English subtitles for clip: File:7-11-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Happy Monday.

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I've got a couple of
things to go through

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before we get to your
questions, but most of

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this is focused on
scheduling, both today,

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tomorrow, and
on Wednesday.

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The first update is that
the President has joined

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the meeting with the Vice
President that the Vice

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President's team had
organized for today.

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This was a meeting that
the Vice President

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convened with leaders in
law enforcement to talk

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about, of course, the
tragedy that occurred just

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a few days ago in Dallas,
but to talk about the

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challenging job that
those officers across the

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country have.

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It's something that the
President has talked about

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on a number of occasions.

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The President has had an
opportunity to meet with

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law enforcement leaders on
a number of occasions, and

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he's quite interested in
making sure that that

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dialogue continues.

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So we'll have a readout of
that meeting once it has

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concluded, and we're going
to work on getting you a

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list of law enforcement
officials who attended

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the meeting.

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The second thing is, the
President, as you know, is

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preparing to travel to
Dallas, Texas tomorrow at

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the invitation of
Mayor Rawlings.

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The city of Dallas is
organizing a memorial

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service for the five
police officers who were

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killed there last week.

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President Obama
will speak there.

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He'll be joined on the
trip by the First Lady,

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Mrs. Obama.

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Vice President Biden will
also be attending the

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services and he'll be
joined by his wife,

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Dr. Jill Biden.

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I also understand that
former President George W.

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Bush, who, of course,
lives in the Dallas area,

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will also be there, and
he'll be attending with

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his wife, Mrs.
Bush, as well.

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On Wednesday, the
President will convene

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another meeting here at
the White House that will

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include law enforcement
officials, but it will

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also include activists,
academics, civil rights

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leaders, local political
leaders from across the

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country, to, again, try to
further the dialogue and

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the identification of
specific solutions to

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repairing the bonds of
trust that have frayed in

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so many communities
between law enforcement

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officials and the citizens
that they're sworn to

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serve and protect.

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So this, too, is a
continuation of the

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conversation that the
President initiated a

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couple of years ago.

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The White House worked to
form a Task Force on 21st

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Century Policing that
reflected a diverse set

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of perspectives.

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That task force generated
a specific report of best

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practices that many law
enforcement agencies

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across the country have
sought to implement.

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Not all of them have.

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And it's the President's
view that the effort to

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implement those best
practices needs to

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be reenergized.

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And as the President
observed on a number of

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occasions over the last
several days, last week

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was a tough week for our
country, and it should

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serve as sufficient
motivation for communities

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across the country to come
together and make the

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implementation of these
best practices a genuine

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priority in
their community.

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The kinds of solutions
that were identified by

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the task force are not
going to solve every

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problem, but we know they
can have a material impact

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in improving the
relationship between law

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enforcement and the
citizens of

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individual communities.

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And by doing so, we don't
just ensure that the

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rights of all citizens are
protected, we also make

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sure that law enforcement
officials -- who have a

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very dangerous job -- are
also protected, and they

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can be more effective in
fighting crime if they can

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work effectively with the
community to focus on that job.

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So we'll have more to say
about Wednesday's meeting

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as it gets closer.

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We'll have more to say
about who the attendees

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are at that meeting as
it gets closer, too.

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And obviously, all of
these things are being put

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together on rather short
notice, but these are

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priorities that the
President has had for

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quite some time and he'll
be spending quite a bit of

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time on them over the
course of this week.

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So, with that, Kevin, we
can go to your questions

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on this topic or anything
else that may be on your

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mind today.

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The Press: Is there going
to be opportunities,

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perhaps at the stakeout,
to ask questions of the

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people who are
participating in the

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meeting today, as
well as on Wednesday?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
know at this point whether

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or not that is part of the
plan of those officials

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who are attending
the meeting today.

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But if that was something
that they wanted to do, we

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certainly wouldn't
stop them.

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The Press: The President's
address at the memorial

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service tomorrow comes
with a mission that goes

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beyond consoling.

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People in the law
enforcement community,

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people who have been
protesting police actions

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will be listening
to every word.

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Can you talk a little bit
about the points that the

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President wants to
strive to make tomorrow?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
let me start by saying

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that the President's
schedule is a little

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lighter than originally
planned today because the

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President originally
planned to be in Spain today.

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Obviously the President
had to cut short his trip

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and he returned
last night.

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The President does expect
to devote a significant

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portion of his day today
to working on his remarks.

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I haven't gotten an update
on where they stand.

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Fortunately, however, the
President has had multiple

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opportunities over the
last three or four days to

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address this situation,
not just in Dallas but

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across the country.

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And so I think you have a
good sense of where his

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head is; you also have a
good sense of where his

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heart is.

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And I think you can expect
that the speech that the

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President will deliver
tomorrow will be

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appropriate for the
setting, which is a

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memorial service.

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The President certainly
has a desire to offer his

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condolences to the
families of those who were

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lost and to also the
broader community in

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Dallas that's grieving
because of the loss of

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these five individuals who
served their community

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so selflessly.

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The President also has
an interest in trying to

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offer some comfort to
people all across the country.

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It's been a tough
week for our country.

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And the President
recognizes that it's not

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just people in Dallas who
are grieving, but people

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all across the country who
are concerned about the

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violence that so many
Americans have witnessed

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in the last week or so.

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And the truth is, this is
violence that we've been

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witnessing not just in
the last week but far too

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often over the last
several years.

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And I think many Americans
are troubled by it.

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And the President is
hoping to offer some

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measure of
comfort tomorrow.

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The Press: So even before
last week's violence,

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surveys were indicating
that fewer Americans were

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feeling good about the
state of race relations in

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the country than when
the President came into office.

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Does the President
understand that

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growing pessimism?

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Does he believe
it's misplaced?

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Does he agree that fewer
Americans do feel better

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about the state of race
relations today than a few

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years ago?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think that if you

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there's just no denying
how important that

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progress has been.

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That progress can be
measured in a variety of ways.

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The President had the
opportunity to discuss

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this in his remarks in
Selma, Alabama last year.

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And the speech was so well
received in part because

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he made I think an
observation that many

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Americans -- black, white
and brown -- can relate

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to, which is that to deny
the progress that our

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country has made over the
last several decades is to

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deny recognition of the
sacrifices that Americans

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-- black, white and brown
-- made in pursuit of

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that progress.

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That work is by
no means finished.

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There is significant work
that remains to be done,

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and the President talked
about this a little bit on

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Thursday night when we
arrived in Warsaw, that

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there continue to be
persistent racial

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disparities in our
criminal justice system,

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for example.

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If we're going to live up
to our Founding Fathers'

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vision of striving to form
a more perfect union, then

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that's something we need
to be not just mindful of,

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we need to make that a
priority and strive to

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address those
persistent disparities.

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So it's hard for any one
person to assess the

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optimism or pessimism
of the country on a

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particular social issue.

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But the President remains
remarkably optimistic

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about the progress that
our country has made.

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The President also talked
about how he draws a sense

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of optimism from the way
that people have reacted

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to the tragic events over
the last week or so.

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It's not just black
Americans who are

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concerned and have their
conscience aroused when

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seeing the shootings of
two African Americans in

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two very different
communities in this country.

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It's not just white
Americans who are appalled

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at the way that a shooter
targeted white cops.

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There was almost unanimous
condemnation of that act.

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And I think that reflects
the unity that exists in

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our country that sometimes
is obscured by the

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political division in our
nation's capital and the

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political debate that may
take place in the media.

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But the President believes
that our country has made

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remarkable progress and we
are far more unified than

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it may seem if you just
watched 30 minutes of

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cable TV.

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Jeff.

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The Press: Josh, the
President said in the

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press conference over the
weekend that he wanted to

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meet with his task force
this week and look at

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taking some
concrete actions.

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What kinds of concrete
actions does he have in mind?

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And if there are concrete
actions that can be taken,

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why haven't we
taken them before?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff,
this will be the subject

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of the discussion.

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And I think the first
thing that I would observe

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is that the best practices
that were put forward by

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the Task Force on 21st
Century Policing that was

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formed by the White House
a couple years ago, and

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released results a year
and a half ago or so --

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were the observations that
they had is because most

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law enforcement work is
done at the local level

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and that there are limits
on how much pressure

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federal officials
can apply to local

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organizations and
local law enforcement

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organizations as they
consider what sort of

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reform policies should be
implemented -- what sort

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of changes they should
make to their training

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regimen, for example; what
sort of decisions they

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should make about
equipment procurement;

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what sort of decisions
they should make

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about transparency.

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One of the distinguishing
features of the reform

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process that was pursued
in Dallas is that there

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was a remarkable -- there
has been for the last few

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years a remarkable amount
of transparency that the

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Dallas Police Department
has implemented when it

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comes to documenting,
for example, violent

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interactions between
police officers and citizens.

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And that has had the
effect of enhancing trust

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and improving statistics
about complaints that are

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filed by citizens
against police officers.

250
00:13:38,651 --> 00:13:40,851
At the same time, they've
also experienced in Dallas

251
00:13:40,853 --> 00:13:44,953
a historic
reduction in crime.

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00:13:44,957 --> 00:13:48,997
Crime is -- violent crime
and murder rates and other

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00:13:48,994 --> 00:13:53,864
statistics are at or near
historic lows in Dallas.

254
00:13:53,866 --> 00:13:56,766
So I think that's a good
illustration of how

255
00:13:56,769 --> 00:14:00,469
important reform efforts
needn't come at the

256
00:14:00,472 --> 00:14:02,772
expense of crime fighting.

257
00:14:02,775 --> 00:14:06,375
In fact, reforming police
departments and enhancing

258
00:14:06,378 --> 00:14:11,288
trust with the public
benefits law enforcement,

259
00:14:11,283 --> 00:14:12,923
benefits crime fighting.

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00:14:12,918 --> 00:14:14,958
That's the whole goal.

261
00:14:14,954 --> 00:14:20,194
And it's tragically
ironic that Dallas is a

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00:14:20,192 --> 00:14:24,532
particularly good
illustration of how

263
00:14:24,530 --> 00:14:29,170
leaders in the community
and leaders of a city can

264
00:14:29,168 --> 00:14:33,708
make that a priority and
enjoy the benefits of it.

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00:14:33,706 --> 00:14:35,306
The Press: Is police
department reform -- is

266
00:14:35,307 --> 00:14:37,077
that one of the things
that would be a concrete action?

267
00:14:37,076 --> 00:14:39,676
Mr. Earnest: Tha
certainly will be part of

268
00:14:39,678 --> 00:14:41,748
the discussion, I'm sure.

269
00:14:41,747 --> 00:14:44,887
But I'm confident that
there will be a broader

270
00:14:44,883 --> 00:14:47,723
discussion about what
steps civil rights leaders

271
00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,560
and leaders in the
community can take to

272
00:14:50,556 --> 00:14:52,556
address some of
these challenges.

273
00:14:52,558 --> 00:14:54,558
I think there will be a
discussion about what

274
00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:55,560
ordinary Americans can do.

275
00:14:55,561 --> 00:14:58,961
But, look, the discussion
is still a couple days away.

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00:14:58,964 --> 00:15:01,504
We're still organizing the
meeting itself -- still

277
00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:03,600
trying to figure out where
to hold it and who to invite.

278
00:15:03,602 --> 00:15:05,602
So we'll obviously have a
whole lot more that we can

279
00:15:05,604 --> 00:15:08,644
say about this meeting
once we've gotten closer

280
00:15:08,641 --> 00:15:09,941
to having it.

281
00:15:09,942 --> 00:15:11,042
The Press: On a separate
topic, Secretary Carter

282
00:15:11,043 --> 00:15:13,083
announced today that the
United States will be

283
00:15:13,078 --> 00:15:16,748
sending 560 more
troops to Iraq.

284
00:15:16,749 --> 00:15:19,149
When did the President
sign off on this?

285
00:15:19,151 --> 00:15:22,791
And will that be enough
for the mission to go

286
00:15:22,788 --> 00:15:24,158
into Mosul?

287
00:15:24,156 --> 00:15:25,656
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff,
you're referring to an

288
00:15:25,658 --> 00:15:28,128
announcement that
Secretary Carter made

289
00:15:28,127 --> 00:15:31,197
during a visit to Iraq
earlier today, and his

290
00:15:31,196 --> 00:15:36,666
announcement was based on
the recent success that

291
00:15:36,669 --> 00:15:40,839
Iraqi security forces had
enjoyed in retaking a

292
00:15:40,839 --> 00:15:44,679
military airfield in
Iraq -- a place called Qarayyah.

293
00:15:44,677 --> 00:15:49,787
And the idea is that Iraqi
security forces will use

294
00:15:49,782 --> 00:15:56,392
this base, this airfield,
as a logistics hub that

295
00:15:56,388 --> 00:16:04,628
can certainly enhance
their ability to encircle

296
00:16:04,630 --> 00:16:08,030
Mosul and eventually drive
ISIL out of Mosul, the

297
00:16:08,033 --> 00:16:10,173
second largest city in
Iraq and a place that has

298
00:16:10,169 --> 00:16:14,969
essentially been a locus
of power for ISIL in Iraq.

299
00:16:14,973 --> 00:16:20,543
So this announcement about
the addition of American

300
00:16:20,546 --> 00:16:27,716
troops represents a
following-up on the

301
00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:32,520
successful effort of the
Iraqis to continue to make

302
00:16:32,524 --> 00:16:34,064
progress against ISIL.

303
00:16:34,059 --> 00:16:38,329
So the idea is
that these new U.S.

304
00:16:38,330 --> 00:16:42,670
forces would be used to
secure the airfield and

305
00:16:42,668 --> 00:16:44,838
essentially get it up and
running as a logistics hub

306
00:16:44,837 --> 00:16:51,507
that would support ongoing
operations by Iraqi

307
00:16:51,510 --> 00:16:52,710
security forces.

308
00:16:52,711 --> 00:16:54,981
And this is entirely
consistent with the

309
00:16:54,980 --> 00:16:56,350
strategy that the
President has laid out,

310
00:16:56,348 --> 00:16:58,218
which is that the United
States and our coalition

311
00:16:58,217 --> 00:17:03,257
partners will be committed
to supporting Iraqi forces

312
00:17:03,255 --> 00:17:06,155
as they take the
fight to ISIL.

313
00:17:06,158 --> 00:17:11,398
And there are a wide
range of capabilities and

314
00:17:11,397 --> 00:17:13,697
expertise that we can lend
to that effort, and part

315
00:17:13,699 --> 00:17:16,099
of that is offering some
assistance when it comes

316
00:17:16,101 --> 00:17:18,941
to logistics.

