English subtitles for clip: File:9-26-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Happy Monday.

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Hope you all had a
pleasant weekend.

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I do not have any
announcements at the top so

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we can go straight
to your questions.

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Kevin, do you want to start?

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The Press: Sure,
thank you, Josh.

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I wanted to ask about
tonight's debate, and, in

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particular, how does the
President plan to watch it?

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With the family?

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With staff?

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By himself?

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What may be his biggest
concern going into

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the debate?

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And does -- there's been a
lot of talk about what --

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the role of a moderator and
whether the moderator should

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be an aggressive
fact-checker.

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Does the President have
any thoughts about that?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I
anticipate that this fall

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Monday evening will be
similar to other fall Monday

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evenings in the White House
residence, which is that the

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President will be working
tonight with the television

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on in the background.

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I think the one difference
will be instead of Monday

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Night Football, there will
be a little more politics

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being discussed in the
context of the debate.

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And the President had an
opportunity to answer some

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questions last week from ABC
where he talked about how

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important it is, he
believes, for Secretary

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Clinton to talk about those
aspects of her career I

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think provide people --
provide some insight so that

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people understand exactly
what motivates her to seek

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the office of
the presidency.

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And he obviously believes
that she's got a strong case

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to make.

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That's why he's spoken
publicly so many times in

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support of her campaign.

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With regard to the
moderators, there's plenty

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of advice that's going
around to both the

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candidates and
the moderator.

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I haven't spoken to the
President about any advice

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he may have for Mr. Holt
tonight, but I think anybody

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that's spent any time around
Lester knows that he is

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somebody who is
always well prepared.

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And I suspect that having
spent a decent portion of

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the last several decades in
broadcast journalism that

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he'll perform well even
under the intense spotlight

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of a presidential debate.

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The Press: Wanted to ask
about Aleppo as well.

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It seems like the news
reports are indicating that

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it becomes more
dire by the hour.

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And can you provide
some update of what the

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administration is doing to
try to stop the carnage?

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And is it warming to the
prospects of expanding the

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sanctions regime, as some
in Congress want to do?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
the situation in Syria

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continues to worsen.

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And the situation in Syria
has been terrible and the

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bloodshed sickening.

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But we've seen that, over
the weekend, it just got worse.

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And I think anybody who's
following these news

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reports, whether you're an
official with the United

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States government or just
a human being reading the

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news, understanding the toll
that this violence is taking

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on the lives of so many
innocent people, you've got

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to be deeply
concerned about it.

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And the President
certainly is.

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What we have seen from
the Assad regime and the

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Russians is a concerted
campaign to strike civilian

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targets to bomb civilians
into submission.

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And it's taken a
variety of forms.

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And over the weekend, we saw
the specific targeting of

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the headquarters, or staging
areas used by the White

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Helmets -- the relief
organization, the first

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responders in Syria -- that
are just trying to provide

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for the basic needs and
safety and well-being of

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citizens who are caught
in the crossfire.

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There were also military
strikes against the

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facilities that ensure that
civilians in eastern Aleppo

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have access to
drinking water.

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The idea of weaponizing
access to a clean water

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supply for civilians
is beyond the pale.

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And people of good
conscience around the world

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should speak up,
and are speaking up.

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And I know that there was a
vigorous discussion about

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this at the U.N.

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Security Council
just last night.

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And I certainly would
encourage you to take a look

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at the remarks from
Ambassador Power, where she

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talked about this situation
and tried to make a very

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forceful case about the
consequences of this

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situation for the rest of
the international community,

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and how important it is for
the international community

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to speak with one voice in
condemning these actions and

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not allowing these
norms to be eroded.

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It's clear what the
consequences will be for

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Russia as well.

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They are drawing themselves
even deeper into a sectarian

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conflict inside of Syria.

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They're increasingly
isolated in the

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international community.

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They're going to have
to expend significant

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additional resources to
shore up their efforts there.

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These are resources that
are not in ample supply

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in Russia.

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We know that their economy
is struggling and that their

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currency reserves have
plummeted in just the last

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couple of years.

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And we know that poses a
risk to Russia and their

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presence not just in Syria,
it also poses a risk to

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Russia back home, because
we know that this kind of

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violence and chaos that's
being sown in Syria only

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fuels extremism in Syria
and around the world.

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But this is the choice that
Russia has made, and it's

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one that they'll
have to account for.

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The Press: Any warming to
the expansion of sanctions

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regime regarding supporters
or entities that do business

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with al-Assad?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, sanctions
has always been a tool on

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the table available
to the United States.

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The concern we have with
the current congressional

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proposal that's being
debated is that it would

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deploy those sanctions
essentially unilaterally.

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And what we have found is
that the sanctions tool is

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most effectively used when
it is deployed in close

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coordination with our allies
and partners around the world.

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By carefully coordinating
the implementation of

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sanctions, we can ensure
that these sanctions

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essentially serve as a force
multiplier -- that the kinds

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of financial penalties that
can be imposed by the United

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States are multiplied when
they are imposed in close

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coordination with our
allies and partners.

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And that's what we have
typically sought to do.

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What we've also refrained
from doing is discussing in

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detail -- or discussing in
advance the detailed aspects

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of our sanctions strategy,
primarily because we don't

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want to telegraph our
intentions so as to allow

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the targets of those
sanctions to take actions

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that would circumvent
our actions.

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So if and when we have made
a policy decision to move

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forward with imposing
additional financial

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penalties against the Assad
regime, or other entities

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that work closely with
the Assad regime, that's

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something that we'll discuss
only after that decision has

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been made and those
penalties have been imposed.

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Ayesha.

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The Press: A little
more on Syria.

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You said that Russia will
have to kind of answer for

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their actions, but I wonder,
who is Russia going to

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answer to?

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And with this -- and I was
just trying to -- does the

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administration have a
specific plan B now that

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this ceasefire has failed?

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Is there going to be
a change in course?

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Is there going to be a
change in actions or

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approach from the
administration?

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Are there new things that
you guys are considering

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doing -- taking in Syria?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have any announcements at

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this point.

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But I think with regard to
Russia, what I would say is

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simply that Russia will have
to account for their actions

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in the context of the
consequences they are likely

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to provoke.

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Russia is further isolated
in the international community.

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And, again, I think that was
on display in rather vivid

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detail at the United Nations
Security Council meeting

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last night.

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Russia is going to have to
invest more in their efforts

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inside of Syria in order to
prop up the presence that

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they have there, in order to
further shore up the

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Assad regime.

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And Russia is going to have
to deal with the fall out

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because their actions are
fueling extremism, not just

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in Syria and not just in
the region, but around the

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world, including in Russia.

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And those are actions that I
think you'd have a hard time

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arguing are in their
national interest.

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They certainly don't seem
part of a coordinated strategy.

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But, again, that's something
that the Russians themselves

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will have to account for.

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The Press: I wanted to ask a
question in light of an FBI

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report that violent
crime in the U.S.

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increased in 2015,
so I wanted to get an

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administration
response to that.

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And also, in general, in the
past couple of days we've

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seen -- we saw -- well,
today, we saw shootings in

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Houston that I think
nine were injured.

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We saw a shooting over
the weekend at a mall in

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Washington -- I think that
may have killed five.

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These shootings, they
continue to happen.

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It seems like they get
attention but not as much --

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maybe there might be a
little uptick in interest if

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it seems like it's connected
to international terrorism,

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but other than that, they
seem to happen and

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fade quickly.

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Like, is the administration
concerned that the country

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is becoming somewhat numb to
the violence and to these

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types of shootings?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, we'll
start first with the statistics.

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What the numbers indicate is
that since President Obama

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took office in 2009, the
violent crime rate in the

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United States has fallen
15 percent and the violent

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crime rate in the United
States is near historic lows.

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And there's ample evidence
to indicate that even in

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those communities where we
saw an increase last year in

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2015, so far in 2016, in
some of those cities we've

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seen violent crime fall.

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So I think this is an
indication that the country

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is safer, as measured by the
violent crime rate, than it

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was in any year under the
previous four Presidents.

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Now, there, of course, is
more that we can do to fight

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violent crime.

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The President has advocated
additional resources for our

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men and women in
law enforcement.

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The President has advocated
for improved training, so

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not just hiring additional
police officers but also

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improved training and
resources that can be used

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to make our men and women in
law enforcement even more

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effective than
they already are.

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The President has advocated
for criminal justice reform.

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And there's ample evidence
to indicate that effective

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criminal justice reform
would further reduce the

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recidivism rate in this
country, which would have a

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positive impact in
reducing violence.

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So we've made important
progress in this area.

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The country is safer under
President Obama than it has

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been under previous
Presidents, as measured by

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the violent crime rate.

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But the President believes
that there is more that we

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can and should do.

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And there's no area where
the President has been more

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outspoken than taking action
on common-sense gun safety

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measures that would make it
harder for criminals and

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others who shouldn't
have them to buy a gun.

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And we have never made the
case that passing a law like

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one that would close the
background check loophole

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would prevent every act of
gun violence, but there's

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plenty of evidence to
indicate that it could have

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a positive impact on
reducing incidents of

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gun violence.

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And we could do all of that
without undermining the

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constitutional right of
law-abiding Americans.

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So the President is going to
continue to be outspoken on

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that, and he will
moving forward.

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00:14:12,751 --> 00:14:14,751
With regard to the two
shooting incidents that you

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00:14:14,753 --> 00:14:21,063
referred to over the last 72
hours or so, I'd refer you

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00:14:21,060 --> 00:14:23,200
to local law enforcement
in both situations for a

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00:14:23,195 --> 00:14:26,935
specific update on
the investigation.

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00:14:26,932 --> 00:14:30,602
I believe that the FBI
in Washington State has

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00:14:30,603 --> 00:14:33,643
indicated that, thus far,
there is no connection to

252
00:14:33,639 --> 00:14:36,139
international terrorism
at this point.

253
00:14:36,141 --> 00:14:38,581
But that investigation
continues.

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00:14:38,577 --> 00:14:41,017
And I know that the local
law enforcement authorities

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00:14:41,013 --> 00:14:45,113
have indicated that they
have a suspect in custody.

256
00:14:45,117 --> 00:14:47,787
So that investigation
continues.

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00:14:47,786 --> 00:14:52,796
But this cycle that you've
cited of a mass shooting,

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00:14:55,628 --> 00:14:59,568
intense public interest for
short period of time, and

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00:14:59,565 --> 00:15:04,535
then attention migrating to
other places is not a new

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00:15:04,536 --> 00:15:07,736
one, and one we've seen
in this country that even

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00:15:07,740 --> 00:15:11,140
pre-dates President
Obama's inauguration.

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00:15:11,143 --> 00:15:15,043
And it's one the President
has expressed deep

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00:15:15,047 --> 00:15:17,047
frustration about.

