817 --> 01:01:32,287
deeper ties, we would be
able to better advance our

1353
01:01:32,288 --> 01:01:34,128
interests and our values.

1354
01:01:34,123 --> 01:01:37,323
And look, this is a policy
change that's only been in

1355
01:01:37,326 --> 01:01:40,126
place for a little over
a year at this point.

1356
01:01:40,129 --> 01:01:44,669
But look, I think we're
optimistic about the

1357
01:01:44,667 --> 01:01:46,737
progress that we
have made thus far.

1358
01:01:46,736 --> 01:01:49,236
There certainly is a lot
more work to be done, and

1359
01:01:49,238 --> 01:01:54,308
there's certainly a number
of additional reforms we'd

1360
01:01:54,310 --> 01:01:57,450
like to see the Cuban
government undertake.

1361
01:01:57,447 --> 01:02:01,287
But I think it would be hard
to deny that this policy

1362
01:02:01,284 --> 01:02:04,484
change hasn't benefitted
the American people.

1363
01:02:04,487 --> 01:02:07,987
And look, I think the best
proof point for that is to

1364
01:02:07,990 --> 01:02:13,660
go and ask my
counterparts at the U.S.

1365
01:02:13,663 --> 01:02:15,703
Chamber of Commerce and the
American Farm Bureau, and

1366
01:02:15,698 --> 01:02:20,638
other traditionally
Republican-supporting

1367
01:02:20,636 --> 01:02:25,506
institutions that have been
strongly supportive of this

1368
01:02:25,508 --> 01:02:28,978
President's change of
policy towards Cuba.

1369
01:02:28,978 --> 01:02:29,678
Olivier.

1370
01:02:29,679 --> 01:02:31,449
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1371
01:02:31,447 --> 01:02:34,917
Will we be getting the drone
civilian casualty report

1372
01:02:34,917 --> 01:02:38,417
before the anniversary
of the NDU speech?

1373
01:02:38,421 --> 01:02:39,591
Mr. Earnest: Olivier, I
don't have an update for you

1374
01:02:39,589 --> 01:02:40,859
on the timing
of that report.

1375
01:02:40,857 --> 01:02:43,057
Obviously, the President's
top counterterrorism

1376
01:02:43,059 --> 01:02:46,729
advisor, Lisa Monaco,
delivered a speech six weeks

1377
01:02:46,729 --> 01:02:49,969
or so ago now, indicating
that we were prepared to

1378
01:02:49,966 --> 01:02:53,906
begin releasing additional
material about the results

1379
01:02:53,903 --> 01:02:55,643
of counterterrorism
operations.

1380
01:02:55,638 --> 01:02:58,638
I don't have an update for
you in terms of timing, though.

1381
01:02:58,641 --> 01:03:00,911
The Press: And does the
President believe that Japan

1382
01:03:00,910 --> 01:03:01,880
deserves a formal U.S.

1383
01:03:01,878 --> 01:03:03,918
government apology for
the bombing of Hiroshima?

1384
01:03:03,913 --> 01:03:04,983
Mr. Earnest:
No, he does not.

1385
01:03:04,981 --> 01:03:05,551
The Press: And last one.

1386
01:03:05,548 --> 01:03:07,348
Just to button up April's
line of questioning --

1387
01:03:07,350 --> 01:03:09,490
because we're being asked --
how much visibility did the

1388
01:03:09,485 --> 01:03:12,685
White House have into what
Mr. Wilmore was going to say

1389
01:03:12,688 --> 01:03:13,488
on Saturday night?

1390
01:03:13,489 --> 01:03:15,889
Mr. Earnest: None.

1391
01:03:15,892 --> 01:03:16,422
Michelle.

1392
01:03:16,425 --> 01:03:18,225
The Press: So wait, just
to further clarify that

1393
01:03:18,227 --> 01:03:19,057
clarification --

1394
01:03:19,061 --> 01:03:21,731
(laughter)

1395
01:03:21,731 --> 01:03:24,531
Mr. Earnest: Could
possibly be clearer than none?

1396
01:03:24,534 --> 01:03:25,134
I'll try.

1397
01:03:25,134 --> 01:03:25,764
(laughter)

1398
01:03:25,768 --> 01:03:26,398
The Press: Sorry, Josh.

1399
01:03:26,402 --> 01:03:27,102
Mr. Earnest: That's okay.

1400
01:03:27,103 --> 01:03:28,303
Occupational hazard.

1401
01:03:28,304 --> 01:03:30,904
The Press: So Wilmore's
team didn't run by the

1402
01:03:30,907 --> 01:03:34,047
possibility that he would
throw in the N-word at the

1403
01:03:34,043 --> 01:03:35,983
end of his spiel?

1404
01:03:35,978 --> 01:03:36,878
Mr. Earnest: No.