317
00:17:18,937 --> 00:17:23,607
And that's primarily what
this effort is all about.

318
00:17:23,609 --> 00:17:25,709
I can't give you a
specific day when the

319
00:17:25,711 --> 00:17:28,481
President signed off
on this, but this is

320
00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,220
certainly consistent
with the idea that the

321
00:17:32,217 --> 00:17:34,287
President's national
security team, including

322
00:17:34,286 --> 00:17:37,456
his leaders at the
Department of Defense, are

323
00:17:37,456 --> 00:17:45,366
focused on areas where we
can leverage investments

324
00:17:45,364 --> 00:17:47,564
in tactics that
have worked.

325
00:17:47,566 --> 00:17:49,566
And we know that one of
the significant challenges

326
00:17:49,568 --> 00:17:51,568
that Iraqi forces have
faced is managing long

327
00:17:51,570 --> 00:17:52,870
supply lines.

328
00:17:52,871 --> 00:17:54,871
And there's something that
we can do to shorten the

329
00:17:54,873 --> 00:17:57,243
supply lines in a way that
can have a tangible effect

330
00:17:57,242 --> 00:17:59,882
on the battlefield and a
tangible impact on our

331
00:17:59,878 --> 00:18:02,848
strategy to go
after ISIL in Mosul.

332
00:18:02,848 --> 00:18:04,188
The Press: Will
this be enough?

333
00:18:04,183 --> 00:18:05,823
Or do you expect he'll be
having to approve more?

334
00:18:05,818 --> 00:18:10,218
Mr. Earnest: Look, at this
point I don't have any --

335
00:18:10,222 --> 00:18:12,222
I'm not in a position to
foreshadow any additional

336
00:18:12,224 --> 00:18:15,494
announcements about
additional troop commitments.

337
00:18:15,494 --> 00:18:17,534
But the President has been
very clear about what our

338
00:18:17,529 --> 00:18:19,529
mission is and what
our mission isn't.

339
00:18:19,531 --> 00:18:23,841
And this is an effort to
reinforce our support for

340
00:18:23,836 --> 00:18:27,236
Iraqi forces that are
enjoying some success in

341
00:18:27,239 --> 00:18:29,609
driving ISIL out of
strategic important areas

342
00:18:29,608 --> 00:18:33,078
in Iraq that can put them
in a position to succeed

343
00:18:33,078 --> 00:18:40,088
on a much bigger goal of
driving ISIL out of Iraq's

344
00:18:40,085 --> 00:18:42,155
second largest city.

345
00:18:42,154 --> 00:18:43,384
April.

346
00:18:43,388 --> 00:18:47,458
The Press: Josh, in
relation to the horrific

347
00:18:47,459 --> 00:18:51,929
incidents last week,
President Obama is now

348
00:18:51,930 --> 00:18:54,070
holding, as you said,
Wednesday, this

349
00:18:54,066 --> 00:18:57,336
conversation with civil
rights leaders, some

350
00:18:57,336 --> 00:18:59,136
leaders -- law
enforcement.

351
00:18:59,137 --> 00:19:04,947
A few months back he said
after one of these, yet

352
00:19:04,943 --> 00:19:09,613
again, police-involved
fatal shootings, the

353
00:19:09,615 --> 00:19:11,815
President said he wasn't
going to have -- he wasn't

354
00:19:11,817 --> 00:19:14,757
going to lead the
conversation from this podium.

355
00:19:14,753 --> 00:19:16,623
What's changed
with this dynamic?

356
00:19:16,622 --> 00:19:19,692
And has he talked to
Sylvia Burwell, the head

357
00:19:19,691 --> 00:19:23,191
of HHS, who was the head
of President Clinton's

358
00:19:23,195 --> 00:19:25,635
race initiative when he
was President of the

359
00:19:25,631 --> 00:19:26,701
United States?

360
00:19:26,698 --> 00:19:29,368
Mr. Earnest: Well, April,
I recall the day when the

361
00:19:29,368 --> 00:19:31,168
President made that
declaration, and I think

362
00:19:31,169 --> 00:19:33,739
it reflected some
impatience on his part.

363
00:19:33,739 --> 00:19:35,779
The President's view is
we spend a lot of time

364
00:19:35,774 --> 00:19:38,274
talking about these
issues, and he's impatient

365
00:19:38,277 --> 00:19:39,917
to start seeing
some results.

366
00:19:39,912 --> 00:19:43,282
So I think you can expect
that the conversation that

367
00:19:43,282 --> 00:19:45,652
he's having today with
law enforcement and the

368
00:19:45,651 --> 00:19:47,951
conversation that he'll
have with a more diverse

369
00:19:47,953 --> 00:19:52,093
set of views on Wednesday
will be focused on what

370
00:19:52,090 --> 00:19:57,360
are specific steps that we
can take to address some

371
00:19:57,362 --> 00:19:59,232
of these racial
disparities in our

372
00:19:59,231 --> 00:20:02,631
criminal justice system
that are persistent and

373
00:20:02,634 --> 00:20:07,374
measurable, but what are
also some steps that we

374
00:20:07,372 --> 00:20:11,172
can take to do even more
to support our men and

375
00:20:11,176 --> 00:20:12,646
women in uniform that
have an extraordinarily

376
00:20:12,644 --> 00:20:14,944
difficult job.

377
00:20:14,947 --> 00:20:17,647
The President has talked
at length as recently as

378
00:20:17,649 --> 00:20:19,719
Thursday night when he
arrived in Warsaw -- hours

379
00:20:19,718 --> 00:20:22,818
before the shooting in
Dallas, I might remind you

380
00:20:22,821 --> 00:20:25,221
-- about what a difficult
job our men and women in

381
00:20:25,223 --> 00:20:28,663
uniform have; that too
often we ask our men and

382
00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:34,700
women in uniform, police
officers, to confront

383
00:20:34,700 --> 00:20:37,270
challenges in communities
that the rest of us would

384
00:20:37,269 --> 00:20:38,839
just as soon forget.

385
00:20:38,837 --> 00:20:41,277
We're talking about
certain communities that

386
00:20:41,273 --> 00:21:00,963
have inadequate schools,
and very little economic

387
00:21:00,959 --> 00:21:02,959
opportunity, maybe they
don't have access to

388
00:21:02,961 --> 00:21:03,961
health care.

389
00:21:03,962 --> 00:21:05,962
In some cases, they don't
have access to a grocery

390
00:21:05,964 --> 00:21:07,964
store that serves healthy
-- or that sells healthy food.

391
00:21:07,966 --> 00:21:09,966
Our system has been
insufficiently attentive

392
00:21:09,968 --> 00:21:11,968
to those core needs that
we know have an impact on

393
00:21:11,970 --> 00:21:12,970
these communities.

394
00:21:12,971 --> 00:21:14,971
Instead, we ask law
enforcement to go and

395
00:21:14,973 --> 00:21:16,973
solve those problems --
or at least deal with the

396
00:21:16,975 --> 00:21:21,275
consequences of
inattention to those problems.

397
00:21:21,279 --> 00:21:23,479
That's not fair.

398
00:21:23,482 --> 00:21:25,682
And the President believes
that there is more that we

399
00:21:25,684 --> 00:21:28,054
should be doing as a
country -- certainly as a

400
00:21:28,053 --> 00:21:30,653
federal government, but
also at the state and

401
00:21:30,656 --> 00:21:33,056
local level, as well --
to make those critical

402
00:21:33,058 --> 00:21:36,098
investments in education,
to make those critical

403
00:21:36,094 --> 00:21:38,434
investments that we know
are going to give those

404
00:21:38,430 --> 00:21:40,430
families that are working
hard to get in the middle

405
00:21:40,432 --> 00:21:42,932
class the opportunity
to actually succeed.

406
00:21:42,934 --> 00:21:44,904
We could raise the minimum
wage -- something the

407
00:21:44,903 --> 00:21:46,903
President has been
advocating for years.

408
00:21:46,905 --> 00:21:48,905
Right now if you're trying
to raise a family of four

409
00:21:48,907 --> 00:21:51,647
and working full-time,
making minimum wage,

410
00:21:51,643 --> 00:21:53,713
you're raising the family
below the poverty line.

411
00:21:53,712 --> 00:21:55,712
That is unacceptable,
inconsistent with our

412
00:21:55,714 --> 00:22:00,924
values, and leads to
much bigger problems --

413
00:22:00,919 --> 00:22:04,159
problems that we too often
just delegate to

414
00:22:04,156 --> 00:22:05,486
law enforcement.

415
00:22:05,490 --> 00:22:06,860
That's not fair.

416
00:22:06,858 --> 00:22:08,858
I think it is an
illustration of how

417
00:22:08,860 --> 00:22:09,860
difficult their job is.

418
00:22:09,861 --> 00:22:11,861
And if there are specific
things that we can do to

419
00:22:11,863 --> 00:22:14,433
better support our men
and women in blue, the

420
00:22:14,433 --> 00:22:16,673
President believes we
should get about doing it.

421
00:22:16,668 --> 00:22:20,208
The Press: I have a couple
more questions on this subject.

422
00:22:20,205 --> 00:22:22,705
In the '60s, the Kerner
Commission came out with a

423
00:22:22,708 --> 00:22:25,008
report, and the Kerner
Commission -- basically

424
00:22:25,010 --> 00:22:28,350
because of police
brutality in the black

425
00:22:28,346 --> 00:22:32,656
community at that time --
and the Kerner report said

426
00:22:32,651 --> 00:22:34,421
something to the effect
that there are two

427
00:22:34,419 --> 00:22:38,589
societies, separate
and unequal.

428
00:22:38,590 --> 00:22:41,260
And then, when it came
down to policing -- and

429
00:22:41,259 --> 00:22:43,429
I'm quoting from the
report -- it said, "Negros

430
00:22:43,428 --> 00:22:45,928
firmly believe that police
brutality and harassment

431
00:22:45,931 --> 00:22:48,701
occurred repeatedly in
Negro neighborhoods." It

432
00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:50,700
also went on to say,
"In several cities, the

433
00:22:50,702 --> 00:22:52,802
principal response has
been to train and equip

434
00:22:52,804 --> 00:22:55,504
the police with more
sophisticated weapons."

435
00:22:55,507 --> 00:22:56,947
What's changed?

436
00:22:56,942 --> 00:22:58,942
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think a lot has changed.

437
00:22:58,944 --> 00:23:02,244
I think one of the things
that we know -- you take a

438
00:23:02,247 --> 00:23:04,247
place like Dallas, I
guess, would be a pretty

439
00:23:04,249 --> 00:23:05,249
good example.

440
00:23:05,250 --> 00:23:07,920
I know that there has been
an effort by many law

441
00:23:07,919 --> 00:23:12,689
enforcement agencies to
ensure that their police

442
00:23:12,691 --> 00:23:16,361
force is more diverse.

443
00:23:16,361 --> 00:23:18,961
That certainly is one
thing that's changed.

444
00:23:18,964 --> 00:23:22,204
I think there has been a
priority that many law

445
00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:26,000
enforcement organizations
have placed on improved

446
00:23:26,004 --> 00:23:28,844
and enhanced training
of their officers.

447
00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,110
And again, a place like
Dallas is a pretty good

448
00:23:31,109 --> 00:23:34,879
example of where
complaints about excessive

449
00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:38,350
force filed against police
officers have declined

450
00:23:38,350 --> 00:23:41,720
precipitously since the
police chief imposed

451
00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:43,960
stricter training
requirements and oriented

452
00:23:43,955 --> 00:23:48,395
that training to focus on
de-escalation tactics to

453
00:23:48,393 --> 00:23:50,963
try to prevent
confrontations between

454
00:23:50,962 --> 00:23:53,862
police officers and
citizens from spiraling

455
00:23:53,865 --> 00:23:56,865
into a violent
confrontation.

456
00:23:56,868 --> 00:24:03,378
So there's progress to
identify, but there's a

457
00:24:03,375 --> 00:24:05,375
lot more work that
we need to do.

458
00:24:05,377 --> 00:24:09,347
And the President believes
that we're only going to

459
00:24:09,347 --> 00:24:13,587
make additional progress
when there is a collective

460
00:24:13,585 --> 00:24:16,555
recognition of the fact
that that progress will

461
00:24:16,555 --> 00:24:20,455
only be made when we
make these solutions a priority.

462
00:24:20,458 --> 00:24:23,098
The Press: President Obama
marked -- since he got to

463
00:24:23,094 --> 00:24:26,834
Warsaw, he marked the
situation that happened in

464
00:24:26,832 --> 00:24:30,872
Baton Rouge, and then
he also marked both the

465
00:24:30,869 --> 00:24:33,169
issues in Louisiana
and Minnesota.

466
00:24:33,171 --> 00:24:35,571
And then he marked the
situation in Dallas.

467
00:24:35,574 --> 00:24:37,374
But he's going to Dallas.

468
00:24:37,375 --> 00:24:39,845
And there's a certain part
of this nation that's

469
00:24:39,845 --> 00:24:42,385
wondering why he's not
going to Louisiana

470
00:24:42,380 --> 00:24:44,020
or to Minnesota.

471
00:24:44,015 --> 00:24:45,585
Can you explain why?

472
00:24:45,584 --> 00:24:47,224
Mr. Earnest: Well, April,
I don't have any updates

473
00:24:47,219 --> 00:24:48,449
about the
President's travel.

474
00:24:48,453 --> 00:24:55,593
But, again, on Thursday
night, on Friday morning,

475
00:24:55,594 --> 00:24:57,594
on Saturday at the news
conference that he

476
00:24:57,596 --> 00:24:59,596
convened at the end of
NATO, and then again

477
00:24:59,598 --> 00:25:02,338
yesterday in Madrid,
Spain, where he was

478
00:25:02,334 --> 00:25:05,934
meeting his Spanish
counterpart, the President

479
00:25:05,937 --> 00:25:08,207
had an opportunity at each
of those occasions to talk

480
00:25:08,206 --> 00:25:12,576
about his concern about
this situation and the

481
00:25:12,577 --> 00:25:15,717
priority that he places on
trying to address these

482
00:25:15,714 --> 00:25:18,014
persistent problems.

483
00:25:18,016 --> 00:25:21,656
So I think you'd be
hard-pressed to think of

484
00:25:21,653 --> 00:25:23,853
anybody -- with the
possible exception of

485
00:25:23,855 --> 00:25:28,895
officials in Dallas -- who
has been more public and

486
00:25:28,894 --> 00:25:36,234
more definitive about the
fact that addressing these

487
00:25:36,234 --> 00:25:38,674
disparities is a priority
for the President of the

488
00:25:38,670 --> 00:25:42,210
United States, and finding
a way to enhance the

489
00:25:42,207 --> 00:25:44,207
safety and security of
our men and women in

490
00:25:44,209 --> 00:25:45,209
law enforcement.