264
00:15:19,118 --> 00:15:21,118
But, ultimately, as the
President has indicated,

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00:15:23,389 --> 00:15:26,429
enough citizens are going to
have to demonstrate enough

266
00:15:26,425 --> 00:15:32,495
passion for this issue to
persuade the Congress to

267
00:15:32,498 --> 00:15:36,038
pursue a different approach
and actually consider

268
00:15:36,035 --> 00:15:38,375
common-sense measures
that would protect Second

269
00:15:38,370 --> 00:15:40,840
Amendment rights of
law-abiding Americans but do

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00:15:40,839 --> 00:15:45,049
more to ensure that -- or to
at least make it harder for

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00:15:45,044 --> 00:15:47,044
individuals who shouldn't
be able to get a gun from

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00:15:47,046 --> 00:15:48,316
getting one.

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00:15:48,314 --> 00:15:49,314
Michelle.

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00:15:49,315 --> 00:15:51,615
The Press: Is the President
going to try anything else

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00:15:51,617 --> 00:15:52,847
in terms of gun violence?

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00:15:52,851 --> 00:15:56,091
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any announcements at this

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00:15:56,088 --> 00:15:59,688
point, but the President
and his team are always

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00:15:59,692 --> 00:16:00,992
reviewing available options.

279
00:16:00,993 --> 00:16:03,093
But the President made a
big announcement at the

280
00:16:03,095 --> 00:16:06,865
beginning of this year
about using his executive

281
00:16:06,865 --> 00:16:11,575
authority to make it harder
for people to obtain a

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00:16:11,570 --> 00:16:13,810
firearm at a gun show, for
example, without undergoing

283
00:16:13,806 --> 00:16:16,546
a background check.

284
00:16:16,542 --> 00:16:18,842
And really, this is a
situation where the ball is

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00:16:18,844 --> 00:16:21,614
in the court of the
United States Congress.

286
00:16:21,613 --> 00:16:23,613
And, ultimately, they're
going to have to hear from

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00:16:23,615 --> 00:16:26,115
the American people that
this is a priority.

288
00:16:26,118 --> 00:16:28,118
That I think is the only way
we're going to be able to

289
00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,260
get the attention of a
sufficient number of members

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00:16:30,255 --> 00:16:32,255
of Congress to take
serious action.

291
00:16:32,257 --> 00:16:35,597
The Press: Even at this
point, you're not ruling out

292
00:16:35,594 --> 00:16:37,594
that he might take
additional executive action?

293
00:16:37,596 --> 00:16:39,566
Mr. Earnest: I would
not rule that out.

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00:16:39,565 --> 00:16:42,535
The Press: And we've heard
the administration use words

295
00:16:42,534 --> 00:16:45,234
now relating to Russia's
actions in Syria like

296
00:16:45,237 --> 00:16:49,507
"barbarism," "unacceptable,"
"outrage." But you've also

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00:16:49,508 --> 00:16:52,578
said that trying to forge a
ceasefire will be a test

298
00:16:52,578 --> 00:16:53,548
for Russia.

299
00:16:53,545 --> 00:16:56,515
Haven't they already failed
that test miserably?

300
00:16:56,515 --> 00:16:59,515
Mr. Earnest: Thus far, I
think that's fair to say.

301
00:16:59,518 --> 00:17:03,918
When you have a country
that's using its military

302
00:17:03,922 --> 00:17:08,932
might to prop up a murderous
regime, target the water

303
00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:17,136
supply of civilians, to
target the headquarters that

304
00:17:17,136 --> 00:17:20,076
are used by first
responders, to target

305
00:17:20,072 --> 00:17:25,242
refugee camps, to target
humanitarian aid convoys or,

306
00:17:25,244 --> 00:17:27,744
in any of those instances,
to support a regime that's

307
00:17:27,746 --> 00:17:31,316
doing exactly that -- I
think that indicates that

308
00:17:31,316 --> 00:17:33,356
they failed the test.

309
00:17:33,352 --> 00:17:36,452
I think the question now
is, at what point is Russia

310
00:17:36,455 --> 00:17:38,455
prepared to try a
different strategy?

311
00:17:38,457 --> 00:17:40,457
Again, the strategy that
they are currently pursuing

312
00:17:40,459 --> 00:17:43,359
is one that only further
deepens their involvement in

313
00:17:43,362 --> 00:17:48,062
a sectarian conflict, and
it's hard to see how that

314
00:17:48,066 --> 00:17:52,306
benefits Russia's national
security or benefits the

315
00:17:52,304 --> 00:17:53,404
Russian people.

316
00:17:53,405 --> 00:17:56,605
Our concern is that
furthering that sectarian

317
00:17:56,608 --> 00:17:59,208
conflict only fuels
extremism that poses a

318
00:17:59,211 --> 00:18:01,481
threat to the region
and the world.

319
00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:06,750
And that's why the President
has worked hard to build and

320
00:18:06,752 --> 00:18:10,822
lead a 67-member coalition
that is applying significant

321
00:18:10,823 --> 00:18:13,823
pressure to ISIL and to
other extremists that are

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00:18:13,826 --> 00:18:15,026
operating inside of Syria.

323
00:18:15,027 --> 00:18:17,027
That's the way to keep the
American people safe and to

324
00:18:17,029 --> 00:18:19,799
protect our national
security interests.

325
00:18:19,798 --> 00:18:23,998
But it's unfortunate that
the Russians are pursuing a

326
00:18:24,002 --> 00:18:29,012
strategy that is in such
direct conflict with that.

327
00:18:29,007 --> 00:18:31,647
The Press: So when you hear
the Foreign Minister say

328
00:18:31,643 --> 00:18:35,783
that there's still a chance
that a ceasefire could be

329
00:18:35,781 --> 00:18:38,851
worked out, do you at all
take those words seriously?

330
00:18:38,851 --> 00:18:40,891
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
we've gotten to the point,

331
00:18:40,886 --> 00:18:44,656
Michelle, where we evaluate
Russia's approach to this

332
00:18:44,656 --> 00:18:47,996
situation not by listening
to the words of their

333
00:18:47,993 --> 00:18:52,933
ambassador but by watching
the actions of their military.

334
00:18:52,931 --> 00:18:54,931
And, unfortunately, in
recent days, we've seen

335
00:18:54,933 --> 00:19:01,673
their military support or
directly engage in the kinds

336
00:19:01,673 --> 00:19:03,673
of acts that are roundly
condemned by the

337
00:19:03,675 --> 00:19:05,715
civilized world.

338
00:19:05,711 --> 00:19:10,721
That is not indicative of a
country that's serious about

339
00:19:10,716 --> 00:19:15,156
pursuing peace, or even
about pursuing an approach

340
00:19:15,153 --> 00:19:18,153
that seems to be in the
national security interest

341
00:19:18,156 --> 00:19:20,056
of their country
and the world.

342
00:19:20,058 --> 00:19:23,058
The Press: So at what
point do you say what they

343
00:19:23,061 --> 00:19:25,631
exhibited shows no
seriousness at all toward

344
00:19:25,631 --> 00:19:27,161
establishing a ceasefire?

345
00:19:27,165 --> 00:19:29,605
And why even try -- like,
why go through the motions

346
00:19:29,601 --> 00:19:32,601
if they've already done
this, this, and this?

347
00:19:32,604 --> 00:19:35,304
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Michelle, I don't think the

348
00:19:35,307 --> 00:19:38,847
administration is going
to be in a position of

349
00:19:38,844 --> 00:19:40,884
apologizing for
pursuing peace.

350
00:19:40,879 --> 00:19:44,879
The truth is, in the context
of the negotiations that

351
00:19:44,883 --> 00:19:47,383
we've already engaged in
with the Russians, the

352
00:19:47,386 --> 00:19:49,386
United States and our
international partners have

353
00:19:49,388 --> 00:19:51,388
not been in a position where
we have had to make

354
00:19:51,390 --> 00:19:52,390
any concessions.

355
00:19:52,391 --> 00:19:55,631
It was because of our
intense skepticism and

356
00:19:55,627 --> 00:19:59,027
doubts about Russia's
credibility that we insisted

357
00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:01,831
the Russians live up to
their commitments before the

358
00:20:01,833 --> 00:20:06,843
United States would follow
through on the actions we

359
00:20:09,308 --> 00:20:11,308
know the Russians are
seeking, and that was

360
00:20:11,310 --> 00:20:13,950
military cooperation.

361
00:20:13,946 --> 00:20:20,316
So the United States has not
had to make any concessions

362
00:20:20,319 --> 00:20:22,959
in order to pursue peace.

363
00:20:22,955 --> 00:20:27,655
We were quite clear from the
beginning that our efforts

364
00:20:27,659 --> 00:20:31,059
against extremists was going
to continue unabated, and

365
00:20:31,063 --> 00:20:34,063
that if Russia wanted to
cooperate with those efforts

366
00:20:34,066 --> 00:20:36,036
they would have to
demonstrate a commitment to

367
00:20:38,837 --> 00:20:42,577
reducing the violence
and allowing the flow of

368
00:20:42,574 --> 00:20:45,944
humanitarian assistance to
reach those who were in need.

369
00:20:45,944 --> 00:20:47,944
They haven't lived up to
that bargain, which means

370
00:20:47,946 --> 00:20:49,346
they have not gotten the
kind of military cooperation

371
00:20:49,348 --> 00:20:52,218
that they would like to see.

372
00:20:52,217 --> 00:20:54,217
But the United States and
our coalition partners have

373
00:20:54,219 --> 00:20:59,229
continued, unabated, in our
campaign to degrade and

374
00:21:01,593 --> 00:21:04,693
ultimately destroy ISIL, and
to apply pressure and take

375
00:21:04,696 --> 00:21:06,296
other extremists off the
battlefield as well.

376
00:21:06,298 --> 00:21:06,798
The Press: Okay.

377
00:21:06,798 --> 00:21:08,198
And we heard the President's
advice for Hillary Clinton

378
00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:09,100
for the debate.

379
00:21:09,101 --> 00:21:10,471
Does he or the
administration have any

380
00:21:10,469 --> 00:21:11,669
advice for Donald Trump?

381
00:21:11,670 --> 00:21:13,540
(laughter)

382
00:21:13,538 --> 00:21:14,478
Mr. Earnest: Even if we did
I'm confident it would

383
00:21:14,473 --> 00:21:15,473
go unheard.

384
00:21:15,474 --> 00:21:19,244
The Press: All
right, thanks.

385
00:21:19,244 --> 00:21:19,974
The Press: Hi, Josh.

386
00:21:19,978 --> 00:21:21,048
Can we talk about JASTA?

387
00:21:21,046 --> 00:21:22,946
Does the White House
have a latest count on

388
00:21:22,948 --> 00:21:26,618
congressional
support for the bill?

389
00:21:26,618 --> 00:21:29,388
Does it look like it's going
to, as Mitch McConnell says,

390
00:21:29,388 --> 00:21:32,128
override the President's
veto, for the first time in

391
00:21:32,124 --> 00:21:33,524
his presidency, this week?

392
00:21:33,525 --> 00:21:36,125
Mr. Earnest: I'm not here to
make any predictions or to

393
00:21:36,128 --> 00:21:38,498
provide any vote counts.

394
00:21:38,497 --> 00:21:41,737
We continue to make our case
to members of Congress.