1405
01:03:36,879 --> 01:03:39,049
The White House staff did
not vet the President's

1406
01:03:39,048 --> 01:03:40,188
remarks with Mr. Wilmore.

1407
01:03:40,183 --> 01:03:42,453
And Mr. Wilmore did not vet
his remarks with the White

1408
01:03:42,451 --> 01:03:43,391
House staff.

1409
01:03:43,386 --> 01:03:44,356
The Press: Okay.

1410
01:03:44,353 --> 01:03:45,353
And based on what you were
saying before, are you

1411
01:03:45,354 --> 01:03:47,724
saying that the President
was not bothered at all by

1412
01:03:47,723 --> 01:03:49,023
the use of that word?

1413
01:03:49,025 --> 01:03:51,195
Mr. Earnest: I'm saying that
the President appreciated

1414
01:03:51,194 --> 01:03:55,094
the sentiment that Mr.
Wilmore expressed in his speech.

1415
01:03:55,097 --> 01:03:58,167
And I think any fair reading
of the last three paragraphs

1416
01:03:58,167 --> 01:04:03,737
of that speech I think make
clear that the personal

1417
01:04:03,739 --> 01:04:06,979
views that Mr. Wilmore was
expressing came from a

1418
01:04:06,976 --> 01:04:08,316
genuine place.

1419
01:04:08,311 --> 01:04:14,381
And he expressed his --
he said at the end --

1420
01:04:14,383 --> 01:04:16,553
The Press: Was that a copy they
gave you before to vet?

1421
01:04:16,552 --> 01:04:17,152
(laughter)

1422
01:04:17,153 --> 01:04:17,923
Mr. Earnest: No.

1423
01:04:17,920 --> 01:04:20,860
At the risk of free
publicity, this is the

1424
01:04:20,856 --> 01:04:24,456
blogpost from Jonathan
Capehart at The Washington Post.

1425
01:04:24,460 --> 01:04:33,240
But in here he included
the end of Mr. Wilmore's

1426
01:04:33,236 --> 01:04:37,806
remarks, and he said -- this
is Mr. Wilmore here -- he

1427
01:04:37,807 --> 01:04:43,647
said, "A black man was
thought by his mere color

1428
01:04:43,646 --> 01:04:45,646
not good enough to
lead a football team.

1429
01:04:45,648 --> 01:04:47,618
And now to live in your
time, Mr. President, when a

1430
01:04:47,617 --> 01:04:51,887
black man can lead the free
world, words alone do me no

1431
01:04:51,887 --> 01:04:56,627
justice." That is an
authentic expression of his

1432
01:04:56,626 --> 01:04:59,696
personal viewpoint, and it's
an authentic expression of

1433
01:04:59,695 --> 01:05:02,595
his appreciation for the
President of the United

1434
01:05:02,598 --> 01:05:05,468
States, but also for the
capacity of this country to

1435
01:05:05,468 --> 01:05:06,468
change.

1436
01:05:06,469 --> 01:05:08,469
And the President has
observed that progress on a

1437
01:05:08,471 --> 01:05:11,871
number of occasions, and
Mr. Wilmore was doing the same.

1438
01:05:11,874 --> 01:05:13,874
The Press: And I didn't
really expect to be on this

1439
01:05:13,876 --> 01:05:16,246
subject so soon, but while
we're on it -- some of the

1440
01:05:16,245 --> 01:05:18,885
jokes that the President
made about Hillary Clinton

1441
01:05:18,881 --> 01:05:20,951
kind of got a
mixed reaction.

1442
01:05:20,950 --> 01:05:23,520
Some people think that they
were harsher than expected.

1443
01:05:23,519 --> 01:05:26,489
Did he have a conversation
with Clinton, either before

1444
01:05:26,489 --> 01:05:29,489
or after the dinner,
on the subject?

1445
01:05:29,492 --> 01:05:30,462
Mr. Earnest: He did not.

1446
01:05:30,459 --> 01:05:31,929
But it appears that that
conversation was not

1447
01:05:31,927 --> 01:05:35,027
necessary, because I did see
the Tweet from Secretary

1448
01:05:35,031 --> 01:05:40,841
Clinton indicating her
approval for those comments.

1449
01:05:40,836 --> 01:05:41,206
The Press: Right.

1450
01:05:41,203 --> 01:05:42,673
But he didn't reach out to
her, either

1451
01:05:42,672 --> 01:05:43,202
before or after, to --

1452
01:05:43,205 --> 01:05:44,505
Mr. Earnest:
No, he did not.

1453
01:05:44,507 --> 01:05:45,877
The Press: Actually, one
of President Obama's more

1454
01:05:45,875 --> 01:05:48,615
cutting jokes was at CNN.

1455
01:05:48,611 --> 01:05:49,741
So was he saying that --

1456
01:05:49,745 --> 01:05:50,375
Mr. Earnest: Don't tell me

1457
01:05:50,379 --> 01:05:51,049
you guys got all sensitive.