491
00:25:45,210 --> 00:25:49,180
And again, with the
possible exception of

492
00:25:49,180 --> 00:25:52,050
officials in Dallas,
no one has been more

493
00:25:52,050 --> 00:25:54,350
outspoken about that
priority in the last four

494
00:25:54,352 --> 00:25:57,152
days than the President
of the United States.

495
00:25:57,155 --> 00:26:00,395
He recognizes that this
is a time for leadership.

496
00:26:00,392 --> 00:26:01,592
That's what he's provided.

497
00:26:01,593 --> 00:26:04,263
That's why he came home
early from his trip.

498
00:26:04,262 --> 00:26:06,262
And I think you'll see
more of that on display in

499
00:26:06,264 --> 00:26:08,134
the next couple of days.

500
00:26:08,133 --> 00:26:09,703
The Press: And
last question.

501
00:26:09,701 --> 00:26:12,301
What does the images that
you've seen from average

502
00:26:12,304 --> 00:26:18,014
citizens or loved ones of
those who were fatally

503
00:26:18,009 --> 00:26:20,679
shot by police -- what
does it say when you see

504
00:26:20,679 --> 00:26:25,149
images from video cameras
or video phones from other

505
00:26:25,150 --> 00:26:29,620
people and not the body
cameras from the police?

506
00:26:29,621 --> 00:26:31,921
Mr. Earnest: I'm just
trying to understand

507
00:26:31,923 --> 00:26:33,023
your question.

508
00:26:33,024 --> 00:26:35,224
Are you suggesting that --

509
00:26:35,226 --> 00:26:36,726
The Press: What I'm asking
is, the President was very

510
00:26:36,728 --> 00:26:39,098
-- he was pushing this
effort for body cameras

511
00:26:39,097 --> 00:26:40,397
for more accountability.

512
00:26:40,398 --> 00:26:42,768
And in Louisiana, the
body cameras fell off.

513
00:26:42,767 --> 00:26:49,007
And we saw a video from
the fiancĂŠe in Minnesota.

514
00:26:49,007 --> 00:26:51,347
And then we saw videos
from people who were

515
00:26:51,343 --> 00:26:53,683
driving by in Baton Rouge
and from the store.

516
00:26:53,678 --> 00:26:56,078
It was not from police.

517
00:26:56,081 --> 00:26:59,481
The Baton Rouge police
cameras fell off.

518
00:26:59,484 --> 00:27:01,884
What does this say to his
efforts that he's trying

519
00:27:01,886 --> 00:27:06,226
to hold the accountability
piece for policing, to

520
00:27:06,224 --> 00:27:07,394
support good policing and
weed out the bad policing?

521
00:27:07,392 --> 00:27:11,062
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
as you know, April,

522
00:27:11,062 --> 00:27:13,062
there's an ongoing
Department of Justice

523
00:27:13,064 --> 00:27:15,034
investigation into this
situation in Baton Rouge,

524
00:27:15,033 --> 00:27:20,043
and I know that federal
investigators are -- it is

525
00:27:20,038 --> 00:27:24,078
their standard practice to
gather as much information

526
00:27:24,075 --> 00:27:27,145
as possible, including
video evidence about what

527
00:27:27,145 --> 00:27:29,415
may have transpired.

528
00:27:29,414 --> 00:27:30,514
That's their
standard practice.

529
00:27:30,515 --> 00:27:32,515
I'm confident that they're
following that standard

530
00:27:32,517 --> 00:27:33,687
practice in this instance.

531
00:27:33,685 --> 00:27:36,625
For an update on the
investigation, you're just

532
00:27:36,621 --> 00:27:38,621
going to have to ask the
Department of Justice

533
00:27:38,623 --> 00:27:39,823
about that.

534
00:27:39,824 --> 00:27:41,594
The situation in Minnesota
is a little bit different.

535
00:27:41,593 --> 00:27:44,333
There is a
well-established

536
00:27:44,329 --> 00:27:46,329
independent body in
Minnesota that is taking a

537
00:27:46,331 --> 00:27:47,401
look at the situation.

538
00:27:47,399 --> 00:27:50,469
Obviously, the Department
of Justice is keeping tabs

539
00:27:50,468 --> 00:27:51,468
on it as well.

540
00:27:51,469 --> 00:27:53,469
But this is an
investigation that's being

541
00:27:53,471 --> 00:27:55,471
led by State officials
in Minnesota.

542
00:27:55,473 --> 00:27:57,643
And because of those
ongoing investigations

543
00:27:57,642 --> 00:28:00,712
into those incidents, I
just can't speak in a lot

544
00:28:00,712 --> 00:28:01,982
of detail about them.

545
00:28:01,980 --> 00:28:05,480
The Press: Josh, I wanted
to ask you about George W.

546
00:28:05,483 --> 00:28:07,723
Bush's inclusion in
the memorial tomorrow.

547
00:28:07,719 --> 00:28:10,189
We now know that he was
invited by the mayor.

548
00:28:10,188 --> 00:28:11,958
But I wanted to know, does
the White House, does the

549
00:28:11,956 --> 00:28:14,056
President see any role for
the former President to

550
00:28:14,059 --> 00:28:16,599
play in tackling some of
these issues that you've

551
00:28:16,594 --> 00:28:17,994
been discussing?

552
00:28:17,996 --> 00:28:21,836
Mr. Earnest: Well,
obviously former President

553
00:28:21,833 --> 00:28:26,373
Bush and Mrs. Bush are
residents of Dallas and

554
00:28:26,371 --> 00:28:28,311
they're prominent members
of the Dallas community.

555
00:28:28,306 --> 00:28:31,006
They were obviously
prominent figures in that

556
00:28:31,009 --> 00:28:36,079
community well before he
served in the White House,

557
00:28:36,081 --> 00:28:39,651
so he obviously has
got his own personal

558
00:28:39,651 --> 00:28:43,291
connection to this
community that's grieving.

559
00:28:43,288 --> 00:28:45,458
So I think for that reason
it's entirely appropriate

560
00:28:45,457 --> 00:28:50,297
and I think even a credit
to him that he has chosen

561
00:28:50,295 --> 00:28:53,135
to speak in this setting.

562
00:28:53,131 --> 00:28:57,101
I think it also serves as
a valuable reminder that

563
00:28:57,102 --> 00:29:00,002
despite that
well-chronicled political

564
00:29:00,004 --> 00:29:03,644
differences between
President Bush and

565
00:29:03,641 --> 00:29:09,511
President Obama, that the
two of them are coming

566
00:29:09,514 --> 00:29:12,254
together at this time.

567
00:29:12,250 --> 00:29:14,250
I do think it underscores
something that the

568
00:29:14,252 --> 00:29:17,592
President said over the
weekend that our country

569
00:29:17,589 --> 00:29:20,259
is not as divided
as it might seem.

570
00:29:20,258 --> 00:29:25,098
And we have differences,
and we articulate those

571
00:29:25,096 --> 00:29:27,096
differences and we
litigate those differences

572
00:29:27,098 --> 00:29:29,098
politically in a very
vigorous fashion.

573
00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:37,180
But when it comes to basic
values about the courage

574
00:29:37,175 --> 00:29:42,315
and service of police
officers and a commitment

575
00:29:42,313 --> 00:29:46,553
to the rule of law and
justice, there's a lot of

576
00:29:46,551 --> 00:29:50,321
common ground to be found,
even between two leaders

577
00:29:50,321 --> 00:29:53,991
that have some differing
political views.

578
00:29:53,992 --> 00:29:55,992
But around these issues,
there's plenty of common

579
00:29:55,994 --> 00:29:57,294
ground to be found.

580
00:29:57,295 --> 00:29:59,635
The Press: And in the
vein, we know that Nancy

581
00:29:59,631 --> 00:30:01,701
Pelosi is traveling down
on Air Force One tomorrow.

582
00:30:01,699 --> 00:30:03,769
Has the White House
extended an invitation to

583
00:30:03,768 --> 00:30:06,568
the Republican leadership
in Congress to travel as well?

584
00:30:06,571 --> 00:30:09,871
Mr. Earnest: I know that a
number of invitations to

585
00:30:09,874 --> 00:30:12,644
congressional leaders have
been extended by the White

586
00:30:12,644 --> 00:30:16,814
House to travel to
Dallas on Air Force One.

587
00:30:16,814 --> 00:30:19,454
I don't have a list to
walk through with you

588
00:30:19,450 --> 00:30:20,450
right now.

589
00:30:20,451 --> 00:30:22,451
I know that a number of
members of Congress are

590
00:30:22,453 --> 00:30:24,523
still making their
travel plans.

591
00:30:24,522 --> 00:30:26,892
So we'll have more details
about who will accompany

592
00:30:26,891 --> 00:30:28,891
the President to
Dallas tomorrow.

593
00:30:28,893 --> 00:30:30,893
The Press: And on the
thought process behind

594
00:30:30,895 --> 00:30:31,865
the writing.

595
00:30:31,863 --> 00:30:33,363
I know he's spending, as
you said, the majority of

596
00:30:33,364 --> 00:30:34,334
the day today.

597
00:30:34,332 --> 00:30:35,532
Is he doing the
first draft?

598
00:30:35,533 --> 00:30:37,103
Can you take us a little
bit more behind the scenes

599
00:30:37,101 --> 00:30:39,871
on who he's calling on,
who he's asking for help

600
00:30:39,871 --> 00:30:40,971
in writing his speech?

601
00:30:40,972 --> 00:30:43,812
Is he making calls outside
of the building, or is it

602
00:30:43,808 --> 00:30:45,748
just with his team
of speechwriters?

603
00:30:45,743 --> 00:30:49,953
Mr. Earnest: The President
does have a team of

604
00:30:49,948 --> 00:30:51,788
speechwriters here at the
White House with whom he

605
00:30:51,783 --> 00:30:54,823
has been able to
collaborate quite

606
00:30:54,819 --> 00:30:57,389
effectively on previous
speeches of this sort.

607
00:30:57,388 --> 00:31:00,328
And I think it should be
evident to those of you

608
00:31:00,325 --> 00:31:01,855
who were closely watching
the President's comments

609
00:31:01,859 --> 00:31:05,159
over the last four or five
days here, that he's got

610
00:31:05,163 --> 00:31:16,773
his own deeply rooted
personal feelings on this topic.

611
00:31:16,774 --> 00:31:22,614
So the President does have
a very good sense of what

612
00:31:22,614 --> 00:31:24,254
he wants to say.

613
00:31:24,249 --> 00:31:28,919
And he'll be supported by
a team of speechwriters

614
00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:34,660
that will help him put
that down on paper.

615
00:31:34,659 --> 00:31:39,769
That said, I don't want to
underestimate or downplay

616
00:31:39,764 --> 00:31:41,764
how difficult it is for
the President to appear in

617
00:31:41,766 --> 00:31:45,706
a setting like this.

618
00:31:45,703 --> 00:31:51,173
The President would tell
you that he wished that he

619
00:31:51,175 --> 00:31:58,185
weren't called on so often
to give these kinds of

620
00:31:58,182 --> 00:32:05,422
speeches, comforting those
who are the surviving

621
00:32:05,423 --> 00:32:07,523
family members of the
victims of gun violence.

622
00:32:07,525 --> 00:32:11,425
We've seen a lot of that
lately -- too much of it,

623
00:32:11,429 --> 00:32:12,429
in the President's mind.

624
00:32:12,430 --> 00:32:21,270
But the President
understands that this is

625
00:32:21,272 --> 00:32:22,842
what the President of the
United States is called on

626
00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,680
to do, and the
President embraces that

627
00:32:25,677 --> 00:32:31,287
responsibility, takes it
quite seriously, and I

628
00:32:31,282 --> 00:32:33,282
think will be up to the
task when he speaks tomorrow.

629
00:32:33,284 --> 00:32:36,024
The Press: Can I just
follow up on that?

630
00:32:36,020 --> 00:32:39,390
He's obviously done
a number of these --

631
00:32:39,390 --> 00:32:44,630
Newtown, Charleston,
Fort Hood twice.

632
00:32:44,629 --> 00:32:49,699
What is different about
the process of preparing

633
00:32:49,701 --> 00:32:52,771
for a speech like this, a
memorial to the victims of

634
00:32:52,770 --> 00:32:57,210
a mass shooting, than
any of his other major speeches?

635
00:32:57,208 --> 00:32:59,508
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think certainly one

636
00:32:59,510 --> 00:33:03,550
distinguishing feature of
this tragedy is the fact

637
00:33:03,548 --> 00:33:05,688
that the lives that
were claimed were law

638
00:33:05,683 --> 00:33:07,083
enforcement officers.

639
00:33:07,085 --> 00:33:10,855
These were individuals who
signed up to serve

640
00:33:10,855 --> 00:33:12,855
their community.

641
00:33:12,857 --> 00:33:17,627
They voluntarily pinned
the badge to their chest

642
00:33:17,628 --> 00:33:20,568
because they're so
committed to serving and

643
00:33:20,565 --> 00:33:22,465
protecting the community
of Dallas and the people

644
00:33:22,467 --> 00:33:26,467
of Dallas.

645
00:33:26,471 --> 00:33:32,441
And to see those lives
claimed in this hateful

646
00:33:32,443 --> 00:33:37,213
act is tragic.

647
00:33:37,215 --> 00:33:41,355
So that certainly adds
some poignancy to

648
00:33:41,352 --> 00:33:42,352
this situation.

649
00:33:42,353 --> 00:33:48,523
But, look, each of the
events that you named were

650
00:33:48,526 --> 00:33:57,236
poignant in their own way,
but I think what is also

651
00:33:57,235 --> 00:33:59,735
true about this situation,
Jon, is that there's a

652
00:33:59,737 --> 00:34:02,777
backdrop here that --
there are people all

653
00:34:02,774 --> 00:34:05,614
across the country, again,
of all races, who are

654
00:34:05,610 --> 00:34:10,250
grieving the loss of these
innocent lives, these

655
00:34:10,248 --> 00:34:12,248
police officers in Dallas
who were gunned down on

656
00:34:12,250 --> 00:34:14,190
Thursday night.

657
00:34:14,185 --> 00:34:19,055
But there's anxiety across
the country about the

658
00:34:19,056 --> 00:34:22,596
shootings we saw in two
other communities of black

659
00:34:22,593 --> 00:34:25,393
men by police officers.

660
00:34:25,396 --> 00:34:31,336
And the President senses
that anxiety across the

661
00:34:31,335 --> 00:34:33,675
country as well.