395
00:21:41,733 --> 00:21:43,733
We've acknowledged from the
beginning that this was

396
00:21:43,735 --> 00:21:47,305
going to be an uphill fight,
but there have been some

397
00:21:47,305 --> 00:21:51,245
high-profile members of
Congress that had indicated

398
00:21:51,243 --> 00:21:54,413
some openness to our
position and some unease

399
00:21:54,413 --> 00:21:56,413
with the consequence of
moving forward with the

400
00:21:56,415 --> 00:21:58,415
legislation that
Congress has passed.

401
00:21:58,417 --> 00:22:01,557
So you saw Congressman
Thornberry from Texas write

402
00:22:01,553 --> 00:22:04,893
a letter -- he's somebody
who is not somebody we

403
00:22:04,890 --> 00:22:06,890
regularly look to, to
support the President's

404
00:22:06,892 --> 00:22:10,292
agenda in Congress -- but in
this case, he stood up, to

405
00:22:10,295 --> 00:22:13,765
his credit, and make
a principled case for

406
00:22:13,765 --> 00:22:16,165
outlining his concerns
with the bill.

407
00:22:16,168 --> 00:22:20,908
We saw a similar letter from
Congressman Adam Smith.

408
00:22:20,906 --> 00:22:23,476
He is a Democrat from
Washington State.

409
00:22:23,475 --> 00:22:26,645
He is somebody who is a more
consistent supporter of the

410
00:22:26,645 --> 00:22:28,815
President's policies, but
he's arrived at some

411
00:22:28,814 --> 00:22:29,814
similar conclusions.

412
00:22:29,815 --> 00:22:31,815
And I think that's an
indication of the principled

413
00:22:31,817 --> 00:22:33,987
nature of the position that
the President has argued.

414
00:22:33,985 --> 00:22:38,725
But as we know, two members,
two votes is not enough to

415
00:22:38,724 --> 00:22:40,724
sustain the President's veto
in the United States House

416
00:22:40,726 --> 00:22:43,396
of Representatives, so
there's some important work

417
00:22:43,395 --> 00:22:44,935
that we have ahead of us.

418
00:22:44,930 --> 00:22:47,030
Fortunately, Congressman
Thornberry and Congressman

419
00:22:47,032 --> 00:22:51,632
Smith are viewed as two
influential members of the

420
00:22:51,636 --> 00:22:53,636
House Republican Conference
and the House Democratic

421
00:22:53,638 --> 00:22:56,178
Caucus respectively.

422
00:22:56,174 --> 00:23:01,844
They are well regarded
for their experience and

423
00:23:01,847 --> 00:23:02,847
knowledge of these issues.

424
00:23:02,848 --> 00:23:05,288
And hopefully they're
making a case among their

425
00:23:05,283 --> 00:23:06,283
colleagues as well.

426
00:23:06,284 --> 00:23:08,254
We certainly would benefit
from their advocacy.

427
00:23:08,253 --> 00:23:10,423
The Press: Has the White
House spoken with the Saudis

428
00:23:10,422 --> 00:23:12,422
to discuss the possibility
of the override?

429
00:23:12,424 --> 00:23:14,424
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
an update on those kinds

430
00:23:14,426 --> 00:23:16,166
of conversations.

431
00:23:16,161 --> 00:23:19,731
Obviously, I think as I
acknowledged last week,

432
00:23:19,731 --> 00:23:23,031
given the significant
consequences for our

433
00:23:23,034 --> 00:23:26,004
country's relationship with
Saudi Arabia, you won't be

434
00:23:26,004 --> 00:23:29,074
surprised to hear that the
Saudi government has been in

435
00:23:29,074 --> 00:23:31,614
touch with the Obama
administration about this

436
00:23:31,610 --> 00:23:32,610
piece of legislation.

437
00:23:32,611 --> 00:23:36,781
But I would also hasten to
add we've heard from a lot

438
00:23:36,782 --> 00:23:38,952
of other countries, too,
who have expressed similar

439
00:23:38,950 --> 00:23:40,990
concerns about the potential
impact of this bill.

440
00:23:40,986 --> 00:23:47,196
And there was a letter that
was provided by the European

441
00:23:47,192 --> 00:23:51,162
Union voicing their deep
concerns about the impact

442
00:23:51,163 --> 00:23:54,963
that this legislation
would have on the U.S.

443
00:23:54,966 --> 00:23:56,966
relationship with countries
all around the world.

444
00:23:56,968 --> 00:23:59,208
So it's not just our
partners in Saudi Arabia who

445
00:23:59,204 --> 00:24:00,744
are concerned
about this bill.

446
00:24:00,739 --> 00:24:03,139
Some of our closest allies
in Europe are deeply

447
00:24:03,141 --> 00:24:04,181
concerned about it, too.

448
00:24:04,176 --> 00:24:06,376
And this is, again,
consistent with the argument

449
00:24:06,378 --> 00:24:08,748
that we have made that we're
not just concerned about the

450
00:24:08,747 --> 00:24:11,147
impact that this bill
would have on the U.S.

451
00:24:11,149 --> 00:24:13,249
relationship with Saudi
Arabia; we're deeply

452
00:24:13,251 --> 00:24:15,851
concerned about the impact
that this bill would have on

453
00:24:15,854 --> 00:24:16,854
the U.S.

454
00:24:16,855 --> 00:24:18,855
relationship with countries
all around the world.

455
00:24:18,857 --> 00:24:20,857
And that's why the President
vetoed it at the end of

456
00:24:20,859 --> 00:24:21,859
last week.

457
00:24:21,860 --> 00:24:23,860
And that's the basis for the
argument that we're making

458
00:24:23,862 --> 00:24:25,862
to members of Congress that
they should sustain the

459
00:24:25,864 --> 00:24:26,864
President's veto.

460
00:24:26,865 --> 00:24:28,865
The Press: On the crime
bill, is the President

461
00:24:28,867 --> 00:24:32,567
disappointed overall in the
idea that violent crime has

462
00:24:32,571 --> 00:24:35,171
gone up by 3.9 percent,
even though it's still at

463
00:24:35,173 --> 00:24:37,143
historically low levels?

464
00:24:37,142 --> 00:24:38,512
Is he disappointed by that?

465
00:24:38,510 --> 00:24:42,480
Mr. Earnest: I think the
President is gratified that

466
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,780
the United States is
currently in a period where

467
00:24:45,784 --> 00:24:49,554
violent crime is at
or near historic lows.

468
00:24:49,554 --> 00:24:52,024
Is there more that we could
do to try to prevent more

469
00:24:52,023 --> 00:24:53,023
violent crime?

470
00:24:53,024 --> 00:24:54,024
Yes.

471
00:24:54,025 --> 00:24:56,025
And that means we can
provide additional resources

472
00:24:56,027 --> 00:24:57,027
to our law enforcement.

473
00:24:57,028 --> 00:24:59,028
We can pass some
common-sense gun

474
00:24:59,030 --> 00:25:00,030
safety legislation.

475
00:25:00,031 --> 00:25:02,031
We can certainly reform our
criminal justice system in a

476
00:25:02,033 --> 00:25:04,033
way that would have
a positive impact on

477
00:25:04,035 --> 00:25:05,005
recidivism rates.

478
00:25:05,003 --> 00:25:07,003
So there certainly is more
that we can do, and the

479
00:25:07,005 --> 00:25:12,475
President has put those
kinds of efforts at the

480
00:25:12,477 --> 00:25:14,747
front of his
domestic agenda.

481
00:25:14,746 --> 00:25:17,416
So the President believes
there's more that we can do,

482
00:25:17,415 --> 00:25:20,255
but he certainly is
gratified that our country

483
00:25:20,252 --> 00:25:24,692
is benefitting from
historically lows or

484
00:25:24,689 --> 00:25:28,359
near-historic -- violent
crime rates at or near

485
00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:29,090
historic lows.

486
00:25:29,094 --> 00:25:29,824
The Press: Okay.

487
00:25:29,828 --> 00:25:32,068
And then just on the debate.

488
00:25:32,063 --> 00:25:32,793
When was the last time the
President spoke with

489
00:25:32,797 --> 00:25:33,667
Hillary Clinton?

490
00:25:33,665 --> 00:25:35,905
And will he be calling her
before to wish her good

491
00:25:35,901 --> 00:25:37,371
luck tonight?

492
00:25:37,369 --> 00:25:39,369
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any calls the President

493
00:25:39,371 --> 00:25:40,371
has planned for today.

494
00:25:40,372 --> 00:25:45,282
But I know the President
had an opportunity to see

495
00:25:45,277 --> 00:25:47,517
Secretary Clinton a couple
of times not last week but

496
00:25:47,512 --> 00:25:49,082
the week before.

497
00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,020
I don't know that they had
a detailed debate strategy

498
00:25:51,016 --> 00:25:56,726
discussion, but the
President has got some

499
00:25:56,721 --> 00:25:59,021
experience of going head to
head with Secretary Clinton

500
00:25:59,024 --> 00:26:02,394
in the context of a debate,
and she performed quite well

501
00:26:02,394 --> 00:26:03,094
in those settings.

502
00:26:03,094 --> 00:26:04,364
And I think the President
expects her to do the

503
00:26:04,362 --> 00:26:05,262
same tonight.

504
00:26:05,263 --> 00:26:06,533
Jordan.

505
00:26:06,531 --> 00:26:08,971
The Press: Josh, the
President's veto message

506
00:26:08,967 --> 00:26:11,137
made a pretty passionate
case against the bill.

507
00:26:11,136 --> 00:26:13,236
So I'm wondering if he is
going to --

508
00:26:13,238 --> 00:26:14,168
Mr. Earnest: Are you saying that his spokesperson hasn't?

509
00:26:14,172 --> 00:26:15,612
(laughter)

510
00:26:15,607 --> 00:26:16,907
The Press: Not a
comment on you.

511
00:26:16,908 --> 00:26:18,148
(laughter)

512
00:26:18,143 --> 00:26:19,543
It was three pages.

513
00:26:19,544 --> 00:26:24,214
But given that, is he going
to get personally involved

514
00:26:24,215 --> 00:26:27,315
in lobbying members of
Congress against the bill?

515
00:26:27,319 --> 00:26:31,259
Mr. Earnest: Look, I don't
have a detailed accounting

516
00:26:31,256 --> 00:26:33,956
of the President's
involvement in this lobbying

517
00:26:33,959 --> 00:26:38,629
effort, but the President's
views are well known and the

518
00:26:38,630 --> 00:26:40,630
President has had an
opportunity to convey those

519
00:26:40,632 --> 00:26:43,832
to members of Congress
at different points.

520
00:26:43,835 --> 00:26:45,835
So there's no doubt about
the position that the

521
00:26:45,837 --> 00:26:47,907
administration has taken,
and there's no doubt about

522
00:26:47,906 --> 00:26:49,876
the personal views of the
President when it comes to

523
00:26:49,874 --> 00:26:51,674
this issue.