1458
01:05:51,047 --> 01:05:54,587
(laughter)

1459
01:05:54,583 --> 01:05:57,253
It's all in good fun.

1460
01:05:57,253 --> 01:05:59,723
The Press: Okay, so he
doesn't think that CNN has a

1461
01:05:59,722 --> 01:06:00,992
problem journalistically?

1462
01:06:00,990 --> 01:06:02,220
Mr. Earnest: He doesn't.

1463
01:06:02,224 --> 01:06:08,934
The Press: Does he think
that Hillary Clinton is the

1464
01:06:08,931 --> 01:06:12,101
presumptive next President
of the United States?

1465
01:06:12,101 --> 01:06:13,201
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President obviously had an

1466
01:06:13,202 --> 01:06:16,972
apt joke about turning over
the podium at the White

1467
01:06:16,972 --> 01:06:20,612
House Correspondents' Dinner
to the next President, no

1468
01:06:20,609 --> 01:06:24,449
matter who she is.

1469
01:06:24,447 --> 01:06:28,047
Again, look the President
was making a joke and

1470
01:06:28,050 --> 01:06:32,150
acknowledging that there
are a number of votes that

1471
01:06:32,154 --> 01:06:37,124
remain to be cast before the
American people have decided

1472
01:06:37,126 --> 01:06:39,896
who will assume the awesome
responsibility of addressing

1473
01:06:39,895 --> 01:06:42,295
the White House Correspondents' Dinner next year.

1474
01:06:42,298 --> 01:06:42,798
The Press: Okay.

1475
01:06:42,798 --> 01:06:46,668
And on the subject --
back to the 28 pages.

1476
01:06:46,669 --> 01:06:47,869
Mr. Earnest: Mr. Nakamura
did not like my joke.

1477
01:06:47,870 --> 01:06:49,540
(laughter)

1478
01:06:49,538 --> 01:06:51,438
So there's a reason that I
will not be assuming the

1479
01:06:51,440 --> 01:06:54,510
podium at the White House
Correspondents' Dinner.

1480
01:06:54,510 --> 01:06:56,850
The Press: I mean, we've
been through this, and the

1481
01:06:56,846 --> 01:06:59,546
President had an opportunity
to just recently sit down

1482
01:06:59,548 --> 01:07:00,418
with the Saudis on this.

1483
01:07:00,416 --> 01:07:04,386
But given the reaction that
could come after the release

1484
01:07:04,387 --> 01:07:08,057
of those pages, is there any
expectation that this will

1485
01:07:08,057 --> 01:07:10,857
affect the relationship
with the Saudis?

1486
01:07:10,860 --> 01:07:15,830
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
it's difficult to anticipate

1487
01:07:15,831 --> 01:07:19,201
exactly what the reaction
will be

1488
01:07:19,201 --> 01:07:21,141
if that decision is made.

1489
01:07:21,137 --> 01:07:25,237
So I sort of hesitate to
hazard a guess that's rooted

1490
01:07:25,241 --> 01:07:26,311
in a hypothetical here.

1491
01:07:26,308 --> 01:07:29,808
But the one thing I think I
would point out is simply

1492
01:07:29,812 --> 01:07:32,712
that the President did have
an opportunity to meet with

1493
01:07:32,715 --> 01:07:36,115
King Salman for about two
hours in Riyadh shortly

1494
01:07:36,118 --> 01:07:41,088
after we arrived in Saudi
Arabia a week ago last

1495
01:07:41,090 --> 01:07:42,060
Wednesday.

1496
01:07:42,057 --> 01:07:45,097
They met for two hours, and
this question about the 28

1497
01:07:45,094 --> 01:07:47,594
pages did not come
up in their meeting.

1498
01:07:47,596 --> 01:07:50,366
I assure you they covered a
wide variety of topics, but

1499
01:07:50,366 --> 01:07:51,806
this was not one of them.

1500
01:07:51,801 --> 01:07:53,871
So I think that would be at
least one indication that

1501
01:07:53,869 --> 01:07:57,869
this is not an issue that
rates at the same level of

1502
01:07:57,873 --> 01:07:59,973
some of the other challenges
that are plaguing the Middle

1503
01:07:59,975 --> 01:08:00,975
East right now.

1504
01:08:00,976 --> 01:08:03,246
The Press: Okay, it's
been months now since the

1505
01:08:03,245 --> 01:08:06,645
President put forward
Garland as the nominee.