662
00:34:33,671 --> 00:34:37,111
And he senses the
frustration, again, that I

663
00:34:37,108 --> 00:34:40,248
think -- that doesn't
exist solely in the black

664
00:34:40,244 --> 00:34:44,614
community, but I think
that exists in the minds

665
00:34:44,615 --> 00:34:51,255
and hearts and conscience
of fair-minded Americans

666
00:34:51,255 --> 00:34:54,925
of all races.

667
00:34:54,926 --> 00:34:57,196
And I would expect the
President to touch on that

668
00:34:57,195 --> 00:34:58,465
as well.

669
00:34:58,463 --> 00:35:00,093
The Press: Has he spoken
to President Bush in

670
00:35:00,097 --> 00:35:01,097
advance of this?

671
00:35:01,098 --> 00:35:03,368
Or does he intend to
when he gets down there?

672
00:35:03,367 --> 00:35:05,207
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
that the President has

673
00:35:05,203 --> 00:35:08,103
spoken to President Bush
in the last few days.

674
00:35:08,105 --> 00:35:11,045
But obviously the two men
will have an opportunity

675
00:35:11,042 --> 00:35:14,312
to visit when they're in
Dallas, and I know the

676
00:35:14,312 --> 00:35:15,642
President is genuinely
looking forward to that.

677
00:35:15,646 --> 00:35:17,046
Periodically, their paths
have crossed over the

678
00:35:17,048 --> 00:35:20,888
course of the presidency,
and we've talked in here a

679
00:35:20,885 --> 00:35:26,525
lot about the respect that
President Obama has for

680
00:35:26,524 --> 00:35:29,494
the way that President
Bush managed the

681
00:35:29,494 --> 00:35:32,164
transition between their
two presidencies and the

682
00:35:32,163 --> 00:35:34,163
way that he's conducted
himself in the

683
00:35:34,165 --> 00:35:35,165
post-presidency.

684
00:35:35,166 --> 00:35:37,136
I think the President is
deeply appreciative and

685
00:35:37,134 --> 00:35:38,134
deeply respectful of that.

686
00:35:38,135 --> 00:35:42,005
And I feel confident in
telling you that he's

687
00:35:42,006 --> 00:35:44,006
looking forward to seeing
President Bush and

688
00:35:44,008 --> 00:35:45,038
Mrs. Bush tomorrow.

689
00:35:45,042 --> 00:35:47,682
The Press: Was the last
time they spoke in Selma?

690
00:35:47,678 --> 00:35:49,818
Mr. Earnest: I was
about to say that.

691
00:35:49,814 --> 00:35:51,354
I think that is true.

692
00:35:51,349 --> 00:35:53,349
I can't say that
definitively.

693
00:35:53,351 --> 00:35:57,821
And the reason for that is
simply that we have not

694
00:35:57,822 --> 00:35:59,822
read out every
conversation that the

695
00:35:59,824 --> 00:36:02,724
President has with former
Presidents; that's one

696
00:36:02,727 --> 00:36:04,727
channel of private
communication that we do

697
00:36:04,729 --> 00:36:06,229
try to protect
for its privacy.

698
00:36:06,230 --> 00:36:08,730
But I can tell you that
I'm not aware, at least

699
00:36:08,733 --> 00:36:12,003
off the top of my head
here, of a conversation

700
00:36:12,003 --> 00:36:14,403
that President Obama has
had with President Bush

701
00:36:14,405 --> 00:36:17,905
since they crossed paths
in Selma last spring.

702
00:36:17,909 --> 00:36:19,139
Mike.

703
00:36:19,143 --> 00:36:21,083
The Press: Looking abroad,
what's the President's

704
00:36:21,078 --> 00:36:24,548
reaction to British Prime
Minister David Cameron's

705
00:36:24,549 --> 00:36:27,519
decision to move up his
departure, and the choice

706
00:36:27,518 --> 00:36:31,418
of Home Secretary Theresa
May to succeed him?

707
00:36:31,422 --> 00:36:34,522
Mr. Earnest: Well, Mike,
obviously, President Obama

708
00:36:34,525 --> 00:36:36,525
had an opportunity to
visit with Prime Minister

709
00:36:36,527 --> 00:36:39,197
Cameron at the NATO
Summit in Warsaw over

710
00:36:39,196 --> 00:36:40,436
the weekend.

711
00:36:40,431 --> 00:36:42,701
The two leaders sat next
to each other for hours on

712
00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:44,940
end at that summit,
so I know they had an

713
00:36:44,936 --> 00:36:47,036
opportunity to have a
number of conversations.

714
00:36:47,038 --> 00:36:49,638
I'm not aware at that
point, however, that Prime

715
00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:57,210
Minister Cameron shared
his plans with President Obama.

716
00:36:57,214 --> 00:36:59,684
I've learned a lot about
the British political

717
00:36:59,684 --> 00:37:02,954
process in just the last
few hours, so it's my

718
00:37:02,954 --> 00:37:06,394
understanding that having
one of the two competitors

719
00:37:06,390 --> 00:37:08,860
for the leadership of the
conservative party drop

720
00:37:08,859 --> 00:37:15,269
out essentially made
the choice a

721
00:37:15,266 --> 00:37:18,706
foregone conclusion.

722
00:37:18,703 --> 00:37:20,703
So my understanding is
that there are some

723
00:37:20,705 --> 00:37:23,205
ceremonial steps that
have to take place here.

724
00:37:23,207 --> 00:37:26,777
Ultimately, this is a
British political process

725
00:37:26,777 --> 00:37:32,847
that will follow the
guidelines that are in place.

726
00:37:32,850 --> 00:37:34,850
The President continues,
though, to rest on the

727
00:37:34,852 --> 00:37:37,192
principle that the
relationship between the

728
00:37:37,188 --> 00:37:39,328
United States and the
United Kingdom is a

729
00:37:39,323 --> 00:37:42,993
special one, and it
is a relationship that

730
00:37:42,994 --> 00:37:45,294
transcends the
personalities or political

731
00:37:45,296 --> 00:37:47,596
parties of either
country's leader.

732
00:37:47,598 --> 00:37:55,208
And if, in fact, Theresa
May is the next Prime

733
00:37:55,206 --> 00:37:59,146
Minister of the UK, the
President is entirely

734
00:37:59,143 --> 00:38:03,313
confident that he and his
successor will be able to

735
00:38:03,314 --> 00:38:10,824
coordinate effectively
with her to not just

736
00:38:10,821 --> 00:38:12,821
protect, but even advance
the special relationship

737
00:38:12,823 --> 00:38:14,723
between our two countries.

738
00:38:14,725 --> 00:38:15,825
The Press: Has the
President met the

739
00:38:15,826 --> 00:38:16,826
Home Secretary?

740
00:38:16,827 --> 00:38:17,827
What's his
impression of her?

741
00:38:17,828 --> 00:38:19,828
Mr. Earnest: The only
reason I know this -- the

742
00:38:19,830 --> 00:38:20,830
answer to that is yes.

743
00:38:20,831 --> 00:38:21,831
I don't know that
they've had a

744
00:38:21,832 --> 00:38:22,932
detailed conversation.

745
00:38:22,933 --> 00:38:25,703
I know that she
participated in the

746
00:38:25,703 --> 00:38:28,543
extended bilateral meeting
President Obama had with

747
00:38:28,539 --> 00:38:31,279
Prime Minister Cameron in
London when he was there

748
00:38:31,275 --> 00:38:33,075
earlier this spring.

749
00:38:33,077 --> 00:38:35,417
I only know that because I
met her in the context of

750
00:38:35,413 --> 00:38:36,413
that meeting.

751
00:38:36,414 --> 00:38:41,384
But I don't know that
they've had an extended

752
00:38:41,385 --> 00:38:42,385
conversation before.

753
00:38:42,386 --> 00:38:44,456
The Press: The President
was speaking conditionally

754
00:38:44,455 --> 00:38:46,925
about Brexit recently.

755
00:38:46,924 --> 00:38:49,124
Like in the Canada press
conference, he was saying

756
00:38:49,126 --> 00:38:52,196
"if" Briton withdraws
from the EU.

757
00:38:52,196 --> 00:38:54,666
One of the first comments
to Home Secretary made

758
00:38:54,665 --> 00:38:57,205
after being chosen to
be Prime Minister was,

759
00:38:57,201 --> 00:38:59,971
"Brexit means Brexit and
we're going to make

760
00:38:59,970 --> 00:39:01,510
it a success."

761
00:39:01,505 --> 00:39:05,305
Does the President
now view Brexit as a certainty?

762
00:39:05,309 --> 00:39:06,609
Mr. Earnest: Mike, the
President's views on this

763
00:39:06,610 --> 00:39:07,610
have not changed.

764
00:39:07,611 --> 00:39:10,111
As you know -- as you
pointed out, he's spoken

765
00:39:10,114 --> 00:39:11,914
at length on this
and he's talked --

766
00:39:11,916 --> 00:39:13,956
The Press: --
he said "if."

767
00:39:13,951 --> 00:39:16,291
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that there have been some

768
00:39:16,287 --> 00:39:17,827
who have picked that out.

769
00:39:17,822 --> 00:39:19,492
I think what is also true
is the President has

770
00:39:19,490 --> 00:39:21,860
talked about it in
a way that has been

771
00:39:21,859 --> 00:39:22,929
non-conditional.

772
00:39:22,927 --> 00:39:37,337
So our expectation is that
the Brexit process will be

773
00:39:37,341 --> 00:39:39,341
one that will commence
when leaders in the UK

774
00:39:39,343 --> 00:39:41,343
invoke Article 50 of the
EU charter, and that will

775
00:39:41,345 --> 00:39:43,345
precipitate a negotiation
between UK officials and

776
00:39:43,347 --> 00:39:44,347
EU officials.

777
00:39:44,348 --> 00:39:47,888
And our hope and
expectation is that that

778
00:39:47,885 --> 00:39:53,925
is a negotiation that will
take place in an orderly

779
00:39:53,924 --> 00:40:00,134
fashion in a way that
should not unduly disrupt

780
00:40:00,131 --> 00:40:05,601
the economies of either
place, of either Europe or

781
00:40:05,603 --> 00:40:11,973
the UK -- the
EU and the UK.

782
00:40:11,976 --> 00:40:14,776
Because what we know is
that there is obviously an

783
00:40:14,779 --> 00:40:17,149
important economic
relationship between the

784
00:40:17,148 --> 00:40:21,618
UK and the EU now, and
even once Article 50 has

785
00:40:21,619 --> 00:40:23,859
been invoked there
will continue to be an

786
00:40:23,854 --> 00:40:27,354
important economic
relationship across the Channel.

787
00:40:27,358 --> 00:40:29,858
So it's in the interests
of both sides to ensure

788
00:40:29,860 --> 00:40:34,370
that that negotiation
is orderly.

789
00:40:34,365 --> 00:40:36,865
And the President
certainly has confidence

790
00:40:36,867 --> 00:40:38,937
that that's what both
sides will pursue.

791
00:40:38,936 --> 00:40:39,936
The Press: Last question.

792
00:40:39,937 --> 00:40:41,977
Despite all this epic
uncertainty around the

793
00:40:41,972 --> 00:40:43,242
world, the U.S.

794
00:40:43,240 --> 00:40:46,180
stock market's benchmark,
the S&P 500 at an all-time

795
00:40:46,177 --> 00:40:47,447
high today.

796
00:40:47,444 --> 00:40:49,244
What's the President's
reaction to that?

797
00:40:49,246 --> 00:40:51,516
Mr. Earnest: Well, Mike,
we don't respond to --

798
00:40:51,515 --> 00:40:54,315
react to specific
movements in the market.

799
00:40:54,318 --> 00:40:56,618
There are highly paid
analysts, including at

800
00:40:56,620 --> 00:40:59,220
your network, who can
opine on that, so I'll

801
00:40:59,223 --> 00:41:01,523
defer to them.

802
00:41:01,525 --> 00:41:04,025
I will, however, note
something that did not get

803
00:41:04,028 --> 00:41:06,028
a lot of attention --
understandably so -- at

804
00:41:06,030 --> 00:41:08,700
the end of last week,
which is that we got a

805
00:41:08,699 --> 00:41:12,399
very favorable jobs report
from the Department of

806
00:41:12,403 --> 00:41:16,943
Labor about the condition
of the labor market in the

807
00:41:16,941 --> 00:41:18,471
United States.

808
00:41:18,475 --> 00:41:22,375
It continues to be strong
and the envy of the rest

809
00:41:22,379 --> 00:41:24,719
of the world.

810
00:41:24,715 --> 00:41:27,385
So the President's view is
that we need to look for

811
00:41:27,384 --> 00:41:31,554
ways that we can build
on that momentum.

812
00:41:31,555 --> 00:41:33,555
But when it comes to
individual market

813
00:41:33,557 --> 00:41:35,857
movements, I'll let your
high-paid analysts take

814
00:41:35,860 --> 00:41:36,960
care of that.

815
00:41:36,961 --> 00:41:38,661
Chip -- nice to
see you today.

816
00:41:38,662 --> 00:41:40,562
The Press: Good
to see you.

817
00:41:40,564 --> 00:41:43,464
Two things -- there's been
a lot of progress in race

818
00:41:43,467 --> 00:41:45,567
relations in
recent decades.

819
00:41:45,569 --> 00:41:48,139
And I think most Americans
would agree with that.

820
00:41:48,138 --> 00:41:51,178
But I think most Americans
would probably also -- or

821
00:41:51,175 --> 00:41:52,645
at least a lot of
Americans -- would agree

822
00:41:52,643 --> 00:41:54,743
with former Philadelphia
and D.C. Police

823
00:41:54,745 --> 00:41:57,085
Commissioner who said --
Charles Ramsey -- who said

824
00:41:57,081 --> 00:41:59,651
this weekend, "We are
sitting on a powder keg

825
00:41:59,650 --> 00:42:00,680
right now."

826
00:42:00,684 --> 00:42:02,724
Do you think the President
would agree with that

827
00:42:02,720 --> 00:42:04,720
assessment that we're
sitting on a powder keg?

828
00:42:04,722 --> 00:42:08,022
And how disappointed or
mystified is he that it

829
00:42:08,025 --> 00:42:09,625
happened during
his presidency.

830
00:42:09,627 --> 00:42:12,127
This is a person who came
into office thinking he

831
00:42:12,129 --> 00:42:14,729
could heal race relations,
but things seem to have

832
00:42:14,732 --> 00:42:15,632
gone in the
other direction.