524
00:26:51,676 --> 00:26:54,376
And I think he made that
quite clear not just in the

525
00:26:54,379 --> 00:26:56,619
act of vetoing the
legislation, but in

526
00:26:56,614 --> 00:27:01,354
explaining in that statement
exactly why he had chosen to

527
00:27:01,353 --> 00:27:02,653
veto the bill.

528
00:27:02,654 --> 00:27:06,824
So there's no ambiguity
about the President's position.

529
00:27:06,825 --> 00:27:09,525
What the President says in
private is reflected in his

530
00:27:09,527 --> 00:27:11,967
public statements on this.

531
00:27:11,963 --> 00:27:18,233
And our vote count would be
a little bit higher if those

532
00:27:18,236 --> 00:27:22,276
who expressed some unease in
private with the impact of

533
00:27:22,273 --> 00:27:25,613
the bill had that show up in
their public votes as well.

534
00:27:25,610 --> 00:27:27,650
The Press: So do you think
some of these folks who are

535
00:27:27,645 --> 00:27:30,745
wavering in private,
especially Democrats, don't

536
00:27:30,749 --> 00:27:32,689
you think it would maybe
help them to make that

537
00:27:32,684 --> 00:27:35,084
position public if they
got a personal call or

538
00:27:35,086 --> 00:27:36,356
conversation with
the President?

539
00:27:36,354 --> 00:27:37,284
Mr. Earnest: Yes, maybe.

540
00:27:37,288 --> 00:27:41,028
You can also imagine a
situation where these

541
00:27:41,026 --> 00:27:42,926
members of Congress would
say, I didn't take this

542
00:27:42,927 --> 00:27:45,197
position because the
President asked me to, I

543
00:27:45,196 --> 00:27:47,466
took this position because
it's the right one.

544
00:27:47,465 --> 00:27:52,505
So each individual member
of Congress has their own

545
00:27:52,504 --> 00:27:54,504
approach to these
kinds of questions.

546
00:27:54,506 --> 00:27:57,376
But for anybody who is
wondering exactly what the

547
00:27:57,375 --> 00:28:01,515
President's position is on
this bill, I think we have

548
00:28:01,513 --> 00:28:03,913
been unambiguous about the
deep concern that he has

549
00:28:03,915 --> 00:28:06,315
about the impact that this
bill would have on our

550
00:28:06,317 --> 00:28:08,357
relationship with countries
around the world, including

551
00:28:08,353 --> 00:28:10,753
the relationship the United
States enjoys with some of

552
00:28:10,755 --> 00:28:12,125
our closest allies.

553
00:28:12,123 --> 00:28:14,123
I'll just point out
something that I've pointed

554
00:28:14,125 --> 00:28:15,125
out before.

555
00:28:15,126 --> 00:28:17,126
The President is not the
only national security

556
00:28:17,128 --> 00:28:19,168
expert in America to
harbor these concerns.

557
00:28:19,164 --> 00:28:22,404
There are other high-profile
Republican legal and

558
00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,440
national security experts
who have expressed their

559
00:28:25,437 --> 00:28:28,377
concerns with this bill.

560
00:28:28,373 --> 00:28:29,743
Even President George W.

561
00:28:29,741 --> 00:28:32,011
Bush's Attorney General,
Michael Mukasey, has

562
00:28:32,010 --> 00:28:36,710
expressed his concern about
this bill and has indicated

563
00:28:36,714 --> 00:28:38,684
publically what
those concerns are.

564
00:28:38,683 --> 00:28:42,053
So we certainly welcome that
show of bipartisan support

565
00:28:42,053 --> 00:28:46,353
from a variety of national
security experts that have

566
00:28:46,357 --> 00:28:47,727
made clear they have
concerns with this, too.

567
00:28:47,725 --> 00:28:49,165
The Press:
Lastly, on the CR.

568
00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,130
I know last week you
expressed some frustration

569
00:28:52,130 --> 00:28:54,400
that Flint aid wasn't
included in the package.

570
00:28:54,399 --> 00:28:57,539
Is that something that, if
it's not included in the CR,

571
00:28:57,535 --> 00:28:59,675
that's sort of a red line
for you guys where you're

572
00:28:59,671 --> 00:29:01,211
not going to sign it?

573
00:29:01,206 --> 00:29:03,376
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jordan,
I think what I indicated

574
00:29:03,374 --> 00:29:06,914
yesterday is -- not
yesterday, it was Friday --

575
00:29:06,911 --> 00:29:09,611
I indicated Friday the
President's view that

576
00:29:09,614 --> 00:29:11,614
Congress has some
more work to do.

577
00:29:11,616 --> 00:29:16,926
And he is disappointed
that -- after months of

578
00:29:16,921 --> 00:29:19,161
suggesting that Congress did
have an important role to

579
00:29:19,157 --> 00:29:22,997
play in providing
significant assistance to

580
00:29:22,994 --> 00:29:27,964
Flint and other communities
that have been enduring lead

581
00:29:32,670 --> 00:29:36,770
contamination in their
drinking water, that there

582
00:29:36,774 --> 00:29:38,774
is a role for Congress
to play in helping those

583
00:29:38,776 --> 00:29:40,776
communities address that
problem, the President has

584
00:29:40,778 --> 00:29:45,648
been making that case for
months and is disappointed

585
00:29:45,650 --> 00:29:47,650
that we haven't seen the
kind of congressional

586
00:29:47,652 --> 00:29:49,652
response that the President
believes this

587
00:29:49,654 --> 00:29:50,994
situation deserves.

588
00:29:50,989 --> 00:29:53,259
So there are plenty of
Democrats that are up there

589
00:29:53,258 --> 00:29:55,258
advocating for the kind of
approach that the President

590
00:29:55,260 --> 00:29:59,200
believes is appropriate for
Congress to pursue, and we

591
00:29:59,197 --> 00:30:01,367
just need to get some
Republicans committed to

592
00:30:01,366 --> 00:30:02,366
this effort, too.

593
00:30:02,367 --> 00:30:05,237
And if we do, we'll be able
to mobilize the kind of

594
00:30:05,236 --> 00:30:07,276
response that, frankly, the
American people and the

595
00:30:07,272 --> 00:30:09,612
people of Flint
readily deserve.

596
00:30:09,607 --> 00:30:10,237
James.

597
00:30:10,241 --> 00:30:11,311
Nice to see you today.

598
00:30:11,309 --> 00:30:12,109
The Press: Josh,
thank you very much.

599
00:30:12,110 --> 00:30:14,080
Nice to be back with you.

600
00:30:14,078 --> 00:30:17,678
First, on the FBI report
about crime statistics.

601
00:30:17,682 --> 00:30:21,782
As you know, that is an
annual report which compiles

602
00:30:21,786 --> 00:30:26,156
statistics from I assume
tens of thousands of

603
00:30:26,157 --> 00:30:31,067
jurisdictions --
lots of them, anyway.

604
00:30:31,062 --> 00:30:34,362
In responding to the
findings of the report, you

605
00:30:34,365 --> 00:30:37,605
just declared that America
is safer under President

606
00:30:37,602 --> 00:30:40,202
Obama than it has been
under any of the last four

607
00:30:40,205 --> 00:30:43,075
Presidents, a period that
will take us back to 1981.

608
00:30:43,074 --> 00:30:48,244
Since law enforcement is
chiefly a local endeavor,

609
00:30:48,246 --> 00:30:51,486
are you asserting some
causative role for President

610
00:30:51,482 --> 00:30:54,082
Obama in the historically
low crime rates that we

611
00:30:54,085 --> 00:30:55,325
have today?

612
00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:57,320
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
certainly have been some

613
00:30:57,322 --> 00:30:59,292
steps that the Obama
administration has taken to

614
00:30:59,290 --> 00:31:00,760
support local
law enforcement.

615
00:31:00,758 --> 00:31:05,328
But I've routinely been
asked this question the

616
00:31:05,330 --> 00:31:08,870
other way, which is,
why hasn't the Obama

617
00:31:08,866 --> 00:31:12,736
administration done more to
impose some of our policy

618
00:31:12,737 --> 00:31:15,137
solutions on local law
enforcement agencies?

619
00:31:15,139 --> 00:31:20,209
And at each turn, I've noted
the longstanding tradition

620
00:31:20,211 --> 00:31:24,251
in the United States of
delegating responsibility

621
00:31:24,249 --> 00:31:26,249
for law enforcement
to the local level.

622
00:31:26,251 --> 00:31:27,251
And the President believes --

623
00:31:27,252 --> 00:31:28,252
The Press: If we could

624
00:31:28,253 --> 00:31:30,153
stick with the question that
I asked, and not the one you

625
00:31:30,154 --> 00:31:30,624
are frequently asked.

626
00:31:30,622 --> 00:31:32,322
Are you asserting some
causative role for President

627
00:31:32,323 --> 00:31:35,123
Obama in the crime levels
for which you just seemed to

628
00:31:35,126 --> 00:31:36,926
take credit for?

629
00:31:36,928 --> 00:31:39,028
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
think that there is any one

630
00:31:39,030 --> 00:31:41,030
direct causation that we
can draw, but I think the

631
00:31:41,032 --> 00:31:43,032
President is proud of the
positive contribution to

632
00:31:43,034 --> 00:31:45,304
this effort that his
administration has made.

633
00:31:45,303 --> 00:31:48,673
The Press: Since you
asserted that the numbers

634
00:31:48,673 --> 00:31:53,643
show that Americans are
safer from violent crime now

635
00:31:53,645 --> 00:31:57,145
than they have been at any
time in the last 35 years,

636
00:31:57,148 --> 00:31:59,948
is it safe for us also to
conclude that Americans are

637
00:31:59,951 --> 00:32:04,051
safer from mass shootings
now than at any time?

638
00:32:04,055 --> 00:32:06,525
Mr. Earnest: I think the
data indicates -- well, I

639
00:32:06,524 --> 00:32:08,524
don't know what
the data indicates.

640
00:32:08,526 --> 00:32:09,726
I guess we'd have to
ask the FBI about that.

641
00:32:09,727 --> 00:32:12,267
So we can go take a look at
the numbers and see what

642
00:32:12,263 --> 00:32:13,063
they say.

643
00:32:13,064 --> 00:32:17,774
The Press: And lastly, on
JASTA, when historians look

644
00:32:17,769 --> 00:32:21,809
back on this episode and
seek to re-create everything

645
00:32:21,806 --> 00:32:23,946
that was going on which
culminated in the

646
00:32:23,941 --> 00:32:26,741
President's veto and,
perhaps, may yet see an

647
00:32:26,744 --> 00:32:30,414
override or further
developments of one kind or

648
00:32:30,415 --> 00:32:35,325
another, will they
justifiably see that there

649
00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,190
was at work something that
we might -- for lack of a

650
00:32:38,189 --> 00:32:39,989
better term -- call
the Saudi lobby?

651
00:32:39,991 --> 00:32:42,091
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I don't know.

652
00:32:42,093 --> 00:32:44,663
I mean, I guess --

653
00:32:44,662 --> 00:32:44,992
The Press: We hear about the Israel lobbies, right?

654
00:32:44,996 --> 00:32:46,396
All the time.

655
00:32:46,397 --> 00:32:46,967
Is there a Saudi lobby?