1506
01:08:06,649 --> 01:08:11,319
And given that public
pressure is something that

1507
01:08:11,320 --> 01:08:15,520
you're going for -- either
to change minds now, or

1508
01:08:15,524 --> 01:08:19,224
change voters' minds later
-- but given that at this

1509
01:08:19,228 --> 01:08:21,368
point, with the public
pressure that you've tried

1510
01:08:21,363 --> 01:08:24,403
to apply, that outside
groups have tried to apply,

1511
01:08:24,400 --> 01:08:27,900
do you feel like the public
outrage isn't necessarily

1512
01:08:27,903 --> 01:08:31,473
there when you see that very
few Republican senators'

1513
01:08:31,474 --> 01:08:32,944
minds have changed
at this point?

1514
01:08:32,942 --> 01:08:35,842
And does that tell you that
possibly the public outrage

1515
01:08:35,845 --> 01:08:39,615
won't be there to change
anything at the polls, as well?

1516
01:08:39,615 --> 01:08:45,085
Mr. Earnest: Look, we're not
seeking to provoke public

1517
01:08:45,087 --> 01:08:46,187
outrage.

1518
01:08:46,188 --> 01:08:49,888
We want to have a discussion
about whether or not

1519
01:08:49,892 --> 01:08:51,892
Republicans in the Senate
are prepared to do their

1520
01:08:51,894 --> 01:08:52,894
job.

1521
01:08:52,895 --> 01:08:54,895
There are plenty of
candidates out there that

1522
01:08:54,897 --> 01:08:57,567
may be trying to stoke
that outrage to achieve a

1523
01:08:57,566 --> 01:09:00,306
political aim of
one form or another.

1524
01:09:00,302 --> 01:09:03,602
I think the President would
observe that's precisely the

1525
01:09:03,606 --> 01:09:05,076
problem.

1526
01:09:05,074 --> 01:09:07,414
Let's focus a little less on
provoking public outrage and

1527
01:09:07,409 --> 01:09:09,379
a little more on
doing your job.

1528
01:09:09,378 --> 01:09:11,378
And that's what Republicans,
and particularly Republicans

1529
01:09:11,380 --> 01:09:12,410
in the Senate have
refused to do.

1530
01:09:12,414 --> 01:09:13,684
The Press: Yes, but some of
the words and phrases you've

1531
01:09:13,682 --> 01:09:15,882
used to describe what
Republicans are doing are

1532
01:09:15,885 --> 01:09:19,425
pretty harsh.

1533
01:09:19,421 --> 01:09:22,461
And the fact that no -- if
you're going for public

1534
01:09:22,458 --> 01:09:25,198
pressure, the fact that
no Republican minds have

1535
01:09:25,194 --> 01:09:28,164
changed at this point, does
that tell you that it's not

1536
01:09:28,163 --> 01:09:29,063
working?

1537
01:09:29,064 --> 01:09:30,504
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
a lot of Republican minds

1538
01:09:30,499 --> 01:09:33,099
across the country have
concluded that Republican

1539
01:09:33,102 --> 01:09:37,402
senators who are refusing to
do their job just because

1540
01:09:37,406 --> 01:09:41,506
Mitch McConnell asked them
to I think is an indication

1541
01:09:41,510 --> 01:09:43,480
that we are making
some progress.

1542
01:09:43,479 --> 01:09:45,479
There are at least two
Republican senators that

1543
01:09:45,481 --> 01:09:48,721
have come out in support of
Chief Judge Garland getting

1544
01:09:48,717 --> 01:09:49,787
a hearing and a vote.

1545
01:09:49,785 --> 01:09:51,785
There's at least one
high-profile Senate

1546
01:09:51,787 --> 01:09:53,887
candidate in the state of
Florida that has come out

1547
01:09:53,889 --> 01:09:55,889
and indicated that Chief
Judge Garland deserves a

1548
01:09:55,891 --> 01:09:56,891
vote.

1549
01:09:56,892 --> 01:09:58,892
There are some former
Republican senators --

1550
01:09:58,894 --> 01:10:00,894
people like Dick Lugar and
Tom Coburn -- who have come

1551
01:10:00,896 --> 01:10:02,896
out and indicated that they
believe that Chief Judge

1552
01:10:02,898 --> 01:10:05,398
Garland deserves a
hearing and a vote.

1553
01:10:05,401 --> 01:10:07,401
I don't know if those people
changed their minds, or if

1554
01:10:07,403 --> 01:10:09,403
this is the view that
they had all along.

1555
01:10:09,405 --> 01:10:11,405
But there is plenty of
evidence to indicate that

1556
01:10:11,407 --> 01:10:14,307
there are plenty of
Republicans who agree with

1557
01:10:14,310 --> 01:10:16,780
the case that President
Obama has made, which is

1558
01:10:16,779 --> 01:10:20,719
that Republicans should not
for the first time since

1559
01:10:20,716 --> 01:10:25,586
1875 deny a Supreme Court
nominee a hearing and a

1560
01:10:25,588 --> 01:10:26,588
vote.