833
00:42:15,633 --> 00:42:17,633
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
even when the President

834
00:42:17,635 --> 00:42:24,875
was coming into office and
he was filled with so much

835
00:42:24,875 --> 00:42:27,115
optimism about the
direction of the country

836
00:42:27,111 --> 00:42:29,351
-- and continues to be
filled with that optimism

837
00:42:29,346 --> 00:42:33,756
-- I think even then, the
President was realistic

838
00:42:33,751 --> 00:42:39,221
about the legacy of race
relations in America and

839
00:42:39,223 --> 00:42:48,463
the generations' worth of
work that remains to be

840
00:42:48,465 --> 00:42:55,945
done to address that
legacy, and the

841
00:42:55,940 --> 00:42:57,940
consequences that it has
had for our society.

842
00:42:57,942 --> 00:43:04,852
But, again, there's no
denying that we've made

843
00:43:04,848 --> 00:43:07,088
important progress.

844
00:43:07,084 --> 00:43:10,954
As it relates to the
situation right now, I

845
00:43:10,955 --> 00:43:12,955
haven't asked the
President that direct

846
00:43:12,957 --> 00:43:20,167
question, but I think it
would be a mistake to

847
00:43:20,164 --> 00:43:29,974
downplay the acute concern
that's being felt not just

848
00:43:29,974 --> 00:43:34,914
by minorities in the
United States but by large

849
00:43:34,912 --> 00:43:36,912
segments of the white
community, too, about

850
00:43:36,914 --> 00:43:40,984
these persistent racial
disparities in law enforcement.

851
00:43:40,985 --> 00:43:45,485
There are steps that we
can take to address those

852
00:43:45,489 --> 00:43:48,989
disparities, and there are
steps that we can take to

853
00:43:48,993 --> 00:43:53,963
begin to repair the bonds
of trust that in too many

854
00:43:53,964 --> 00:43:56,804
communities have eroded
between law enforcement

855
00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:59,270
and the citizens they
are sworn to serve and protect.

856
00:43:59,269 --> 00:44:02,269
And the President believes
that it's too easy for

857
00:44:02,272 --> 00:44:12,182
those solutions to fall
on the priority list.

858
00:44:12,182 --> 00:44:16,282
And, look, local
officials have a lot of

859
00:44:16,286 --> 00:44:19,286
responsibilities,
wide-ranging responsibilities.

860
00:44:19,289 --> 00:44:21,289
The President believes
that this is one that's

861
00:44:21,291 --> 00:44:23,431
worth focusing on.

862
00:44:23,427 --> 00:44:27,697
It's one that we should be
conscientious about even

863
00:44:27,698 --> 00:44:31,668
when it's not in
the headlines.

864
00:44:31,668 --> 00:44:38,408
And the reason for that is
that we only make progress

865
00:44:38,409 --> 00:44:44,779
in this area through
tenacious implementation

866
00:44:44,782 --> 00:44:48,282
of some of these
solutions, and it requires

867
00:44:48,285 --> 00:44:52,185
persistence and
determination to see

868
00:44:52,189 --> 00:44:53,189
them through.

869
00:44:53,190 --> 00:44:58,760
But, again, there's no
better example than Dallas

870
00:44:58,762 --> 00:45:01,732
in terms of the results
of their efforts.

871
00:45:01,732 --> 00:45:03,772
For several years, they
were dogged, they have

872
00:45:03,767 --> 00:45:07,267
been dogged in
implementing some of these

873
00:45:07,271 --> 00:45:11,111
reforms and being more
transparent in reforming

874
00:45:11,108 --> 00:45:13,108
the training methods,
in increasing

875
00:45:13,110 --> 00:45:14,450
training requirements.

876
00:45:14,445 --> 00:45:17,115
And all of that did lead
to a situation where there

877
00:45:17,114 --> 00:45:23,684
was improved trust between
the minority community and

878
00:45:23,687 --> 00:45:24,857
the police department.

879
00:45:24,855 --> 00:45:30,225
There were many fewer
reports of excessive force used.

880
00:45:30,227 --> 00:45:32,767
There were many fewer --
we've seen a significant

881
00:45:32,763 --> 00:45:37,403
decline in police-involved
shootings.

882
00:45:37,401 --> 00:45:41,001
And all of that took place
at the same time that the

883
00:45:41,004 --> 00:45:43,804
Dallas community was
benefitting from

884
00:45:43,807 --> 00:45:46,577
historically
low crime rates.

885
00:45:46,577 --> 00:45:49,017
And I think the President
is pretty confident that's

886
00:45:49,012 --> 00:45:53,082
not a coincidence --
that we can enhance the

887
00:45:53,083 --> 00:45:57,493
effectiveness of crime
fighters if they are

888
00:45:57,488 --> 00:45:59,858
trusted by the community.

889
00:45:59,857 --> 00:46:05,267
So the President believes
that's a priority worth

890
00:46:05,262 --> 00:46:08,762
focusing on, and I can
assure you that that's

891
00:46:08,765 --> 00:46:10,765
something that his
administration will

892
00:46:10,767 --> 00:46:13,107
continue to be focused
on in the months ahead.

893
00:46:13,103 --> 00:46:13,803
The Press: One quickly.

894
00:46:13,804 --> 00:46:15,074
Do you know if the
President saw Dallas

895
00:46:15,072 --> 00:46:18,242
Police Chief David Brown's
amazingly plainspoken

896
00:46:18,242 --> 00:46:19,612
press conference
earlier today?

897
00:46:19,610 --> 00:46:22,150
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
that he saw it earlier

898
00:46:22,146 --> 00:46:26,986
today, but I know the
President has been reading

899
00:46:26,984 --> 00:46:32,894
some of the coverage of
Chief Brown's appearance

900
00:46:32,890 --> 00:46:34,890
and has been quite
impressed by his grace

901
00:46:34,892 --> 00:46:35,892
under fire.

902
00:46:35,893 --> 00:46:36,763
The Press: Is he going
to meet with him?

903
00:46:36,760 --> 00:46:37,760
Mr. Earnest: I would
expect the President will

904
00:46:37,761 --> 00:46:39,331
have an opportunity to at
least see him when he's in

905
00:46:39,329 --> 00:46:40,769
Dallas tomorrow.

906
00:46:40,764 --> 00:46:44,904
I don't know if they'll
have time for an extended

907
00:46:44,902 --> 00:46:46,902
meeting, but I would
expect that the President

908
00:46:46,904 --> 00:46:48,904
will compliment him on the
steady leadership that he

909
00:46:48,906 --> 00:46:50,676
has shown under
unimaginably

910
00:46:50,674 --> 00:46:53,344
difficult circumstances.

911
00:46:53,343 --> 00:46:54,343
Alexis.

912
00:46:54,344 --> 00:46:59,314
The Press: -- speech or
his remarks tomorrow and

913
00:46:59,316 --> 00:47:00,916
also the meeting
at the White House.

914
00:47:00,918 --> 00:47:03,718
There are critics of the
President who have said

915
00:47:03,720 --> 00:47:05,960
that when the President
starts talking about gun

916
00:47:05,956 --> 00:47:09,196
safety or gun control,
that listening stops and

917
00:47:09,193 --> 00:47:13,593
polarization and
divisions arise.

918
00:47:13,597 --> 00:47:14,867
I know the President
doesn't agree with that,

919
00:47:14,865 --> 00:47:18,405
but can we expect to hear
him talk about gun safety

920
00:47:18,402 --> 00:47:23,312
or gun control or gun
legislation in the remarks

921
00:47:23,307 --> 00:47:25,107
tomorrow or Wednesday?

922
00:47:25,108 --> 00:47:30,248
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
just start by saying I

923
00:47:30,247 --> 00:47:31,987
can't offer a detailed
preview of what the

924
00:47:31,982 --> 00:47:33,622
President will cover and
won't cover in his

925
00:47:33,617 --> 00:47:35,587
remarks tomorrow.

926
00:47:35,586 --> 00:47:37,016
We'll see if we can get
you some better guidance

927
00:47:37,020 --> 00:47:38,020
in advance of the speech
-- I can't promise,

928
00:47:38,021 --> 00:47:41,361
though, that I'll
be able to do that.

929
00:47:41,358 --> 00:47:43,358
But the President did have
an opportunity to talk

930
00:47:43,360 --> 00:47:45,360
about this at some
point over the weekend.

931
00:47:45,362 --> 00:47:47,362
I believe it may have been
in his news conference on

932
00:47:47,364 --> 00:47:50,204
Saturday where he was
asked a similar question.

933
00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:53,570
And you said in your
question that when the

934
00:47:53,570 --> 00:47:55,570
President mentions gun
control that he's often

935
00:47:55,572 --> 00:47:57,242
accused by his critics of
politicizing the situation

936
00:47:57,241 --> 00:48:03,751
and people have a tendency
to sort of tune him out.

937
00:48:03,747 --> 00:48:05,747
And you said the President
disagrees with that.

938
00:48:05,749 --> 00:48:08,549
I don't think the
President disagrees with that.

939
00:48:08,552 --> 00:48:12,652
I think he is keenly aware
that there are politicians

940
00:48:12,656 --> 00:48:16,096
in Washington, D.C.
that when it comes to

941
00:48:16,093 --> 00:48:20,293
significant incidents of
gun violence, that they

942
00:48:20,297 --> 00:48:23,167
close their eyes and they
hold their ears and they

943
00:48:23,166 --> 00:48:24,306
wish it away.

944
00:48:24,301 --> 00:48:29,171
They hope that
people won't notice.

945
00:48:29,172 --> 00:48:31,412
The President is well
aware of that for one

946
00:48:31,408 --> 00:48:34,378
reason, and one reason
only, which is that is the

947
00:48:34,378 --> 00:48:38,248
chief impediment to us
making progress on this issue.

948
00:48:38,248 --> 00:48:43,418
If there were a
willingness to just try to

949
00:48:43,420 --> 00:48:48,530
focus on some common-sense
things, we could make some

950
00:48:48,525 --> 00:48:50,525
progress on gun violence
in this country.

951
00:48:50,527 --> 00:48:52,527
The President has never
made the case -- and I

952
00:48:52,529 --> 00:48:57,139
certainly have never made
the case -- that there are

953
00:48:57,134 --> 00:48:59,704
common-sense things that
can be done to eliminate

954
00:48:59,703 --> 00:49:02,203
every single act of gun
violence in America.

955
00:49:02,205 --> 00:49:04,005
That won't happen.

956
00:49:04,007 --> 00:49:06,007
And the President
is aware of that.

957
00:49:06,009 --> 00:49:08,009
But the President's view
is if there are some

958
00:49:08,011 --> 00:49:10,011
common-sense steps that
can be taken that don't

959
00:49:10,013 --> 00:49:12,013
undermine the
constitutional rights of

960
00:49:12,015 --> 00:49:14,015
law-abiding Americans,
then why wouldn't we do it.

961
00:49:14,017 --> 00:49:17,817
And the only reason we
don't do it is because

962
00:49:17,821 --> 00:49:22,891
when someone -- whenever
anyone even raises that

963
00:49:22,893 --> 00:49:31,233
prospect, whenever someone
even mentions it, they're

964
00:49:31,234 --> 00:49:36,804
criticized and accused
of politicizing the situation.

965
00:49:36,807 --> 00:49:37,807
And that's unfortunate.

966
00:49:37,808 --> 00:49:41,678
But the President is quite
aware of this phenomenon

967
00:49:41,678 --> 00:49:44,978
and he finds it intensely
frustrating -- and again,

968
00:49:44,981 --> 00:49:47,681
not just because he's the
subject of criticism --

969
00:49:47,684 --> 00:49:49,754
he's been doing this for
a while now and I don't

970
00:49:49,753 --> 00:49:53,793
think he's particularly
offended or wounded by

971
00:49:53,790 --> 00:49:55,060
that criticism.

972
00:49:55,058 --> 00:49:57,858
But he's intensely
frustrated that it is

973
00:49:57,861 --> 00:50:02,801
preventing the kind of
rational, common-sense

974
00:50:02,799 --> 00:50:08,439
conversation that is part
and parcel of a

975
00:50:08,438 --> 00:50:09,438
reasonable solution.

976
00:50:09,439 --> 00:50:13,679
And in this case, it's
tragic that we've not been

977
00:50:13,677 --> 00:50:16,977
able to reach this
reasonable solution

978
00:50:16,980 --> 00:50:19,050
because innocent
people are dying.

979
00:50:19,049 --> 00:50:22,089
Innocent people are losing
their lives because of the

980
00:50:22,085 --> 00:50:25,225
refusal of the United
States Congress to even

981
00:50:25,222 --> 00:50:26,822
have this conversation.

982
00:50:26,823 --> 00:50:29,193
The House of
Representatives --

983
00:50:29,192 --> 00:50:31,192
Republicans in the House
of Representatives won't

984
00:50:31,194 --> 00:50:33,394
even vote on it.

985
00:50:33,397 --> 00:50:35,537
So we're not even to the
conversation -- to the

986
00:50:35,532 --> 00:50:37,702
part of the conversation
where we say, oh, they

987
00:50:37,701 --> 00:50:41,071
should support this.

988
00:50:41,071 --> 00:50:43,071
We're at the part of the
conversation where we're

989
00:50:43,073 --> 00:50:45,543
trying to convince
Republicans in the House

990
00:50:45,542 --> 00:50:49,312
of Representatives that
they should even have a

991
00:50:49,312 --> 00:50:50,952
debate on it.

992
00:50:50,947 --> 00:50:52,987
That is the debate that
they've refused to have --

993
00:50:52,983 --> 00:50:54,453
they've refused
to have votes.

994
00:50:54,451 --> 00:50:58,491
And again, it's not just
the President who is

995
00:50:58,488 --> 00:50:59,488
frustrated by that.

996
00:50:59,489 --> 00:51:03,529
I think you've seen rather
notable expressions of

997
00:51:03,527 --> 00:51:06,327
frustration from House
Democrats who would like

998
00:51:06,329 --> 00:51:08,329
to see that situation
change in the

999
00:51:08,331 --> 00:51:09,331
House of Representatives.

1000
00:51:09,332 --> 00:51:11,932
And I think they're only
reflecting the views of

1001
00:51:11,935 --> 00:51:13,935
people all across the
country who share

1002
00:51:13,937 --> 00:51:14,937
that frustration.

1003
00:51:14,938 --> 00:51:16,938
And, again, the kinds
of proposals that we're

1004
00:51:16,940 --> 00:51:18,940
talking about are not
controversial ones.

1005
00:51:18,942 --> 00:51:21,982
These are proposals that
are not -- that do enjoy

1006
00:51:21,978 --> 00:51:23,748
the strong support of a
majority of Democrats, a

1007
00:51:23,747 --> 00:51:25,587
majority of Republicans
and, in most cases, a

1008
00:51:25,582 --> 00:51:29,422
majority of gun owners
even support the kinds of

1009
00:51:29,419 --> 00:51:33,019
measures that Democrats
are advocating for.