656
00:32:46,964 --> 00:32:47,934
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that there's been a lot of

657
00:32:47,932 --> 00:32:51,902
public reporting about the
Saudi government trying to

658
00:32:51,903 --> 00:32:58,213
mobilize their friends and
allies to express their

659
00:32:58,209 --> 00:33:01,849
opinion about this bill.

660
00:33:01,846 --> 00:33:04,186
With regard to the
President's decision, I

661
00:33:04,182 --> 00:33:06,652
think we've been quite
clear that his decision is

662
00:33:06,651 --> 00:33:11,591
motivated by the impact that
this bill would have not

663
00:33:11,589 --> 00:33:13,789
just on Saudi Arabia but on
countries around the world.

664
00:33:16,094 --> 00:33:20,964
So I don't know -- I can't
speak to what extent there

665
00:33:20,965 --> 00:33:22,935
was an aggressive lobbying
effort here in the

666
00:33:22,934 --> 00:33:25,974
administration, but based on
the public reporting I've

667
00:33:25,970 --> 00:33:29,510
seen, there appears to be a
rather intense effort by the

668
00:33:29,507 --> 00:33:32,207
Saudi government to lobby
Capitol Hill, and it remains

669
00:33:32,210 --> 00:33:33,610
to be seen how
successful that will be.

670
00:33:33,611 --> 00:33:34,711
The Press: Does the
President believe in the

671
00:33:34,712 --> 00:33:38,912
existence of either an
Israel lobby or a Saudi lobby?

672
00:33:38,916 --> 00:33:40,916
Mr. Earnest: I will say that
this is the first time that

673
00:33:40,918 --> 00:33:43,558
I've heard the
words, Saudi lobby.

674
00:33:43,554 --> 00:33:45,554
Maybe that means I need to
get out more, but it's the

675
00:33:45,556 --> 00:33:46,556
first time that
I've heard it.

676
00:33:46,557 --> 00:33:48,557
The Press: Does he believe
in the existence of an

677
00:33:48,559 --> 00:33:49,559
Israel lobby?

678
00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:50,660
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
asked him that question.

679
00:33:50,661 --> 00:33:56,631
I think it is clear that
the Israeli government has

680
00:33:56,634 --> 00:34:00,174
worked hard to build
relationships here in

681
00:34:00,171 --> 00:34:04,271
Washington that allow them
to exert some influence on

682
00:34:04,275 --> 00:34:05,275
Capitol Hill.

683
00:34:05,276 --> 00:34:12,986
But I don't know if that
crosses the threshold of

684
00:34:12,984 --> 00:34:17,254
being described as a lobby
or not, or just a country

685
00:34:17,255 --> 00:34:20,425
that is a close ally of
the United States and has

686
00:34:20,425 --> 00:34:22,225
friends on both
sides of the aisle.

687
00:34:22,226 --> 00:34:24,226
That clearly is true.

688
00:34:24,228 --> 00:34:25,098
Ron.

689
00:34:25,096 --> 00:34:27,236
The Press: In terms of
timing, how much time do you

690
00:34:27,231 --> 00:34:30,101
think you have with
this veto override?

691
00:34:30,101 --> 00:34:32,871
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm
certainly no expert when it

692
00:34:32,870 --> 00:34:35,440
comes to legislative
procedure, so I'd probably

693
00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:44,880
refer you to one of my
counterparts in Leader

694
00:34:44,882 --> 00:34:45,712
McConnell's office to
describe how long it will be

695
00:34:45,716 --> 00:34:47,856
before the Senate takes
action to consider the

696
00:34:47,852 --> 00:34:52,022
President's veto and to
hold a vote to override it.

697
00:34:52,023 --> 00:34:53,923
From there, of course, it
will go straight to the

698
00:34:53,925 --> 00:34:56,395
House of Representatives and
I'm not sure how long that

699
00:34:56,394 --> 00:34:59,164
takes, and I'm also not sure
how long it would then take

700
00:34:59,163 --> 00:34:59,833
the House to act on it.

701
00:34:59,831 --> 00:35:02,771
The Press: We're talking,
do you think, in terms of

702
00:35:02,767 --> 00:35:06,737
trying to even discuss this
matter with legislators, you

703
00:35:06,737 --> 00:35:09,407
obviously have some sense of
urgency, though, that you

704
00:35:09,407 --> 00:35:11,907
don't have unlimited
amounts of time.

705
00:35:11,909 --> 00:35:13,349
You have days?

706
00:35:13,344 --> 00:35:16,514
Mr. Earnest: Well, our
approach has been to make a

707
00:35:16,514 --> 00:35:18,514
forceful case to
members of Congress.

708
00:35:18,516 --> 00:35:20,516
I don't know how
long we have to take.

709
00:35:20,518 --> 00:35:22,518
Just as somebody who
observes the legislative

710
00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:25,090
process, sometimes things
that seem like they should

711
00:35:25,089 --> 00:35:27,089
take a long time in Capitol
Hill get done really

712
00:35:27,091 --> 00:35:29,091
quickly, and things that
seem like they should get

713
00:35:29,093 --> 00:35:31,393
done really quickly take an
inordinate amount of time.

714
00:35:31,395 --> 00:35:35,735
So I don't know how long
this will take, but

715
00:35:35,733 --> 00:35:41,173
certainly, since the
President received the bill

716
00:35:41,172 --> 00:35:45,272
13 days ago, we have been
-- 13 or 14 days ago -- we

717
00:35:45,276 --> 00:35:48,116
have been engaged in an
effort to persuade members

718
00:35:48,112 --> 00:35:51,452
of Congress that they should
sustain the President's veto

719
00:35:51,449 --> 00:35:52,519
and consider a
different approach.

720
00:35:52,517 --> 00:35:56,187
The Press: And similarly,
with the CR, do you -- what

721
00:35:56,187 --> 00:36:01,357
is the status of that, as
you perceive it, in

722
00:36:01,359 --> 00:36:02,859
terms of timing?

723
00:36:02,860 --> 00:36:03,430
And we know there's
a deadline, but --

724
00:36:03,427 --> 00:36:04,597
Mr. Earnest: We do know
there's a deadline.

725
00:36:04,595 --> 00:36:05,995
The Press: -- do you see
this coming together?

726
00:36:05,997 --> 00:36:07,867
Do you see huge obstacles?

727
00:36:07,865 --> 00:36:11,905
How engaged is the White
House in the --

728
00:36:11,903 --> 00:36:14,643
Mr. Earnest: I'm quite reluctant

729
00:36:14,639 --> 00:36:18,879
to predict congressional outcomes these days.

730
00:36:18,876 --> 00:36:22,546
There is a deadline looming
before Congress, September 30th.

731
00:36:22,547 --> 00:36:24,547
That's the end of
the fiscal year.

732
00:36:24,549 --> 00:36:26,619
And it seems like at least
every year of the Obama

733
00:36:26,617 --> 00:36:30,117
presidency, we've spent some
portion of the last week in

734
00:36:30,121 --> 00:36:33,991
September worrying whether
or not Congress was going to

735
00:36:33,991 --> 00:36:37,361
do its job and get its act
together and ensure that the

736
00:36:37,361 --> 00:36:40,631
government would be
funded and not shut down.

737
00:36:40,631 --> 00:36:46,301
Unfortunately, Republicans
who promised to get Congress

738
00:36:46,304 --> 00:36:48,304
moving again if they were
handed the reins of the

739
00:36:48,306 --> 00:36:52,106
Congress have broken that
promise and they have failed.

740
00:36:52,109 --> 00:36:55,149
And we, once again, here
are four days before the

741
00:36:55,146 --> 00:36:59,316
deadline, and we're publicly
wondering if Congress is

742
00:36:59,317 --> 00:37:02,187
going to fulfill their most
basic responsibility, and

743
00:37:02,186 --> 00:37:04,186
that is are they going to
succeed in passing a budget

744
00:37:04,188 --> 00:37:05,558
to keep the government open.

745
00:37:05,556 --> 00:37:10,696
And what we have seen time
and time again is a reliance

746
00:37:10,695 --> 00:37:13,565
on the part of Republicans
to try to do things on

747
00:37:13,564 --> 00:37:14,764
party-line votes.

748
00:37:14,765 --> 00:37:16,465
And that just doesn't work.

749
00:37:16,467 --> 00:37:22,307
And I think it accounts for
so many of their failures

750
00:37:22,306 --> 00:37:23,946
over the course of the
last several years.

751
00:37:23,941 --> 00:37:27,581
They're going to have to
work with Democrats in both

752
00:37:27,578 --> 00:37:30,878
the House and the Senate,
it appears, to pass this budget.

753
00:37:30,881 --> 00:37:32,081
So they better get to work.

754
00:37:32,083 --> 00:37:33,553
The Press: And just
to clarify something.

755
00:37:33,551 --> 00:37:35,321
Charlotte -- is the
Department of Justice still

756
00:37:35,319 --> 00:37:37,889
just monitoring the
situation there, or is there

757
00:37:37,888 --> 00:37:41,258
now an "investigation"
of the Scott shooting?

758
00:37:41,258 --> 00:37:43,398
Mr. Earnest: I haven't seen
an announcement from the

759
00:37:43,394 --> 00:37:45,464
Department of Justice about
an investigation, but if

760
00:37:45,463 --> 00:37:47,463
there's an announcement
it will come from them.

761
00:37:47,465 --> 00:37:48,835
The Press: Because there
were some statements from

762
00:37:48,833 --> 00:37:49,803
some community activists
there that they were under

763
00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:51,270
the impression that there
was now an

764
00:37:51,268 --> 00:37:53,438
investigation underway.

765
00:37:53,437 --> 00:37:54,577
Mr. Earnest: I haven't seen
that statement from the

766
00:37:54,572 --> 00:37:56,072
Department of Justice, but
you can check with them

767
00:37:56,073 --> 00:37:57,543
about the status.

768
00:37:57,541 --> 00:37:59,241
The Press: And just lastly,
on the debate tonight, you

769
00:37:59,243 --> 00:38:01,643
said, you know, it will be
on in the background and not

770
00:38:01,646 --> 00:38:07,056
ESPN, or -- is too much
being made of this whole

771
00:38:07,051 --> 00:38:07,921
thing, do you thing?

772
00:38:07,918 --> 00:38:09,618
Is that the point?

773
00:38:09,620 --> 00:38:13,920
You said the President --
is this your sense of the

774
00:38:13,924 --> 00:38:16,694
coverage, which I'm sure
you're aware of and all that --

775
00:38:16,694 --> 00:38:18,094
Mr. Earnest:
It's hard to escape.

776
00:38:18,095 --> 00:38:20,535
The Press: Do you think too
much is being made of this

777
00:38:20,531 --> 00:38:21,971
whole moment in
the campaign?

778
00:38:21,966 --> 00:38:24,266
Mr. Earnest: No, I
wouldn't say that.

779
00:38:24,268 --> 00:38:26,268
This is an important
moment in the campaign.