1561
01:10:26,589 --> 01:10:28,589
That would be an
unprecedented escalation of

1562
01:10:28,591 --> 01:10:31,261
partisan politics into a
Supreme Court process that

1563
01:10:31,260 --> 01:10:34,400
has historically been
shielded from a lot of

1564
01:10:34,396 --> 01:10:35,936
partisan stray voltage.

1565
01:10:35,931 --> 01:10:39,831
Look, there have been
politics that have polluted

1566
01:10:39,835 --> 01:10:41,435
this process in the past.

1567
01:10:41,437 --> 01:10:43,437
The President has
acknowledged that there's no

1568
01:10:43,439 --> 01:10:45,409
one party that is
responsible for that.

1569
01:10:45,407 --> 01:10:47,707
But there's also no denying
that it is Republicans in

1570
01:10:47,710 --> 01:10:52,080
this instance that they're
escalating this partisanship

1571
01:10:52,081 --> 01:10:54,081
in a way that's not
good for the country.

1572
01:10:54,083 --> 01:10:56,253
And it certainly is not fair
to a distinguished public

1573
01:10:56,251 --> 01:10:58,921
servant like Chief Judge
Garland who has more federal

1574
01:10:58,921 --> 01:11:01,591
judicial experience than any
other Supreme Court nominee

1575
01:11:01,590 --> 01:11:02,590
in American history.

1576
01:11:02,591 --> 01:11:05,331
The Press: Does the
administration still think

1577
01:11:05,327 --> 01:11:07,927
that this is going to go to
a vote -- to hearings and a

1578
01:11:07,930 --> 01:11:08,800
vote, ultimately?

1579
01:11:08,797 --> 01:11:10,567
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I have refrained from

1580
01:11:10,566 --> 01:11:12,806
predicting
legislative outcomes.

1581
01:11:12,801 --> 01:11:15,601
The Press: No -- Denis
McDonough, maybe a month and

1582
01:11:15,604 --> 01:11:17,844
a half ago, said that he
believed that this would go

1583
01:11:17,840 --> 01:11:20,380
there, and then you agreed,
and you felt that that's --

1584
01:11:20,376 --> 01:11:21,606
do you still feel that way?

1585
01:11:21,610 --> 01:11:22,750
Mr. Earnest: I still feel
that that's exactly what

1586
01:11:22,745 --> 01:11:23,815
should happen.

1587
01:11:23,812 --> 01:11:26,852
And we wouldn't be making
this case, and the President

1588
01:11:26,849 --> 01:11:28,589
wouldn't be devoting about
an hour of his afternoon to

1589
01:11:28,584 --> 01:11:31,724
talking to local television
anchors if we didn't think

1590
01:11:31,720 --> 01:11:35,090
this is something that
can and should be done.

1591
01:11:35,090 --> 01:11:35,860
David.

1592
01:11:35,858 --> 01:11:37,398
The Press: Josh, a couple
more on Hiroshima.

1593
01:11:37,393 --> 01:11:38,993
We're about less than three
weeks before the President

1594
01:11:38,994 --> 01:11:39,794
leaves for Asia.

1595
01:11:39,795 --> 01:11:41,965
I'm wondering if you can
provide an update as to

1596
01:11:41,964 --> 01:11:44,164
whether the President
will visit Hiroshima.

1597
01:11:44,166 --> 01:11:46,036
Mr. Earnest: I don't have an
update for you in terms of

1598
01:11:46,035 --> 01:11:48,235
the President's schedule
when he's in Japan at this

1599
01:11:48,237 --> 01:11:49,407
point.

1600
01:11:49,405 --> 01:11:53,175
But we're obviously hard at
work planning that trip.

1601
01:11:53,175 --> 01:11:54,275
The Press: Can
you rule it out?

1602
01:11:54,276 --> 01:11:55,576
We're less than three
weeks from the trip.

1603
01:11:55,577 --> 01:11:56,107
Mr. Earnest: I cannot --

1604
01:11:56,111 --> 01:11:58,051
The Press: -- added a potential stop --

1605
01:11:58,047 --> 01:11:59,887
Mr. Earnest: I can't
rule it out at this point.

1606
01:11:59,882 --> 01:12:01,822
The President's itinerary
for this trip to Japan is

1607
01:12:01,817 --> 01:12:03,587
not yet set.

1608
01:12:03,585 --> 01:12:04,425
But we'll --

1609
01:12:04,420 --> 01:12:06,360
The Press: But you guys are actively considering it?

1610
01:12:06,355 --> 01:12:07,725
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
we've actively considered it

1611
01:12:07,723 --> 01:12:09,863
every time the President has
decided to travel to Japan.

1612
01:12:09,858 --> 01:12:11,558
I think he's been there,
what, three or four times

1613
01:12:11,560 --> 01:12:13,860
now, Mark, as President?

1614
01:12:13,862 --> 01:12:14,732
I don't mean to put
you on the spot there.