1010
00:51:33,023 --> 00:51:36,593
The Press: Based on what
you were just saying, can

1011
00:51:36,593 --> 00:51:39,463
we pretty much guarantee
that the NRA will be

1012
00:51:39,463 --> 00:51:42,863
invited to be here at the
White House on Wednesday?

1013
00:51:42,866 --> 00:51:44,836
Mr. Earnest: Well, as you
know, there are a number

1014
00:51:44,835 --> 00:51:46,835
of occasions where the
NRA has been invited to

1015
00:51:46,837 --> 00:51:48,837
participate in White House
events and they've turned

1016
00:51:48,839 --> 00:51:49,839
down that opportunity.

1017
00:51:49,840 --> 00:51:53,640
The most recent example
I can think of is the

1018
00:51:53,643 --> 00:51:56,013
President convened a town
hall meeting that was

1019
00:51:56,012 --> 00:51:59,082
organized by some of
your colleagues at CNN.

1020
00:51:59,082 --> 00:52:01,082
There were a diversity of
views represented at that

1021
00:52:01,084 --> 00:52:03,454
town hall meeting.

1022
00:52:03,453 --> 00:52:06,993
That event took place
probably within walking

1023
00:52:06,990 --> 00:52:08,990
distance -- I guess if you
were willing to spend a

1024
00:52:08,992 --> 00:52:11,032
couple hours -- just a
couple miles from NRA

1025
00:52:11,027 --> 00:52:13,167
Headquarters, and they
turned down an invitation

1026
00:52:13,163 --> 00:52:15,333
to participate
in that event.

1027
00:52:15,332 --> 00:52:18,772
So I don't know whether or
not they'll be invited on

1028
00:52:18,768 --> 00:52:20,768
Wednesday, but we'll do
what we can to try to get

1029
00:52:20,770 --> 00:52:22,640
you a list of people
who do participate.

1030
00:52:22,639 --> 00:52:24,079
The Press: And one
other follow-up.

1031
00:52:24,074 --> 00:52:27,074
The Washington Post, in
the series that they have

1032
00:52:27,077 --> 00:52:29,677
been running called Fatal
Force, with all the

1033
00:52:29,679 --> 00:52:32,579
statistics that they
have spent time pulling

1034
00:52:32,582 --> 00:52:36,052
together, have indicated
that, based on the

1035
00:52:36,052 --> 00:52:40,392
statistics, this year,
cameras, video cameras of

1036
00:52:40,390 --> 00:52:45,660
all kinds -- body cameras,
whatever -- have had no

1037
00:52:45,662 --> 00:52:48,932
deterrent effect at all
on the statistics they've

1038
00:52:48,932 --> 00:52:51,172
seen of police
shootings this year.

1039
00:52:51,167 --> 00:52:53,907
Does the President
continue to believe that

1040
00:52:53,904 --> 00:53:00,514
body cameras -- video,
Facebook Live -- that they

1041
00:53:00,510 --> 00:53:01,850
function as a deterrent?

1042
00:53:01,845 --> 00:53:04,045
Or is that an open
question in his mind?

1043
00:53:04,047 --> 00:53:06,287
Mr. Earnest: Well, my
understanding is that

1044
00:53:06,283 --> 00:53:08,753
there is some research to
substantiate the claim

1045
00:53:08,752 --> 00:53:11,552
that at least when it
comes to body-worn cameras

1046
00:53:11,555 --> 00:53:18,025
that it does have an
impact on reducing the

1047
00:53:18,028 --> 00:53:21,398
frequency of violence in
interactions between law

1048
00:53:21,398 --> 00:53:25,068
enforcement and citizens.

1049
00:53:25,068 --> 00:53:29,878
I vaguely recall one study
that had been conducted in

1050
00:53:29,873 --> 00:53:33,073
a city in Arizona, I
believe, that did show

1051
00:53:33,076 --> 00:53:42,786
that there was a reduction
in reports of the use of

1052
00:53:42,786 --> 00:53:46,456
excessive force in
interactions between law

1053
00:53:46,456 --> 00:53:49,096
enforcement and members
of the community.

1054
00:53:49,092 --> 00:53:51,592
So I think what the
President would say is

1055
00:53:51,595 --> 00:53:54,595
that when it comes to the
academic research, there's

1056
00:53:54,598 --> 00:53:56,598
probably some more work
that needs to be done to

1057
00:53:56,600 --> 00:53:59,940
verify exactly what impact
and how significant an

1058
00:53:59,936 --> 00:54:04,646
impact those
cameras could have.

1059
00:54:04,641 --> 00:54:13,651
I think there is some
speculation that even if

1060
00:54:13,650 --> 00:54:19,660
the impact is not
measurable yet, there is

1061
00:54:19,656 --> 00:54:27,936
an intuitive impact on
enhancing trust between

1062
00:54:27,931 --> 00:54:31,501
law enforcement officers
and members of the

1063
00:54:31,501 --> 00:54:36,071
community; that you could
imagine it gives the

1064
00:54:36,072 --> 00:54:38,372
police department the
opportunity to be more

1065
00:54:38,375 --> 00:54:41,045
transparent when
conducting investigations

1066
00:54:41,044 --> 00:54:43,744
into individual
incidents, for example.

1067
00:54:43,747 --> 00:54:46,787
In some cases, that
evidence can be used to

1068
00:54:46,783 --> 00:54:50,883
highlight the heroic
work of law

1069
00:54:50,887 --> 00:54:54,527
enforcement officers.

1070
00:54:54,524 --> 00:54:58,994
But I think that it also
serves to give some

1071
00:54:58,995 --> 00:55:04,605
members of the community
confidence in those

1072
00:55:04,601 --> 00:55:06,601
relationships and in
those interactions.

1073
00:55:06,603 --> 00:55:09,803
And that may be the kind
of impact that is not

1074
00:55:09,806 --> 00:55:15,046
measurable in the short
term, but it could be

1075
00:55:15,045 --> 00:55:19,585
worthwhile in trying
to address this other

1076
00:55:19,582 --> 00:55:22,982
question that's a little
harder to measure.

1077
00:55:22,986 --> 00:55:24,016
Rich.

1078
00:55:24,020 --> 00:55:26,820
The Press: Josh, you
mentioned that there are

1079
00:55:26,823 --> 00:55:28,963
racial disparities in
our own criminal justice

1080
00:55:28,958 --> 00:55:32,428
system and that local
officials have a lot of

1081
00:55:32,429 --> 00:55:35,629
things to deal with -- a
lot of responsibilities --

1082
00:55:35,632 --> 00:55:37,502
and that there are limits
on how much the federal

1083
00:55:37,500 --> 00:55:40,370
government and federal
officials can be involved

1084
00:55:40,370 --> 00:55:42,270
in these types of things.

1085
00:55:42,272 --> 00:55:44,572
Does the White House
believe that the federal

1086
00:55:44,574 --> 00:55:46,844
government should play
a greater role in

1087
00:55:46,843 --> 00:55:48,043
local policing?

1088
00:55:48,044 --> 00:55:50,114
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think it's a long

1089
00:55:50,113 --> 00:55:53,883
tradition in our country
for these kinds of law

1090
00:55:53,883 --> 00:55:56,353
enforcement activities to
be organized at the local

1091
00:55:56,352 --> 00:55:58,352
level, and I think there's
some good, common-sense

1092
00:55:58,354 --> 00:55:59,354
reasons for that.

1093
00:55:59,355 --> 00:56:02,025
So this administration
has not been a part of

1094
00:56:02,025 --> 00:56:05,795
advocating that somehow
more local law enforcement

1095
00:56:05,795 --> 00:56:07,765
efforts should be
organized by the

1096
00:56:07,764 --> 00:56:09,304
federal government.

1097
00:56:09,299 --> 00:56:13,099
Rather, we are encouraging
local law enforcement

1098
00:56:13,103 --> 00:56:15,543
agencies to avail
themselves of the

1099
00:56:15,538 --> 00:56:18,208
resources of the federal
government based on the

1100
00:56:18,208 --> 00:56:19,948
experience of other
local law

1101
00:56:19,943 --> 00:56:21,483
enforcement organizations.

1102
00:56:21,478 --> 00:56:24,718
So, essentially, the work
of this task force was

1103
00:56:24,714 --> 00:56:26,784
done by going around and
visiting communities all

1104
00:56:26,783 --> 00:56:27,783
across the country.

1105
00:56:27,784 --> 00:56:29,784
Many of the people who
were on task force, I

1106
00:56:29,786 --> 00:56:31,786
would point out, were not
federal officials but were

1107
00:56:31,788 --> 00:56:33,788
people who had expertise
in their own right.

1108
00:56:33,790 --> 00:56:37,430
They were either civil
rights activists, academics.

1109
00:56:37,427 --> 00:56:40,967
And Chief Ramsey, who was
the chief of police here

1110
00:56:40,964 --> 00:56:43,104
in Washington and
Philadelphia -- and he was

1111
00:56:43,099 --> 00:56:45,099
mentioned earlier -- was
one of the leaders of

1112
00:56:45,101 --> 00:56:46,401
that task force.

1113
00:56:46,402 --> 00:56:51,242
So this work was done by
people who have their own

1114
00:56:51,241 --> 00:56:53,111
relevant expertise.

1115
00:56:53,109 --> 00:56:56,749
And what the federal
government essentially did

1116
00:56:56,746 --> 00:56:59,546
was served to convene
these individuals, give

1117
00:56:59,549 --> 00:57:01,949
them a forum for doing
this work and generating

1118
00:57:01,951 --> 00:57:04,951
this report, and then
using our relationships

1119
00:57:04,954 --> 00:57:06,954
with law enforcement
agencies all across the

1120
00:57:06,956 --> 00:57:09,196
country to communicate the
findings and make sure

1121
00:57:09,192 --> 00:57:12,132
that people are aware of
what these reforms and

1122
00:57:12,128 --> 00:57:16,268
what these best practices
have yielded in other

1123
00:57:16,266 --> 00:57:19,966
communities, and tried
to use that to encourage

1124
00:57:19,969 --> 00:57:21,969
local communities to
pursue the same kinds

1125
00:57:21,971 --> 00:57:23,871
of reforms.

1126
00:57:23,873 --> 00:57:26,313
A significant number of
local communities have.

1127
00:57:26,309 --> 00:57:27,779
But --

1128
00:57:27,777 --> 00:57:29,877
The Press: But what we've
seen in the last week

1129
00:57:29,879 --> 00:57:31,819
doesn't prompt a desire in
the White House or a call

1130
00:57:31,815 --> 00:57:34,215
in the White House to
mandate certain --

1131
00:57:34,217 --> 00:57:37,457
Mr. Earnest: No, our
position on that hasn't changed.

1132
00:57:37,453 --> 00:57:40,023
There's a well-established
tradition in America for

1133
00:57:40,023 --> 00:57:43,323
many of these law
enforcement activities to

1134
00:57:43,326 --> 00:57:45,326
be organized at the local
level, and there are a lot

1135
00:57:45,328 --> 00:57:46,328
of good reasons for that.

1136
00:57:46,329 --> 00:57:48,329
The Press: You were
talking a bit about

1137
00:57:48,331 --> 00:57:49,331
body cameras.

1138
00:57:49,332 --> 00:57:54,172
Would the White House
embrace efforts to require

1139
00:57:54,170 --> 00:57:56,110
police wear body cameras?

1140
00:57:56,105 --> 00:57:59,505
And that does get into
what we were just discussing.

1141
00:57:59,509 --> 00:58:03,609
Mr. Earnest: No, what we
have found is that I know

1142
00:58:03,613 --> 00:58:05,613
that there a number of law
enforcement agencies that

1143
00:58:05,615 --> 00:58:08,485
do think that body-worn
cameras are a good idea,

1144
00:58:08,484 --> 00:58:10,554
but yet they don't have
the resources to pay for

1145
00:58:10,553 --> 00:58:11,853
those cameras.

1146
00:58:11,855 --> 00:58:13,855
And so what the federal
government has been

1147
00:58:13,857 --> 00:58:19,027
chiefly doing is trying to
mobilize resources to help

1148
00:58:19,028 --> 00:58:23,538
local law enforcement
agencies make that

1149
00:58:23,533 --> 00:58:25,533
purchase and make
that investment.

1150
00:58:25,535 --> 00:58:28,635
We've also tried to,
again, work with law

1151
00:58:28,638 --> 00:58:31,978
enforcement agencies that
have been able to use

1152
00:58:31,975 --> 00:58:35,345
video from body-worn
cameras and policies

1153
00:58:35,345 --> 00:58:37,415
related to body-worn
cameras, to have an impact

1154
00:58:37,413 --> 00:58:39,483
on their communities,
and make sure that other

1155
00:58:39,482 --> 00:58:41,482
communities are aware
of how they can best

1156
00:58:41,484 --> 00:58:43,924
implement this new
technology to maximize the

1157
00:58:43,920 --> 00:58:45,760
benefit associated
with it.

1158
00:58:45,755 --> 00:58:48,995
So offering that kind
of practical advice and

1159
00:58:48,992 --> 00:58:51,662
expertise is another
appropriate role for the

1160
00:58:51,661 --> 00:58:53,661
federal government to
play, and I know that

1161
00:58:53,663 --> 00:58:56,803
that's one that some local
communities have expressed

1162
00:58:56,799 --> 00:58:57,799
an appreciation for.

1163
00:58:57,800 --> 00:58:59,800
The Press: Responding to
President Obama's comments

1164
00:58:59,802 --> 00:59:02,542
from this weekend -- he
did catch some criticism

1165
00:59:02,538 --> 00:59:04,078
on the right and the left.

1166
00:59:04,073 --> 00:59:07,273
An example -- William
Johnson of the National

1167
00:59:07,277 --> 00:59:09,917
Association of Police
Organizations, a union,

1168
00:59:09,913 --> 00:59:13,353
says the President should
criticize the entire Black

1169
00:59:13,349 --> 00:59:15,519
Lives Matter movement,
and not doing so only

1170
00:59:15,518 --> 00:59:17,718
encourages violence
against police officers.

1171
00:59:17,720 --> 00:59:21,520
On the other end, Cornel
West says the President is

1172
00:59:21,524 --> 00:59:24,424
essentially too
deferential to the police

1173
00:59:24,427 --> 00:59:27,127
and needs to be more
critical of police departments.

1174
00:59:27,130 --> 00:59:32,470
Will the President address
that criticism tomorrow,

1175
00:59:32,468 --> 00:59:34,338
or at all?