780
00:38:26,270 --> 00:38:28,270
And anybody that's worked
on a campaign at any level

781
00:38:28,272 --> 00:38:31,242
understands how significant
candidate debates are.

782
00:38:31,242 --> 00:38:34,582
And it's an opportunity for
the candidates to square off

783
00:38:34,578 --> 00:38:37,418
and to speak for themselves
in answering questions and

784
00:38:37,415 --> 00:38:42,185
describing their experience
and their vision and

785
00:38:42,186 --> 00:38:44,426
their priorities.

786
00:38:44,422 --> 00:38:48,662
And, look, there hasn't been
a lot of space for that in

787
00:38:48,659 --> 00:38:50,659
the context of this
presidential election.

788
00:38:50,661 --> 00:38:53,631
So this is a rather unique
opportunity for that kind of

789
00:38:53,631 --> 00:38:55,731
discussion to take place,
and I think people are quite

790
00:38:55,733 --> 00:38:58,033
interested to see -- to
tune in and see how the

791
00:38:58,035 --> 00:38:59,835
individual candidates handle
themselves in this setting.

792
00:38:59,837 --> 00:39:01,677
The Press: And it comes at a
time when there's a lot of

793
00:39:01,672 --> 00:39:04,212
reporting suggesting that
the polls have tightened

794
00:39:04,208 --> 00:39:06,608
almost into a deadlock.

795
00:39:06,610 --> 00:39:08,510
And I know we can argue
the merits of polls or not

796
00:39:08,512 --> 00:39:10,782
polls, but certainly it is
important that the public

797
00:39:10,781 --> 00:39:13,921
perception is that the
race is tightening now.

798
00:39:13,918 --> 00:39:18,418
Is that what you're
-- you can see that.

799
00:39:18,422 --> 00:39:21,322
And is there any level of
concern -- the White House,

800
00:39:21,325 --> 00:39:25,465
the President -- about this
state of the race, if you will?

801
00:39:25,463 --> 00:39:28,163
Mr. Earnest: Look, if
reports about tightening

802
00:39:28,165 --> 00:39:31,665
polls convince more people
to tune into the debate and

803
00:39:31,669 --> 00:39:33,809
educate themselves about
the positions taken by the

804
00:39:33,804 --> 00:39:37,474
individual candidates, and
impress upon voters the need

805
00:39:37,475 --> 00:39:40,015
to be engaged in the
political debate in this

806
00:39:40,010 --> 00:39:41,380
country, that's
a good thing.

807
00:39:41,378 --> 00:39:44,648
I can't speak to the
accuracy of the polls.

808
00:39:44,648 --> 00:39:45,718
I don't know if they're
accurate or not.

809
00:39:45,716 --> 00:39:47,216
The Press: So you don't
know whether the race has

810
00:39:47,218 --> 00:39:48,088
tightened or not?

811
00:39:48,085 --> 00:39:49,685
Mr. Earnest: I do not.

812
00:39:49,687 --> 00:39:51,687
You've got plenty of polling
analysts that are making

813
00:39:51,689 --> 00:39:55,059
good money offering that
kind of advice to all of you.

814
00:39:55,059 --> 00:39:59,429
What I will say is that the
President -- regardless of

815
00:39:59,430 --> 00:40:04,100
what the polls say, the
stakes in the election are high.

816
00:40:04,101 --> 00:40:07,201
And whether the polls
indicate a nail-biter or a

817
00:40:07,204 --> 00:40:09,474
blowout, people
should be tuned in.

818
00:40:09,473 --> 00:40:14,413
People should be focused
on the debates, and people

819
00:40:14,411 --> 00:40:16,411
should cast a vote
regardless of which

820
00:40:16,413 --> 00:40:17,413
candidate you support.

821
00:40:17,414 --> 00:40:18,454
Because the next President
of the United States is

822
00:40:18,449 --> 00:40:19,949
going to have a lot of
influence over the future of

823
00:40:19,950 --> 00:40:21,090
the country.

824
00:40:21,085 --> 00:40:23,955
And the President has made
quite clear what his views

825
00:40:23,954 --> 00:40:27,324
are and who he's supporting.

826
00:40:27,324 --> 00:40:30,394
But, look, if there are more
people involved, that's only

827
00:40:30,394 --> 00:40:32,094
a good thing
for the country.

828
00:40:32,096 --> 00:40:34,036
The Press: Do you have any
preview of the

829
00:40:34,031 --> 00:40:35,031
President's travel?

830
00:40:35,032 --> 00:40:37,872
October is just four or five
days away, and you said

831
00:40:37,868 --> 00:40:40,538
twice a week he'd
be out there.

832
00:40:40,538 --> 00:40:42,808
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any travel announcements

833
00:40:42,807 --> 00:40:47,077
yet, but stay tuned and
we'll have some more details.

834
00:40:47,077 --> 00:40:48,077
Mark.

835
00:40:48,078 --> 00:40:51,118
The Press: Josh, what will
President Obama be saying

836
00:40:51,115 --> 00:40:54,955
about the Dakota access
pipeline in his speech today?

837
00:40:54,952 --> 00:40:58,722
Mr. Earnest: Well, Mark, as
it relates to that specific

838
00:40:58,722 --> 00:41:01,662
project, there obviously
is a review that's being

839
00:41:01,659 --> 00:41:03,529
conducted by the U.S.

840
00:41:03,527 --> 00:41:06,867
Army Corps of Engineers to
evaluate the most effective

841
00:41:06,864 --> 00:41:07,894
way to move forward.

842
00:41:07,898 --> 00:41:11,998
I would not expect an
extensive discussion of that

843
00:41:12,002 --> 00:41:15,302
specific project in the
President's remarks.

844
00:41:15,306 --> 00:41:17,746
There has been an effort on
the part of the EPA and the

845
00:41:17,741 --> 00:41:24,251
Department of Interior to go
back and review more broadly

846
00:41:24,248 --> 00:41:29,258
the procedure for soliciting
input from Native

847
00:41:32,189 --> 00:41:36,029
populations across the
United States for projects

848
00:41:36,026 --> 00:41:37,396
like this.

849
00:41:37,394 --> 00:41:39,734
And I think that does
reflect a commitment on the

850
00:41:39,730 --> 00:41:42,400
part of the Obama
administration to strengthen

851
00:41:42,399 --> 00:41:45,569
the relationship between
the federal government and

852
00:41:45,569 --> 00:41:48,509
tribal governments
across the country.

853
00:41:48,505 --> 00:41:52,005
So I don't know if the
President will talk about

854
00:41:52,009 --> 00:41:53,009
that at length either.

855
00:41:53,010 --> 00:41:57,310
It's not really the kind of
topic that is going to bring

856
00:41:57,314 --> 00:42:00,554
an audience to their feet,
but it certainly is the kind

857
00:42:00,551 --> 00:42:03,421
of issue that the people in
attendance at the Tribal

858
00:42:03,420 --> 00:42:05,420
Nations Summit are
interested in.

859
00:42:05,422 --> 00:42:11,392
And I think the announcement
of that review was welcomed

860
00:42:11,395 --> 00:42:13,365
by tribal leaders
across the country.

861
00:42:13,364 --> 00:42:16,834
The Press: Does President
Obama have a view on the

862
00:42:16,834 --> 00:42:20,774
pipeline, or is he waiting
for the results of the review?

863
00:42:20,771 --> 00:42:24,841
Mr. Earnest: With regard to
the actual -- to the Dakota

864
00:42:24,842 --> 00:42:26,842
access pipeline, that's
something that will be

865
00:42:26,844 --> 00:42:28,514
determined by the U.S.

866
00:42:28,512 --> 00:42:31,312
Army Corps of Engineers in
consultation with *the EPA

867
00:42:31,315 --> 00:42:34,015
and the Department
of Interior.

868
00:42:34,018 --> 00:42:36,018
So I've not heard the
President express an opinion

869
00:42:36,020 --> 00:42:37,020
about that
particular project.

870
00:42:37,021 --> 00:42:40,491
The Press: Any readout on
the conference call with the

871
00:42:40,491 --> 00:42:41,691
rabbis today?

872
00:42:41,692 --> 00:42:44,462
Mr. Earnest: The President
is doing a conference call

873
00:42:44,461 --> 00:42:48,101
with rabbis today in honor
of the upcoming celebration

874
00:42:48,098 --> 00:42:49,338
of the Jewish New Year.

875
00:42:49,333 --> 00:42:51,333
I didn't hear how the call
went, but we'll see if we

876
00:42:51,335 --> 00:42:53,635
can get you some
information about it.

877
00:42:53,637 --> 00:42:54,167
Margaret.

878
00:42:54,171 --> 00:42:57,711
The Press: Josh, President
Obama took action as he laid

879
00:42:57,708 --> 00:43:01,148
out to stop imminent
slaughter in Benghazi, took

880
00:43:01,145 --> 00:43:04,785
action to help the
Yazidis in a limited way.

881
00:43:04,782 --> 00:43:09,022
Has the President rule out
any kind of intervention or

882
00:43:09,019 --> 00:43:10,659
action in Aleppo?

883
00:43:10,654 --> 00:43:14,724
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President is continuing to

884
00:43:14,725 --> 00:43:16,895
get advice from his national
security team, including

885
00:43:16,894 --> 00:43:21,394
from the military leaders at
the Department of Defense

886
00:43:21,398 --> 00:43:24,268
reviewing all of the
available options.

887
00:43:24,268 --> 00:43:29,278
I think what is unique to
the situation in Aleppo is

888
00:43:31,308 --> 00:43:35,248
that the bloody attacks that
are being waged there are

889
00:43:35,245 --> 00:43:37,885
being carried out in a
heavily populated, urban

890
00:43:37,881 --> 00:43:42,951
area, where there are a
large number of innocent

891
00:43:42,953 --> 00:43:44,953
civilians caught
in the crossfire.

892
00:43:44,955 --> 00:43:50,765
The two situations that you
cited, the Yazidis in Iraq

893
00:43:50,761 --> 00:43:53,161
were obviously is a
situation where they were on

894
00:43:53,163 --> 00:43:57,903
Sinjar Mountain, and there
were some approaching ISIL

895
00:43:57,901 --> 00:43:59,901
fighters that were taken off
the battlefield, and that

896
00:43:59,903 --> 00:44:02,943
was able to protect
Yazidi population.

897
00:44:02,940 --> 00:44:05,610
In Benghazi, the President
has talked about how

898
00:44:05,609 --> 00:44:11,979
important it was to make a
decision in advance of the

899
00:44:11,982 --> 00:44:17,052
Gaddafi regime's military
forces reaching the city.

900
00:44:17,054 --> 00:44:19,194
And so the strikes that were
taken there to protect the

901
00:44:19,189 --> 00:44:23,259
innocent population that
Gaddafi had vowed to

902
00:44:23,260 --> 00:44:29,100
slaughter in Benghazi were
carried out in advance of

903
00:44:29,099 --> 00:44:31,639
the military
reaching the city.

904
00:44:31,635 --> 00:44:33,705
Obviously the situation
in Aleppo is different.