1615
01:12:14,730 --> 01:12:16,470
(laughter)

1616
01:12:16,465 --> 01:12:17,965
The President has been to
Japan three or four times as

1617
01:12:17,966 --> 01:12:18,836
President.

1618
01:12:18,834 --> 01:12:20,904
And each time the President
has traveled there, this

1619
01:12:20,903 --> 01:12:24,273
question has come up and
we've considered it each time.

1620
01:12:24,273 --> 01:12:26,273
The Press: Has the President
spoken directly with

1621
01:12:26,275 --> 01:12:28,115
Secretary Kerry about
the merits of a visit to

1622
01:12:28,110 --> 01:12:29,140
Hiroshima after his trip?

1623
01:12:29,144 --> 01:12:32,214
Or has the President reached
out to his ambassador,

1624
01:12:32,214 --> 01:12:36,184
Caroline Kennedy, about
what she thinks about that?

1625
01:12:36,185 --> 01:12:38,125
Mr. Earnest: Well, certainly
Ambassador Kennedy and her

1626
01:12:38,120 --> 01:12:41,620
office have been involved
in planning our trip.

1627
01:12:41,623 --> 01:12:43,163
I don't know whether or not
the President has had a

1628
01:12:43,158 --> 01:12:45,098
specific conversation with
Secretary Kerry since he

1629
01:12:45,094 --> 01:12:49,294
returned from his trip to
Hiroshima just a few weeks ago.

1630
01:12:49,298 --> 01:12:52,968
But this is something
that we're considering.

1631
01:12:52,968 --> 01:12:55,068
But again, we're not
considering it for the first

1632
01:12:55,070 --> 01:12:56,070
time.

1633
01:12:56,071 --> 01:12:58,071
This is something that --
this is a question that has

1634
01:12:58,073 --> 01:13:00,073
come up every time the
President has planned to

1635
01:13:00,075 --> 01:13:01,115
travel to Japan.

1636
01:13:01,110 --> 01:13:02,850
The Press: Final
thing on that.

1637
01:13:02,845 --> 01:13:04,915
There have been a number
of op-eds written since

1638
01:13:04,913 --> 01:13:06,813
Secretary Kerry visited --
from The New York Times and

1639
01:13:06,815 --> 01:13:09,115
The Washington Post -- that
were in favor; the Weekly

1640
01:13:09,118 --> 01:13:10,688
Standard and others I
think were against it.

1641
01:13:10,686 --> 01:13:14,656
But Wendy Sherman I think
had an op-ed encouraging the

1642
01:13:14,656 --> 01:13:18,526
President to go -- published
by CNN -- a former

1643
01:13:18,527 --> 01:13:20,397
high-ranking State
Department official familiar

1644
01:13:20,395 --> 01:13:21,265
with nuclear issues.

1645
01:13:21,263 --> 01:13:23,363
I'm wondering if the
President is monitoring that

1646
01:13:23,365 --> 01:13:26,465
coverage on how the
administration overall, the

1647
01:13:26,468 --> 01:13:30,838
West Wing feels about sort
of the reaction on net to

1648
01:13:30,839 --> 01:13:35,779
John Kerry's visit and these
calls for the President to go.

1649
01:13:35,778 --> 01:13:37,778
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
that the President has read

1650
01:13:37,780 --> 01:13:39,780
each of the materials that
you've just described.

1651
01:13:39,782 --> 01:13:42,022
But he's certainly aware
of the public debate that

1652
01:13:42,017 --> 01:13:44,187
consideration of a visit
like this has prompted.

1653
01:13:44,186 --> 01:13:46,186
And that's entirely
appropriate.

1654
01:13:46,188 --> 01:13:50,588
But until we make -- it's a
little hard to talk about

1655
01:13:50,592 --> 01:13:52,132
until we've made a decision
one way or the other.

1656
01:13:52,127 --> 01:13:54,597
The Press: Do you know
on net that the general

1657
01:13:54,596 --> 01:13:57,636
sentiment favors -- is
supporting a trip, whether

1658
01:13:57,633 --> 01:13:58,363
you go or not?

1659
01:13:58,367 --> 01:14:00,167
Mr. Earnest: I think it's
hard to tell at this point.

1660
01:14:00,169 --> 01:14:02,239
But I think once we've
made a decision, we'll be

1661
01:14:02,237 --> 01:14:05,137
prepared to explain how we
arrived at that decision

1662
01:14:05,140 --> 01:14:07,310
once we've announced it.

1663
01:14:07,309 --> 01:14:08,009
Chris, I'll give
you the last one.

1664
01:14:08,010 --> 01:14:08,840
The Press: Great.