1176
00:59:34,337 --> 00:59:38,407
Mr. Earnest: Well, Rich,
I think anybody who was

1177
00:59:38,408 --> 00:59:41,578
interested in
understanding exactly what

1178
00:59:41,577 --> 00:59:47,547
the President's views on
this topic were, or are,

1179
00:59:47,550 --> 00:59:49,690
would take a close look at
the remarks that President

1180
00:59:49,686 --> 00:59:54,126
Obama delivered when we
arrived in Warsaw late on

1181
00:59:54,123 --> 00:59:58,023
Thursday night.

1182
00:59:58,027 --> 01:00:02,867
In those remarks, the
President -- these are

1183
01:00:02,865 --> 01:00:04,865
remarks, by the way,
that took place -- the

1184
01:00:04,867 --> 01:00:06,937
President delivered hours
before the shootings in Dallas.

1185
01:00:06,936 --> 01:00:16,716
But in the context of
talking about his concern

1186
01:00:16,713 --> 01:00:21,313
about persistent racial
disparities in America,

1187
01:00:21,317 --> 01:00:24,417
the President talked about
the everyday heroism of

1188
01:00:24,420 --> 01:00:28,560
men and women in
law enforcement.

1189
01:00:28,558 --> 01:00:30,558
He talked about the fact
that they put their lives

1190
01:00:30,560 --> 01:00:34,400
on the line every single
day to protect us, and

1191
01:00:34,397 --> 01:00:41,007
that the vast majority of
those men and women do an

1192
01:00:41,004 --> 01:00:42,744
outstanding job.

1193
01:00:42,739 --> 01:00:44,739
They are faithful to the
commitment that they have

1194
01:00:44,741 --> 01:00:49,781
made to serve and protect
those communities where

1195
01:00:49,779 --> 01:00:51,949
they work.

1196
01:00:51,948 --> 01:00:57,018
The President also said
that we mourn the lives

1197
01:00:57,020 --> 01:01:02,560
that are lost while
protecting us -- a

1198
01:01:02,558 --> 01:01:04,428
tragically prescient line.

1199
01:01:04,427 --> 01:01:08,397
The President also
reaffirmed something that

1200
01:01:08,398 --> 01:01:10,968
he said in his State of
the Union address back in

1201
01:01:10,967 --> 01:01:18,037
2015, where he talked
about the right of law

1202
01:01:18,041 --> 01:01:26,211
enforcement officers to
go home at the end of the shift.

1203
01:01:26,215 --> 01:01:29,415
All of this before the
strong feelings that were

1204
01:01:29,419 --> 01:01:35,529
aroused by the tragic
shootings in Dallas.

1205
01:01:35,525 --> 01:01:37,525
And the reason that the
President decided to

1206
01:01:37,527 --> 01:01:40,597
deliver those remarks is
because he did want to

1207
01:01:40,596 --> 01:01:45,666
articulate the fact of
the persistent racial

1208
01:01:45,668 --> 01:01:48,068
disparities in our
criminal justice system.

1209
01:01:48,071 --> 01:01:50,311
And he ticked through a
variety of statistics --

1210
01:01:50,306 --> 01:01:52,306
not just from one source,
but from a variety of

1211
01:01:52,308 --> 01:01:56,378
sources -- about that
reality and about how that

1212
01:01:56,379 --> 01:02:04,389
reality leaves some people
feeling like they're not

1213
01:02:04,387 --> 01:02:06,827
being treated the same
just because of the color

1214
01:02:06,823 --> 01:02:08,353
of their skin.

1215
01:02:08,357 --> 01:02:11,797
And the President affirmed
that fair-minded people of

1216
01:02:11,794 --> 01:02:17,234
all races should be, and
are, rightly concerned

1217
01:02:17,233 --> 01:02:19,373
about that situation.

1218
01:02:19,368 --> 01:02:22,538
So all these questions
that we've been facing and

1219
01:02:22,538 --> 01:02:25,108
asking ourselves in the
aftermath of the Dallas

1220
01:02:25,108 --> 01:02:27,148
shooting about racial
disparities in our

1221
01:02:27,143 --> 01:02:29,743
criminal justice system,
about the need to support

1222
01:02:29,745 --> 01:02:31,715
our men and women in law
enforcement, about the

1223
01:02:31,714 --> 01:02:33,714
fact that the vast
majority of our men and

1224
01:02:33,716 --> 01:02:35,986
women in law enforcement
do an outstanding job

1225
01:02:35,985 --> 01:02:39,055
every day -- these are all
things that the President

1226
01:02:39,055 --> 01:02:41,055
of the United States said
hours before the shooting

1227
01:02:41,057 --> 01:02:46,727
took place.

1228
01:02:46,729 --> 01:02:50,269
So, again, I think any
sort of fair-minded person

1229
01:02:50,266 --> 01:02:52,266
who's interested in
understanding what the

1230
01:02:52,268 --> 01:02:54,508
President actually
believes about all this

1231
01:02:54,504 --> 01:02:58,174
has a good way to
figure that out.

1232
01:02:58,174 --> 01:03:00,744
And that's simply to
listen to what the

1233
01:03:00,743 --> 01:03:03,443
President had to say when
he arrived in Warsaw late

1234
01:03:03,446 --> 01:03:08,046
on Thursday night, just
hours before the shooting

1235
01:03:08,050 --> 01:03:09,090
in Dallas.

1236
01:03:09,085 --> 01:03:11,825
The Press: And finally, if
you add up the number --

1237
01:03:11,821 --> 01:03:14,561
this is by a couple of
measures -- the number of

1238
01:03:14,557 --> 01:03:17,497
mass shootings under
the previous two-term

1239
01:03:17,493 --> 01:03:19,933
Presidents, and you
combine them, it's about

1240
01:03:19,929 --> 01:03:22,499
what President Obama
has been in office for.

1241
01:03:22,498 --> 01:03:25,268
What is the White House
assessment of why that is

1242
01:03:25,268 --> 01:03:27,108
and what's going on?

1243
01:03:27,103 --> 01:03:29,003
Mr. Earnest: Well, Rich,
I haven't seen those

1244
01:03:29,005 --> 01:03:30,675
statistics, so maybe
that's something we can

1245
01:03:30,673 --> 01:03:31,913
look at more carefully.

1246
01:03:31,908 --> 01:03:39,148
I think the President
has had far too many

1247
01:03:39,148 --> 01:03:43,048
occasions, unfortunately,
to talk about gun violence

1248
01:03:43,052 --> 01:03:45,852
and the flood of
guns on our streets.

1249
01:03:45,855 --> 01:03:53,165
And he's been disappointed
that Congress hasn't been

1250
01:03:53,162 --> 01:03:55,162
able to take some
common-sense steps to try

1251
01:03:55,164 --> 01:03:58,034
to address that problem.

1252
01:03:58,034 --> 01:04:03,144
One other angle -- there
are so many arguments that

1253
01:04:03,139 --> 01:04:06,039
make the position that is
taken by the NRA and their

1254
01:04:06,042 --> 01:04:08,942
supporters in the Congress
so unreasonable and so

1255
01:04:08,945 --> 01:04:13,915
illogical and, frankly,
dangerous, given the fact

1256
01:04:13,916 --> 01:04:17,686
that their refusal to act
actually does increase the

1257
01:04:17,687 --> 01:04:23,457
risk that innocent
people face.

1258
01:04:23,459 --> 01:04:28,169
But the argument that we
often see from those in

1259
01:04:28,164 --> 01:04:32,634
those quarters is that the
best way to stop a bad guy

1260
01:04:32,635 --> 01:04:40,675
with a gun is a
good guy with a gun.

1261
01:04:40,676 --> 01:04:45,346
The fact is, because of
the open carry laws in

1262
01:04:45,348 --> 01:04:49,418
Texas, on Thursday night
in Dallas, there were a

1263
01:04:49,418 --> 01:04:52,388
whole lot of people
carrying guns -- not just

1264
01:04:52,388 --> 01:04:54,788
police officers.

1265
01:04:54,790 --> 01:04:58,630
There were innocent people
who were, understandably,

1266
01:04:58,628 --> 01:05:01,868
by law enforcement, who
were detained and arrested

1267
01:05:01,864 --> 01:05:05,734
because they were
considered suspects -- and

1268
01:05:05,735 --> 01:05:06,735
reasonably so.

1269
01:05:06,736 --> 01:05:10,236
When police officers are
taking fire, somebody

1270
01:05:10,239 --> 01:05:14,949
walking around with an
assault weapon is a suspect.

1271
01:05:14,944 --> 01:05:17,914
And I actually think it is
a testament to the courage

1272
01:05:17,913 --> 01:05:22,923
and professionalism of
the men and women of the

1273
01:05:22,918 --> 01:05:26,188
Dallas Police Department
that they didn't shoot any

1274
01:05:26,188 --> 01:05:28,288
innocent people.

1275
01:05:28,291 --> 01:05:31,031
There were all sorts of
suspects in front of them.

1276
01:05:31,027 --> 01:05:34,267
The justification that's
often used for the use of

1277
01:05:34,263 --> 01:05:41,833
deadly force is, well,
that person had a gun.

1278
01:05:41,837 --> 01:05:48,777
So I think it is another
illustration of how

1279
01:05:48,778 --> 01:05:53,178
indefensible the position
is of the NRA and their

1280
01:05:53,182 --> 01:05:55,152
supporters in Congress.

1281
01:05:55,151 --> 01:05:58,421
But it also is another
testament to the bravery

1282
01:05:58,421 --> 01:06:05,231
and courage in a terrible
situation by men and women

1283
01:06:05,227 --> 01:06:07,267
of the Dallas Police
Department and the men and

1284
01:06:07,263 --> 01:06:09,533
women of the other local
law enforcement agencies

1285
01:06:09,532 --> 01:06:11,972
that were on
duty that night.

1286
01:06:11,967 --> 01:06:12,967
Chris.

1287
01:06:12,968 --> 01:06:14,968
The Press: Josh, tomorrow
the House Committee on

1288
01:06:14,970 --> 01:06:17,170
Oversight and Government
Reform will hold a hearing

1289
01:06:17,173 --> 01:06:19,373
on the First Amendment
Defense Act, a religious

1290
01:06:19,375 --> 01:06:21,015
freedom bill that critics
say would enable

1291
01:06:21,010 --> 01:06:22,650
anti-LGBT discrimination.

1292
01:06:22,645 --> 01:06:25,285
Tomorrow is also the
one-month anniversary of

1293
01:06:25,281 --> 01:06:27,981
the Orlando shooting,
which, as you know,

1294
01:06:27,983 --> 01:06:31,423
claimed the lives of 49
people and wounded 53

1295
01:06:31,420 --> 01:06:32,790
others at a gay nightclub.

1296
01:06:32,788 --> 01:06:34,788
Should the committee
cancel the hearing?

1297
01:06:34,790 --> 01:06:37,360
Mr. Earnest: Chris, I have
to admit I'm not aware of

1298
01:06:37,360 --> 01:06:40,530
the hearing at all, and
I'm not sure what bill

1299
01:06:40,529 --> 01:06:42,369
they're planning to
consider, and I don't know

1300
01:06:42,365 --> 01:06:43,535
anything about the bill.

1301
01:06:43,532 --> 01:06:45,532
So why don't you see
if I can collect more

1302
01:06:45,534 --> 01:06:49,434
information for you and
we'll come back to you.

1303
01:06:49,438 --> 01:06:50,438
Let's see.

1304
01:06:50,439 --> 01:06:53,379
In the back --
just in the back.

1305
01:06:53,376 --> 01:06:56,516
Pam, why don't
you go ahead?

1306
01:06:56,512 --> 01:06:57,242
The Press: Three more
inmates have been

1307
01:06:57,246 --> 01:06:59,586
transferred out of
Guantanamo Bay.

1308
01:06:59,582 --> 01:07:02,082
How many left -- do you
have the current number of

1309
01:07:02,084 --> 01:07:04,554
how many left have been
approved for transfer?

1310
01:07:04,553 --> 01:07:07,153
And does the
administration expect to

1311
01:07:07,156 --> 01:07:09,896
get them all out to other
countries by the time the

1312
01:07:09,892 --> 01:07:12,292
President leaves office?

1313
01:07:12,294 --> 01:07:14,294
Mr. Earnest: To answer
your direct question

1314
01:07:14,296 --> 01:07:16,536
first, Pam, there were
three individuals who were

1315
01:07:16,532 --> 01:07:19,332
transferred from the
prison at Guantanamo Bay

1316
01:07:19,335 --> 01:07:23,375
in the last few days.

1317
01:07:23,372 --> 01:07:26,012
I believe that two of
those individuals were

1318
01:07:26,008 --> 01:07:27,708
transferred to Serbia.

1319
01:07:27,710 --> 01:07:31,210
One of those individuals
was transferred to Italy.

1320
01:07:31,213 --> 01:07:34,083
That brings the total
population of the prison

1321
01:07:34,083 --> 01:07:37,653
at Guantanamo
Bay down to 76.

1322
01:07:37,653 --> 01:07:39,653
The individuals who
were transferred were

1323
01:07:39,655 --> 01:07:42,325
transferred based on the
unanimous recommendation

1324
01:07:42,324 --> 01:07:44,594
of the President's
national security team and

1325
01:07:44,593 --> 01:07:46,593
based on the personal
certification of the

1326
01:07:46,595 --> 01:07:49,535
Secretary of Defense that
the necessary security

1327
01:07:49,532 --> 01:07:52,572
requirements were in
place in Serbia and Italy

1328
01:07:52,568 --> 01:07:57,278
respectively to ensure
that these individuals

1329
01:07:57,273 --> 01:08:05,043
don't pose an undue threat
to our national security here.

1330
01:08:05,047 --> 01:08:07,047
And this is consistent
with the President's

1331
01:08:07,049 --> 01:08:09,049
strategy that we're
going to continue to do

1332
01:08:09,051 --> 01:08:11,051
everything possible to try
to close the prison at

1333
01:08:11,053 --> 01:08:13,123
Guantanamo Bay, and the
first step in that is

1334
01:08:13,122 --> 01:08:16,822
trying to reduce the
prison population there.

1335
01:08:16,826 --> 01:08:20,726
And by working effectively
with our, in this case,

1336
01:08:20,729 --> 01:08:24,869
two NATO allies of the
United States, to do that,

1337
01:08:24,867 --> 01:08:30,607
we're using our diplomatic
influence and our security

1338
01:08:30,606 --> 01:08:33,706
know-how to
accomplish that goal.