905
00:44:33,704 --> 00:44:36,474
You have a bombing campaign
being waged by the Assad

906
00:44:36,473 --> 00:44:39,243
regime and by the Russians
that is taking place in

907
00:44:39,243 --> 00:44:41,343
densely populated urban area
without regard to

908
00:44:41,345 --> 00:44:42,845
civilian casualties.

909
00:44:42,846 --> 00:44:45,516
And that certainly
would make a U.S.

910
00:44:45,516 --> 00:44:50,486
military intervention in
that specific campaign

911
00:44:50,487 --> 00:44:52,487
significantly more
complicated than the two

912
00:44:52,489 --> 00:44:53,289
examples you cited.

913
00:44:53,290 --> 00:44:57,360
The Press: So you're saying
too difficult or too late,

914
00:44:57,361 --> 00:44:59,331
circumstantially,
to intervene?

915
00:44:59,329 --> 00:45:03,399
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm
not ruling anything out.

916
00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:07,200
The President is going to
continue to rely on advice

917
00:45:07,204 --> 00:45:09,244
from his national security
team, including from his

918
00:45:09,239 --> 00:45:11,679
military commanders,
including those who are

919
00:45:11,675 --> 00:45:13,645
closely following the
situation on the ground

920
00:45:13,644 --> 00:45:14,644
inside of Syria.

921
00:45:14,645 --> 00:45:19,655
But I'm just trying to draw
a distinction between the

922
00:45:21,752 --> 00:45:24,252
two other examples of
military intervention that

923
00:45:24,254 --> 00:45:26,824
you cited in illustrating
why they're different than

924
00:45:26,824 --> 00:45:29,994
the situation the President
and the world now faces.

925
00:45:29,993 --> 00:45:32,463
The Press: You've talked
extensively in this room

926
00:45:32,463 --> 00:45:37,833
about how -- on or off the
table really at this point.

927
00:45:37,835 --> 00:45:40,905
Diplomacy is your path
forward, a political

928
00:45:40,904 --> 00:45:42,744
decision has to be made.

929
00:45:42,739 --> 00:45:44,709
The situation being so
acute in Aleppo, as you've

930
00:45:44,708 --> 00:45:47,748
described -- bombing
waterways, U.N.

931
00:45:47,744 --> 00:45:50,714
says using bunker buster
bombs to blow up underground

932
00:45:50,714 --> 00:45:53,814
hospitals and bomb shelters
-- in targeting the same

933
00:45:53,817 --> 00:45:56,987
kind of civil society that
the administration is

934
00:45:56,987 --> 00:46:00,227
arguing should be involved
in negotiations in the

935
00:46:00,224 --> 00:46:03,864
future, if you're targeting
and eliminating populations

936
00:46:03,861 --> 00:46:08,161
who would be at that table,
how can you still support

937
00:46:08,165 --> 00:46:11,935
credibly that that's your
policy diplomatically to

938
00:46:11,935 --> 00:46:15,575
lead to negotiations without
defending those people?

939
00:46:15,572 --> 00:46:19,642
Mr. Earnest: Well, Margaret,
you are right that it is

940
00:46:19,643 --> 00:46:25,383
very difficult to engage
diplomatically, and it's

941
00:46:25,382 --> 00:46:30,792
very difficult to follow
through on specific

942
00:46:30,787 --> 00:46:34,287
diplomatically negotiated
solutions while what you're

943
00:46:34,291 --> 00:46:35,991
describing is taking place.

944
00:46:35,993 --> 00:46:38,233
That's why all along,
throughout the talks that

945
00:46:38,228 --> 00:46:41,868
we've had with the Russians,
we've insisted that there be

946
00:46:41,865 --> 00:46:46,135
a protracted period of calm
and that the steady flow of

947
00:46:46,136 --> 00:46:49,236
humanitarian assistance is
able to move into those

948
00:46:49,239 --> 00:46:51,809
communities that
need it the most.

949
00:46:51,808 --> 00:46:55,848
That has always been
essentially the precondition

950
00:46:55,846 --> 00:46:59,946
for any sort of negotiated
cooperation between the

951
00:46:59,950 --> 00:47:01,420
United States and Russia.

952
00:47:01,418 --> 00:47:03,058
The Press: Didn't they
provide their answer to

953
00:47:03,053 --> 00:47:04,653
that proposal?

954
00:47:04,655 --> 00:47:06,455
I mean, with the bombings
that you've seen in the past

955
00:47:06,456 --> 00:47:07,656
few days?

956
00:47:07,658 --> 00:47:09,128
The French ambassador
at the U.N.

957
00:47:09,126 --> 00:47:11,966
and the French ambassador
here in Washington is

958
00:47:11,962 --> 00:47:14,262
basically saying the
Russians have shown us they

959
00:47:14,264 --> 00:47:16,734
either can't or
won't deliver Assad.

960
00:47:16,733 --> 00:47:18,233
But you disagree?

961
00:47:18,235 --> 00:47:20,575
You think they can and
possibly will still

962
00:47:20,571 --> 00:47:21,941
deliver Assad?

963
00:47:21,939 --> 00:47:24,239
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the question right now,

964
00:47:24,241 --> 00:47:27,011
Margaret, is are they
willing to live up the

965
00:47:27,010 --> 00:47:28,480
commitments that they
previously made.

966
00:47:28,478 --> 00:47:31,678
Obviously the doubt about
that grows every day,

967
00:47:31,682 --> 00:47:35,252
particularly as we see
those attacks worsen.

968
00:47:35,252 --> 00:47:37,652
And, yes, there continue to
be questions about whether

969
00:47:37,654 --> 00:47:42,664
or not Russia is capable
of or willing to exercise

970
00:47:46,663 --> 00:47:49,563
influence over the Assad
regime to reduce the

971
00:47:49,566 --> 00:47:51,036
violence inside of Syria.

972
00:47:51,034 --> 00:47:57,944
There are doubts about that,
and those doubts only grow

973
00:47:57,941 --> 00:47:59,841
as these attacks worsen.

974
00:47:59,843 --> 00:48:04,353
So, no, there's not been
much that I've had to say

975
00:48:04,348 --> 00:48:08,188
today or even over the last
several days that sound like

976
00:48:08,185 --> 00:48:14,525
they are defending Russia's
capabilities or credibility.

977
00:48:14,524 --> 00:48:18,694
If anything, the
doubts harbored by the

978
00:48:18,695 --> 00:48:23,535
administration about Russia
and their intent are growing.

979
00:48:23,533 --> 00:48:26,373
The Press: Is there any
feeling of urgency given how

980
00:48:26,370 --> 00:48:31,310
bloody and brutal this new
campaign is in Aleppo?

981
00:48:31,308 --> 00:48:34,048
And when will we get a
decision on some of those

982
00:48:34,044 --> 00:48:36,084
things are being debated?

983
00:48:36,079 --> 00:48:40,179
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen, I
-- "debated" is not a

984
00:48:40,183 --> 00:48:41,523
word that I used.

985
00:48:41,518 --> 00:48:43,718
I think this is an issue --

986
00:48:43,720 --> 00:48:44,960
The Press: (inaudible)

987
00:48:44,955 --> 00:48:47,095
Mr. Earnest: Look, this is
an issue that the President

988
00:48:47,090 --> 00:48:50,830
and his team have been
discussing and focused on

989
00:48:50,827 --> 00:48:54,027
and worried about and
concerned about for many

990
00:48:54,031 --> 00:48:55,061
years now.

991
00:48:55,065 --> 00:48:59,935
And like I said at the top,
the situation in Syria, as

992
00:48:59,936 --> 00:49:05,846
bad as it is, only continues
to worsen in some of the

993
00:49:05,842 --> 00:49:07,882
most unthinkable ways.

994
00:49:07,878 --> 00:49:12,448
This idea that there are
Assad regime military

995
00:49:12,449 --> 00:49:15,849
forces, or even Russia
forces, that are using

996
00:49:15,852 --> 00:49:21,622
enhanced or more powerful
weapons to try to bomb

997
00:49:21,625 --> 00:49:25,165
hospitals or even daycare
centers, playgrounds I think

998
00:49:25,162 --> 00:49:27,762
they were describing in some
of these reports, that were

999
00:49:27,764 --> 00:49:31,634
moved underground to try to
protect innocent children --

1000
00:49:31,635 --> 00:49:35,105
the idea that first
responders, the White

1001
00:49:35,105 --> 00:49:37,745
Helmets, as they're
described, would be

1002
00:49:37,741 --> 00:49:42,111
targeted, or a humanitarian
aid convoy would be targeted

1003
00:49:42,112 --> 00:49:44,082
-- it's sickening.

1004
00:49:44,081 --> 00:49:45,651
It's beyond the pale.

1005
00:49:45,649 --> 00:49:52,289
And it's not just morally
questionable, at best; I

1006
00:49:52,289 --> 00:49:54,929
think we can say it's
immoral to target a

1007
00:49:54,925 --> 00:49:56,695
humanitarian aid convoy.

1008
00:49:56,693 --> 00:50:04,703
But it also is in conflict
with the stated goal and

1009
00:50:04,701 --> 00:50:08,101
strategy that the
Russians have laid out.

1010
00:50:08,105 --> 00:50:12,375
So, look, I'm not going to
stand up here and defend

1011
00:50:12,376 --> 00:50:13,446
Russia's credibility.

1012
00:50:13,443 --> 00:50:15,343
If anything, I spent most of
the last week or so raising

1013
00:50:15,345 --> 00:50:16,145
doubts about it.

1014
00:50:16,146 --> 00:50:18,146
But, again --

1015
00:50:18,148 --> 00:50:19,018
The Press:
But you're giving them the

1016
00:50:19,015 --> 00:50:19,815
benefit of the doubt.

1017
00:50:19,816 --> 00:50:21,456
Mr. Earnest: We're not
giving them anything.

1018
00:50:21,451 --> 00:50:22,921
And I think that's the
important thing for people

1019
00:50:22,919 --> 00:50:23,819
to understand -- The Press:
Have you taken the offer off

1020
00:50:23,820 --> 00:50:28,160
the table to restart
negotiations with the

1021
00:50:28,158 --> 00:50:31,658
potential of having military
coordination in the future?

1022
00:50:31,661 --> 00:50:32,461
Mr. Earnest: No.

1023
00:50:32,462 --> 00:50:36,002
The negotiations
haven't started.

1024
00:50:35,999 --> 00:50:37,999
I'm not sure that they're
ongoing right now.

1025
00:50:38,001 --> 00:50:40,001
But it's important for
people to --

1026
00:50:40,003 --> 00:50:42,003
The Press: But the offer stands.

1027
00:50:42,005 --> 00:50:42,635
Mr. Earnest: That's
not a concession.

1028
00:50:42,639 --> 00:50:43,979
Seeking peace is
not a concession.

1029
00:50:43,974 --> 00:50:44,874
Seeking peace is our goal.

1030
00:50:44,875 --> 00:50:45,275
We're trying to --

1031
00:50:45,275 --> 00:50:45,775
The Press: Right, coordination

1032
00:50:45,776 --> 00:50:46,376
was the leverage.