1665
01:14:08,844 --> 01:14:11,014
On the President today
engaging in media interviews

1666
01:14:11,013 --> 01:14:13,553
to encourage Senate action
on Judge Garland, there's

1667
01:14:13,549 --> 01:14:17,149
another nominee the full
Senate hasn't acted on since

1668
01:14:17,152 --> 01:14:18,722
he was named by the
President nearly six months

1669
01:14:18,720 --> 01:14:22,160
ago -- Eric Fanning
for Army Secretary.

1670
01:14:22,157 --> 01:14:24,097
Will the President employ
the same effort to get him

1671
01:14:24,092 --> 01:14:25,432
confirmed?

1672
01:14:25,427 --> 01:14:28,097
Mr. Earnest: The President
certainly will continue to

1673
01:14:28,096 --> 01:14:33,766
make clear that he believes
that Mr. Fanning would serve

1674
01:14:33,769 --> 01:14:36,169
with distinction as
Secretary of the Army.

1675
01:14:36,171 --> 01:14:41,641
Mr. Fanning is somebody that
has extensive experience at

1676
01:14:41,643 --> 01:14:43,443
the Department of Defense.

1677
01:14:43,445 --> 01:14:45,445
He's served in a
number of roles there.

1678
01:14:45,447 --> 01:14:47,447
And he would bring that
experience and that

1679
01:14:47,449 --> 01:14:51,919
judgement to the
Secretary's office.

1680
01:14:51,920 --> 01:14:53,920
The President believes that
he is exactly the right

1681
01:14:53,922 --> 01:14:55,162
person for the job.

1682
01:14:55,157 --> 01:15:00,027
And it's unconscionable for
Republicans to continue to

1683
01:15:00,028 --> 01:15:02,828
block his nomination
for no good reason.

1684
01:15:02,831 --> 01:15:05,301
The Press: Last week,
Senator McCain attempted to

1685
01:15:05,300 --> 01:15:10,140
get a vote on the nominee,
but he was blocked by

1686
01:15:10,138 --> 01:15:11,338
Senator Roberts, who has
placed a hold on the

1687
01:15:11,340 --> 01:15:12,670
nomination.

1688
01:15:12,674 --> 01:15:14,614
What is the White House
strategy for convincing

1689
01:15:14,610 --> 01:15:17,110
Senator Roberts to lift
the hold on Fanning?

1690
01:15:17,112 --> 01:15:19,952
Mr. Earnest: Well, obviously
the White House has made a

1691
01:15:19,948 --> 01:15:22,818
strong and effective case to
Democrats and Republicans in

1692
01:15:22,818 --> 01:15:26,488
the Senate that Mr. Fanning
deserves confirmation.

1693
01:15:26,488 --> 01:15:29,888
And we'll continue to make
that argument on the merits

1694
01:15:29,892 --> 01:15:33,892
to everyone who continues to
try to block his nomination.

1695
01:15:33,896 --> 01:15:35,326
The Press: Senator Roberts
mentioned on the floor a

1696
01:15:35,330 --> 01:15:37,700
phone call he received from
the White House on the

1697
01:15:37,699 --> 01:15:38,569
nomination.

1698
01:15:38,567 --> 01:15:40,567
What did that consist of?

1699
01:15:40,569 --> 01:15:44,169
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not
privy to that phone call.

1700
01:15:44,172 --> 01:15:46,642
I can't confirm
that it occurred.

1701
01:15:46,642 --> 01:15:48,342
We're going to continue to
make a strong case on the

1702
01:15:48,343 --> 01:15:52,313
merits that our national
security would be enhanced

1703
01:15:52,314 --> 01:15:54,814
by the Senate confirming
the Secretary of the Army,

1704
01:15:54,816 --> 01:15:56,856
particularly when it's
somebody as distinguished as

1705
01:15:56,852 --> 01:15:57,922
Mr. Fanning.

1706
01:15:57,920 --> 01:16:01,820
The Press: And given Senator
Roberts's voting record, and

1707
01:16:01,823 --> 01:16:03,593
the fact that Eric Fanning
would be the first openly

1708
01:16:03,592 --> 01:16:06,362
gay person to serve as Army
Secretary, do you think

1709
01:16:06,361 --> 01:16:09,261
sexual orientation is
a factor on this hold?

1710
01:16:09,264 --> 01:16:10,934
Mr. Earnest: I have no idea
what the motivations are of

1711
01:16:10,933 --> 01:16:15,233
Republicans to unfairly
block the nomination of a

1712
01:16:15,237 --> 01:16:18,837
patriotic American to this
critical national security post.

1713
01:16:18,840 --> 01:16:19,610
The Press: It's public
record that Senator Roberts

1714
01:16:19,608 --> 01:16:21,548
voted against "don't ask,
don't tell" repeal; against

1715
01:16:21,543 --> 01:16:23,313
the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act; in

1716
01:16:23,312 --> 01:16:24,542
favor of a constitutional
amendment that would have

1717
01:16:24,546 --> 01:16:26,886
banned same-sex
marriage nationwide.