1339
01:08:33,709 --> 01:08:35,509
And that goal is motivated
by the President's

1340
01:08:35,511 --> 01:08:39,051
conclusion that to keep
the prison at Guantanamo

1341
01:08:39,048 --> 01:08:44,918
Bay open only gives a
rhetorical weapon to

1342
01:08:44,920 --> 01:08:46,920
terrorists that we
know use the prison at

1343
01:08:46,922 --> 01:08:49,922
Guantanamo Bay as a
recruitment tool.

1344
01:08:49,925 --> 01:08:55,695
We also know that it's a
big waste of money; that

1345
01:08:55,698 --> 01:08:57,698
detaining these dangerous
individuals could be done

1346
01:08:57,700 --> 01:09:01,800
in a much more
cost-effective fashion in

1347
01:09:01,804 --> 01:09:04,404
facilities in the United
States that in some cases

1348
01:09:04,406 --> 01:09:08,776
already house hardened,
convicted terrorists.

1349
01:09:08,777 --> 01:09:14,787
So the President is
continuing to push on

1350
01:09:14,783 --> 01:09:20,053
this, and we're steadily
making progress.

1351
01:09:20,055 --> 01:09:22,055
I'll just remind you that
at the beginning of the

1352
01:09:22,057 --> 01:09:24,057
administration, there
were 242 detainees in

1353
01:09:24,059 --> 01:09:26,999
Guantanamo Bay, and the
prison population now is

1354
01:09:26,996 --> 01:09:28,096
down to 76.

1355
01:09:28,097 --> 01:09:30,497
So we've made a lot of
important progress, but

1356
01:09:30,499 --> 01:09:32,169
we've still got
some work to do.

1357
01:09:32,167 --> 01:09:34,737
The Press: Are you on
track to transfer those

1358
01:09:34,737 --> 01:09:37,837
who have been
approved to leave?

1359
01:09:37,840 --> 01:09:39,640
Mr. Earnest: Well, it's
hard to say that we're on

1360
01:09:39,642 --> 01:09:44,882
track, because the way
this process works is we

1361
01:09:44,880 --> 01:09:48,880
have to go and negotiate
with individual countries

1362
01:09:48,884 --> 01:09:51,284
to reach the necessary
agreements to transfer

1363
01:09:51,287 --> 01:09:52,287
these individuals.

1364
01:09:52,288 --> 01:09:57,858
So I can't say that we've
got a commitment from

1365
01:09:57,860 --> 01:09:59,860
other countries to take
every single one of the

1366
01:09:59,862 --> 01:10:02,202
individuals that's been
approved for transfer, but

1367
01:10:02,197 --> 01:10:04,367
this is work that's going
on every day behind the

1368
01:10:04,366 --> 01:10:06,666
scenes, and we're
working to secure those

1369
01:10:06,669 --> 01:10:09,739
commitments so that we
can succeed in those transfers.

1370
01:10:09,738 --> 01:10:11,538
The Press: Does the U.S.

1371
01:10:11,540 --> 01:10:13,440
have to offer anything to
these countries to take

1372
01:10:13,442 --> 01:10:14,582
these guys?

1373
01:10:14,577 --> 01:10:16,847
Or are they doing it
because they want to be on

1374
01:10:16,845 --> 01:10:18,115
the good side of the U.S.?

1375
01:10:18,113 --> 01:10:20,113
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
a lot of these countries

1376
01:10:20,115 --> 01:10:23,215
would say that they
recognize that the

1377
01:10:23,218 --> 01:10:25,218
national security of the
United States and our

1378
01:10:25,220 --> 01:10:27,360
other NATO allies, at
least in this instance, is

1379
01:10:27,356 --> 01:10:29,996
enhanced if we can close
the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

1380
01:10:29,992 --> 01:10:36,862
So I think they've got --
I think what we can assess

1381
01:10:36,865 --> 01:10:38,835
about their motives is
that they're consistent

1382
01:10:38,834 --> 01:10:43,904
with the interests that
the United States has in

1383
01:10:43,906 --> 01:10:47,306
closing the prison
at Guantanamo Bay.

1384
01:10:47,309 --> 01:10:47,939
Cheryl.

1385
01:10:47,943 --> 01:10:50,213
The Press: Thanks.

1386
01:10:50,212 --> 01:10:51,752
You were looking at me
earlier and I was --

1387
01:10:51,747 --> 01:10:52,477
(laughter)

1388
01:10:52,481 --> 01:10:54,181
-- but all I wanted
to know is about Zika

1389
01:10:54,183 --> 01:10:56,653
funding, and whether
you've gotten any

1390
01:10:56,652 --> 01:10:58,952
indications from the Hill
that they might increase

1391
01:10:58,954 --> 01:10:59,884
that Zika funding.

1392
01:10:59,888 --> 01:11:02,628
And when exactly do you
run out of money for Zika?

1393
01:11:02,625 --> 01:11:04,695
Mr. Earnest: Well, Cheryl,
we continue to be deeply

1394
01:11:04,693 --> 01:11:08,963
concerned that Republicans
in Congress are not

1395
01:11:08,964 --> 01:11:11,564
working in bipartisan
fashion to confront what

1396
01:11:11,567 --> 01:11:13,567
our public health
professionals have

1397
01:11:13,569 --> 01:11:16,309
described as an emergency.

1398
01:11:16,305 --> 01:11:17,875
It's a legitimate
emergency.

1399
01:11:17,873 --> 01:11:21,943
And the Zika virus does
pose a significant threat

1400
01:11:21,944 --> 01:11:24,184
to pregnant women and
newborn babies in the

1401
01:11:24,179 --> 01:11:26,149
United States.

1402
01:11:26,148 --> 01:11:29,548
And because of
congressional inaction,

1403
01:11:29,551 --> 01:11:32,251
our public health
professionals say that

1404
01:11:32,254 --> 01:11:34,524
they're not able to do
every single thing that

1405
01:11:34,523 --> 01:11:37,763
they would like to
do to protect us.

1406
01:11:37,760 --> 01:11:43,800
And I can't really
articulate why this should

1407
01:11:43,799 --> 01:11:44,799
be a partisan issue.

1408
01:11:44,800 --> 01:11:47,270
I don't think
Republicans can either.

1409
01:11:47,269 --> 01:11:49,269
I do think it reflects
failed leadership on their

1410
01:11:49,271 --> 01:11:53,611
part that here were are
almost five months later

1411
01:11:53,609 --> 01:11:55,609
-- the President put
forward a specific request

1412
01:11:55,611 --> 01:11:57,611
for these resources based
on the recommendation he

1413
01:11:57,613 --> 01:11:59,613
received from public
health professionals

1414
01:11:59,615 --> 01:12:05,225
almost five months ago,
and yet we've seen

1415
01:12:05,220 --> 01:12:10,030
Republicans struggle
to actually work in

1416
01:12:10,025 --> 01:12:12,495
bipartisan fashion to
solve this problem.

1417
01:12:12,494 --> 01:12:15,394
Instead, they'd rather
play games with pay-fors,

1418
01:12:15,397 --> 01:12:20,067
which is merely
frustrating when it comes

1419
01:12:20,069 --> 01:12:22,069
to other priorities
that the President has

1420
01:12:22,071 --> 01:12:25,271
identified, but when it
comes to a public health

1421
01:12:25,274 --> 01:12:29,974
emergency, it's
unconscionable.

1422
01:12:29,978 --> 01:12:32,478
I've been saying this for
five months, though, so I

1423
01:12:32,481 --> 01:12:34,481
don't know what kind of
impact that's going to

1424
01:12:34,483 --> 01:12:35,483
have on Republicans.

1425
01:12:35,484 --> 01:12:39,254
The President has been
saying this -- I know that

1426
01:12:39,254 --> 01:12:42,824
there are Republican
governors and Republican

1427
01:12:42,825 --> 01:12:45,995
officials who do represent
some states that are at

1428
01:12:45,994 --> 01:12:47,994
event greater risk from
the Zika virus who are

1429
01:12:47,996 --> 01:12:49,466
making the same case.

1430
01:12:49,465 --> 01:12:52,765
Marco Rubio, somebody with
whom I do not often agree,

1431
01:12:52,768 --> 01:12:55,868
is an enthusiastic
supporter of the $1.9

1432
01:12:55,871 --> 01:12:57,871
billion package that
our public health

1433
01:12:57,873 --> 01:13:00,613
professionals
say that we need.

1434
01:13:00,609 --> 01:13:05,319
But that hasn't succeeded
in persuading enough of

1435
01:13:05,314 --> 01:13:08,754
his fellow Republicans to
support that proposal.

1436
01:13:08,751 --> 01:13:11,591
And that's deeply
disappointing.

1437
01:13:11,587 --> 01:13:15,657
It does put vulnerable
populations of Americans

1438
01:13:15,657 --> 01:13:19,197
at risk, and Republicans
are going to have to

1439
01:13:19,194 --> 01:13:21,234
explain at some point why.

1440
01:13:21,230 --> 01:13:22,500
The Press: But if Congress
leaves at the end of this

1441
01:13:22,498 --> 01:13:27,168
week without any Zika
funding passed, what happens?

1442
01:13:27,169 --> 01:13:28,639
I mean, do you literally
run out of money?

1443
01:13:28,637 --> 01:13:30,637
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
thing that we do know

1444
01:13:30,639 --> 01:13:37,809
happens is that Congress
is prepared to go on a

1445
01:13:37,813 --> 01:13:44,023
seven or eight-week recess
here and they'll be doing

1446
01:13:44,019 --> 01:13:49,889
so essentially at the
peak of mosquito season.

1447
01:13:49,892 --> 01:13:56,202
So I think what we can say
will happen is that there

1448
01:13:56,198 --> 01:13:58,468
will be communities that
are not doing as much

1449
01:13:58,467 --> 01:14:02,807
spraying of mosquitos
as they'd like to do.

1450
01:14:02,805 --> 01:14:06,045
There are laboratory
facilities that won't be

1451
01:14:06,041 --> 01:14:10,441
able to process diagnostic
tests as quickly as they

1452
01:14:10,445 --> 01:14:12,745
would like to help people
get answers and protect

1453
01:14:12,748 --> 01:14:14,588
themselves from
the Zika virus.

1454
01:14:14,583 --> 01:14:17,883
We know that there will be
doctors who won't be able

1455
01:14:17,886 --> 01:14:25,096
to give out or administer
a Zika test as widely as

1456
01:14:25,093 --> 01:14:26,893
they would like.

1457
01:14:26,895 --> 01:14:31,705
In short, we won't be able
to do everything that our

1458
01:14:31,700 --> 01:14:33,700
public health
professionals say they

1459
01:14:33,702 --> 01:14:35,702
would like to do to try to
protect people from the

1460
01:14:35,704 --> 01:14:36,704
Zika virus.

1461
01:14:36,705 --> 01:14:38,845
And it will be up to
Republicans to explain why

1462
01:14:38,841 --> 01:14:42,011
exactly that's the case.

1463
01:14:42,010 --> 01:14:43,180
John, I'll give
you the last one.

1464
01:14:43,178 --> 01:14:44,748
The Press: Thanks
a lot, Josh.

1465
01:14:44,746 --> 01:14:47,086
Tomorrow, Senator Bernie
Sanders will be up in

1466
01:14:47,082 --> 01:14:48,082
New Hampshire.

1467
01:14:48,083 --> 01:14:49,583
He'll be in Portsmouth,
New Hampshire.

1468
01:14:49,585 --> 01:14:51,225
He'll be campaigning
with Hillary Clinton.

1469
01:14:51,220 --> 01:14:54,120
Is the President pleased
to see such unity in the

1470
01:14:54,122 --> 01:14:55,162
Democratic Party?

1471
01:14:55,157 --> 01:14:57,797
And also, on the flip
side, is he pleased to see

1472
01:14:57,793 --> 01:15:01,093
such apparent disunity
within the Republican Party?

1473
01:15:01,096 --> 01:15:06,636
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
as you know, President

1474
01:15:06,635 --> 01:15:08,605
Obama did have an
opportunity to meet with

1475
01:15:08,604 --> 01:15:15,114
Senator Sanders -- I guess
this was last month now --

1476
01:15:15,110 --> 01:15:18,750
to talk about the race to
succeed President Obama.

1477
01:15:18,747 --> 01:15:21,787
And you've heard the
President himself

1478
01:15:21,783 --> 01:15:24,883
articulate on a number of
occasions how important it

1479
01:15:24,887 --> 01:15:29,057
is for the Democratic
Party to come together

1480
01:15:29,057 --> 01:15:34,027
behind the effort to
support a candidate that's

1481
01:15:34,029 --> 01:15:36,369
committed to the kinds of
values and priorities that

1482
01:15:36,365 --> 01:15:39,135
this President has
been fighting for.

1483
01:15:39,134 --> 01:15:42,904
And from supporting the
Affordable Care Act to

1484
01:15:42,905 --> 01:15:48,775
supporting tough Wall
Street reform, to

1485
01:15:48,777 --> 01:15:52,817
supporting the effort to
mobilize the international

1486
01:15:52,814 --> 01:15:56,084
community to fight climate
change, to uphold the

1487
01:15:56,084 --> 01:15:58,484
agreement to prevent Iran
from obtaining a nuclear

1488
01:15:58,487 --> 01:16:03,527
weapon, to go and fight
for civil rights for all

1489
01:16:03,525 --> 01:16:07,295
Americans, to fight for
equal pay for women --

1490
01:16:07,296 --> 01:16:09,496
these are all values that
are broadly shared by the

1491
01:16:09,498 --> 01:16:11,498
Democrats across
the country.

1492
01:16:11,500 --> 01:16:15,800
They're shared by the two
presidential candidates.

1493
01:16:15,804 --> 01:16:17,944
And these are the values
that have animated

1494
01:16:17,940 --> 01:16:20,410
President Obama's tenure
in the White House.

1495
01:16:20,409 --> 01:16:25,679
And he's determined to
make sure that the person

1496
01:16:25,681 --> 01:16:27,681
who takes the keys to the
White House is somebody

1497
01:16:27,683 --> 01:16:29,683
who wants to build on the
progress that we've made

1498
01:16:29,685 --> 01:16:31,285
in pursuit of those values
over the last seven and a

1499
01:16:31,286 --> 01:16:32,356
half years.

1500
01:16:32,354 --> 01:16:34,694
So the President has been
quite candid about his

1501
01:16:34,690 --> 01:16:39,460
interest, and so I guess
what I can tell you is

1502
01:16:39,461 --> 01:16:42,261
that he's pleased to
see that development.

1503
01:16:42,264 --> 01:16:44,804
But he'll obviously have
quite a bit more to say

1504
01:16:44,800 --> 01:16:49,710
about this over the course
of the next four months or so.

1505
01:16:49,705 --> 01:16:50,705
Thanks a lot, everybody.