1718
01:16:26,882 --> 01:16:28,722
Doesn't that raise questions
about the motivations behind

1719
01:16:28,717 --> 01:16:29,217
this hold?

1720
01:16:29,217 --> 01:16:31,057
Mr. Earnest: I have no idea
what his motivations are.

1721
01:16:31,053 --> 01:16:33,123
I can tell you that his
actions, though, are wrong.

1722
01:16:33,121 --> 01:16:38,831
Mr. Fanning is a
distinguished public servant.

1723
01:16:38,827 --> 01:16:39,827
He's a patriotic American.

1724
01:16:39,828 --> 01:16:41,828
He's been nominated by the
President of the United

1725
01:16:41,830 --> 01:16:43,830
States to a critically
important job.

1726
01:16:43,832 --> 01:16:45,832
And the Senate should stop
obstructing that nomination.

1727
01:16:45,834 --> 01:16:46,764
Mark, I put you on the spot
earlier, so I'll give you

1728
01:16:46,768 --> 01:16:47,468
the last one.

1729
01:16:47,469 --> 01:16:48,269
The Press: Okay, thanks.

1730
01:16:48,270 --> 01:16:51,370
What can you tell us about
the five hours that the

1731
01:16:51,373 --> 01:16:54,273
President spent yesterday
with the Obama Foundation?

1732
01:16:54,276 --> 01:16:55,816
Mr. Earnest: Not much.

1733
01:16:55,811 --> 01:17:00,721
I can tell you that the
President was visiting with

1734
01:17:00,716 --> 01:17:04,886
architects who had submitted
designs related to his

1735
01:17:04,886 --> 01:17:06,726
presidential library.

1736
01:17:06,722 --> 01:17:12,162
But this is a process that's
been administered by the

1737
01:17:12,160 --> 01:17:13,530
foundation.

1738
01:17:13,528 --> 01:17:15,528
So I'd refer you to them for
specific questions about

1739
01:17:15,530 --> 01:17:16,530
that process.

1740
01:17:16,531 --> 01:17:17,931
The Press: Why did he leave
the White House for that

1741
01:17:17,933 --> 01:17:18,903
meeting?

1742
01:17:18,900 --> 01:17:22,640
Mr. Earnest: Well, what I
can tell you is that there

1743
01:17:22,637 --> 01:17:25,777
is an opportunity to make
these presentations.

1744
01:17:25,774 --> 01:17:32,344
And it was concluded that
for logistical reasons it

1745
01:17:32,347 --> 01:17:36,887
would be easier to convene
that series of meetings offsite.

1746
01:17:36,885 --> 01:17:37,815
The Press: Was he
doing fundraising?

1747
01:17:37,819 --> 01:17:39,489
Mr. Earnest: No,
no, he was not.

1748
01:17:39,488 --> 01:17:40,458
The Press: Has he started
doing fundraising?

1749
01:17:40,455 --> 01:17:40,985
Mr. Earnest: He has not.

1750
01:17:40,989 --> 01:17:41,959
He has not.

1751
01:17:41,957 --> 01:17:43,187
The President has made clear
that he won't be raising

1752
01:17:43,191 --> 01:17:45,731
money for the foundation
until after he leaves office.

1753
01:17:45,727 --> 01:17:47,567
The Press: And one
other question.

1754
01:17:47,562 --> 01:17:50,002
Is the White House upset
about China's decision not

1755
01:17:49,998 --> 01:17:53,768
to let the Stennis carrier
group have a port visit in

1756
01:17:53,769 --> 01:17:55,169
Hong Kong?

1757
01:17:55,170 --> 01:17:56,240
Mr. Earnest: It's my
understanding -- you should

1758
01:17:56,238 --> 01:17:57,638
check with the Department of
Defense on this -- I know

1759
01:17:57,639 --> 01:18:01,139
that even as the Chinese
made that announcement,

1760
01:18:01,143 --> 01:18:02,983
there actually was a U.S.

1761
01:18:02,978 --> 01:18:07,218
naval vessel that had made a
port of call in Hong Kong.

1762
01:18:07,215 --> 01:18:10,085
So it does not appear to
be a significant change in

1763
01:18:10,085 --> 01:18:12,085
policy that they're
administering.

1764
01:18:12,087 --> 01:18:17,797
But obviously the Stennis
carrier group has made a

1765
01:18:17,793 --> 01:18:20,863
port of call in
Hong Kong before.

1766
01:18:20,862 --> 01:18:23,862
But I can't speak to what
the Chinese government may

1767
01:18:23,865 --> 01:18:26,635
have had in mind by
denying this request.

1768
01:18:26,635 --> 01:18:27,065
Thanks, everybody.

1769
01:18:27,069 --> 01:18:29,039
We'll see you tomorrow.