1033
00:50:46,376 --> 00:50:48,316
That's still an option?

1034
00:50:48,311 --> 00:50:49,311
Mr. Earnest: Well,
coordination is what Russia

1035
00:50:49,312 --> 00:50:50,552
says is what they want.

1036
00:50:50,547 --> 00:50:52,117
And it will not be provided
by the United States until

1037
00:50:52,115 --> 00:50:53,355
they deliver on the
commitments that they

1038
00:50:53,350 --> 00:50:54,020
have made.

1039
00:50:54,017 --> 00:50:55,557
And they have not delivered
on those commitments.

1040
00:50:55,552 --> 00:50:58,352
If anything, they have
walked back from them.

1041
00:50:58,355 --> 00:51:01,255
So the United States has not
been in the position where

1042
00:51:01,258 --> 00:51:04,428
we are providing
anything to the Russians.

1043
00:51:04,428 --> 00:51:06,328
I think the question right
now on the part of the

1044
00:51:06,329 --> 00:51:12,299
United States is, what is it
that we can do to build a

1045
00:51:12,302 --> 00:51:13,972
movement toward peace.

1046
00:51:13,970 --> 00:51:16,770
And that search has been
rather fruitless in the last

1047
00:51:16,773 --> 00:51:17,773
few days.

1048
00:51:17,774 --> 00:51:19,174
The Press: On sanctions,
when you were asked earlier

1049
00:51:19,176 --> 00:51:21,516
about the congressional
proposal, you said it

1050
00:51:21,511 --> 00:51:24,611
wouldn't be effective if
it's purely unilateral.

1051
00:51:24,614 --> 00:51:28,154
Is the administration in
negotiations or in any kind

1052
00:51:28,151 --> 00:51:31,891
of proposal conversation
with any of its allies to go

1053
00:51:31,888 --> 00:51:34,028
ahead -- because obviously
it wouldn't go through the U.N.

1054
00:51:34,024 --> 00:51:37,124
But is there any kind of
coordination with France,

1055
00:51:37,127 --> 00:51:39,267
with Britain, with other
powers in the EU to try to

1056
00:51:39,262 --> 00:51:44,032
leverage sanctions -- where
you might get people to sign up?

1057
00:51:44,034 --> 00:51:47,374
Mr. Earnest: Well, I can't
speak to the details of the

1058
00:51:47,370 --> 00:51:48,940
kind of diplomatic
engagements that are ongoing

1059
00:51:48,939 --> 00:51:50,409
with our allies.

1060
00:51:50,407 --> 00:51:53,577
And I know that Secretary
Kerry, over the weekend, had

1061
00:51:53,577 --> 00:51:56,147
an opportunity to meet with
-- or have a conversation

1062
00:51:56,146 --> 00:51:59,686
with some of our European
allies about the situation

1063
00:51:59,683 --> 00:52:00,853
in Syria.

1064
00:52:00,851 --> 00:52:03,421
I'll let the State
Department give a readout in

1065
00:52:03,420 --> 00:52:05,560
terms of describing how
prominently that question of

1066
00:52:05,555 --> 00:52:07,795
sanctions featured
in that discussion.

1067
00:52:07,791 --> 00:52:11,991
But it is certainly accurate
to say that the United

1068
00:52:11,995 --> 00:52:15,095
States continues to engage
deeply with our allies.

1069
00:52:15,098 --> 00:52:19,398
And there are a variety of
potential strategies that

1070
00:52:19,402 --> 00:52:20,972
are discussed in each
of those conversations.

1071
00:52:20,971 --> 00:52:23,211
The Press: But, respectfully
and not to put too fine a

1072
00:52:23,206 --> 00:52:25,306
point on it, though, I mean,
it's all based on rhetoric

1073
00:52:25,308 --> 00:52:25,908
at this point.

1074
00:52:25,909 --> 00:52:27,609
There's a lot of rhetoric.

1075
00:52:27,611 --> 00:52:28,811
There's a lot of oratory.

1076
00:52:28,812 --> 00:52:31,712
But there isn't at this
point anything you can say

1077
00:52:31,715 --> 00:52:34,515
that's being considered
the have any kind of

1078
00:52:34,518 --> 00:52:37,758
intervention to stop what's
happening in Aleppo, or in

1079
00:52:37,754 --> 00:52:41,924
Syria more broadly, or to
have any kind of action

1080
00:52:41,925 --> 00:52:44,895
against Russia for the
targeting of the aid convoy?

1081
00:52:44,895 --> 00:52:48,235
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
obviously are some

1082
00:52:48,231 --> 00:52:50,231
limitations -- there are
certain elements of our

1083
00:52:50,233 --> 00:52:52,203
strategy that we do
not discuss publicly.

1084
00:52:52,202 --> 00:52:55,442
But what I can say is
certainly the United States

1085
00:52:55,438 --> 00:52:59,378
and the President's national
security team is quite

1086
00:52:59,376 --> 00:53:02,146
focused on confronting the
most direct threats to U.S.

1087
00:53:02,145 --> 00:53:03,175
national security.

1088
00:53:03,179 --> 00:53:05,479
And that's why you are
seeing such a sustained

1089
00:53:05,482 --> 00:53:09,052
effort on the part of the
United States military and

1090
00:53:09,052 --> 00:53:11,222
our 67-member coalition
to go after ISIL.

1091
00:53:11,221 --> 00:53:15,761
And when you consider
the territory that ISIL

1092
00:53:15,759 --> 00:53:18,359
previously controlled in
Iraq and in Syria, about 40

1093
00:53:18,361 --> 00:53:21,761
percent of that
has been retaken.

1094
00:53:21,765 --> 00:53:23,765
That's an indication of the
progress that we're making

1095
00:53:23,767 --> 00:53:24,837
on the ground.

1096
00:53:24,834 --> 00:53:28,004
But there continue to be
some areas of Syria that are

1097
00:53:28,004 --> 00:53:29,104
undeniably war-torn.

1098
00:53:29,105 --> 00:53:32,175
And there are lives and
communities that have been

1099
00:53:32,175 --> 00:53:34,145
shattered as a result
of this violence.

1100
00:53:34,144 --> 00:53:35,144
And it is heartbreaking.

1101
00:53:35,145 --> 00:53:38,245
And it only fuels the kind
of extremism that the

1102
00:53:38,248 --> 00:53:40,288
administration is
mostly concerned about.

1103
00:53:40,283 --> 00:53:44,753
And we're going to pursue
every available channel that

1104
00:53:44,754 --> 00:53:47,794
we can, including peace,
including the pursuit of

1105
00:53:47,791 --> 00:53:50,931
peace, including
negotiations, to try to

1106
00:53:50,927 --> 00:53:54,767
bring the violence down,
to try to ramp up the

1107
00:53:54,764 --> 00:53:58,004
humanitarian aid that is
able to get through, and to

1108
00:53:58,001 --> 00:54:01,101
try to stop a lot
of that bloodshed.

1109
00:54:01,104 --> 00:54:04,374
But the last few days
have not been good.

1110
00:54:04,374 --> 00:54:05,444
Gardiner.

1111
00:54:05,442 --> 00:54:07,742
The Press: You probably
answered this, but I just

1112
00:54:07,744 --> 00:54:10,944
want to understand, are you
willing to cut yet another

1113
00:54:10,947 --> 00:54:12,147
deal with the Russians?

1114
00:54:12,148 --> 00:54:14,948
Is this the last deal they
have to live up to in order

1115
00:54:14,951 --> 00:54:16,821
for things to happen?

1116
00:54:16,820 --> 00:54:20,660
Where are you in your
negotiations with the Russians?

1117
00:54:20,657 --> 00:54:24,427
Again, are you sitting at
the table ready to do --

1118
00:54:24,427 --> 00:54:28,797
strike yet another deal that
they would potentially walk

1119
00:54:28,798 --> 00:54:30,838
away from, as they
have this last one?

1120
00:54:30,834 --> 00:54:34,034
Mr. Earnest: Well, Gardiner,
it is hard to imagine the

1121
00:54:34,037 --> 00:54:38,877
United States reaching any
other negotiated agreement

1122
00:54:38,875 --> 00:54:43,785
with the Russians until they
live up to the commitments

1123
00:54:43,780 --> 00:54:48,020
that they've made to reduce
the violence and allow for

1124
00:54:48,018 --> 00:54:53,628
the free flow of
humanitarian access and aid

1125
00:54:53,623 --> 00:54:56,623
to the communities that
need it most in Syria.

1126
00:54:56,626 --> 00:54:59,996
So that's the state of play.

1127
00:55:02,766 --> 00:55:07,776
The international community
is awaiting a tangible sign

1128
00:55:11,007 --> 00:55:13,007
from the Russians that
they're prepared to live up

1129
00:55:13,009 --> 00:55:15,009
to the commitments
that they've made.

1130
00:55:15,011 --> 00:55:20,021
Thus far, their credibility
is increasingly flimsy and

1131
00:55:22,419 --> 00:55:28,359
doubts are rising about
whether or not they have the

1132
00:55:28,358 --> 00:55:31,798
influence with the Assad
regime that they claim to have.

1133
00:55:31,795 --> 00:55:34,435
And, look, if the conclusion
of the international

1134
00:55:34,431 --> 00:55:37,231
community is that Russia
doesn't have the influence

1135
00:55:37,233 --> 00:55:41,943
that they claim to have with
the Assad regime, then, yes,

1136
00:55:41,938 --> 00:55:43,938
that probably means we're
going to have to pursue a

1137
00:55:43,940 --> 00:55:48,610
different path to reaching
the kind of political

1138
00:55:48,611 --> 00:55:52,081
transition that we know is
necessary to address the

1139
00:55:52,082 --> 00:55:53,722
chaotic situation
inside of Syria.

1140
00:55:53,717 --> 00:55:56,657
The Press: Does that mean
this notion of sharing

1141
00:55:56,653 --> 00:55:58,953
targeting information with
the Russians -- is that off

1142
00:55:58,955 --> 00:56:01,125
the table forever?

1143
00:56:01,124 --> 00:56:03,864
Or is it still out there,
potentially, if the Russians

1144
00:56:03,860 --> 00:56:06,060
live up to this past deal?

1145
00:56:06,062 --> 00:56:08,062
Mr. Earnest: I think the
way that I would say it,

1146
00:56:08,064 --> 00:56:12,104
Gardiner, is that it is not
going to be on the table

1147
00:56:12,102 --> 00:56:15,772
until we see the Russians
live up to the commitments

1148
00:56:15,772 --> 00:56:21,812
that they've made in terms
of reducing violence and

1149
00:56:21,811 --> 00:56:25,311
allowing humanitarian aid
to be delivered with

1150
00:56:25,315 --> 00:56:26,915
some consistency.

1151
00:56:26,916 --> 00:56:30,416
And over the last week, week
and a half, we have not seen

1152
00:56:30,420 --> 00:56:34,320
that, despite Russia's
stated commitments.

1153
00:56:34,324 --> 00:56:37,894
And that's why it's
difficult to envision any

1154
00:56:37,894 --> 00:56:41,064
sort of military cooperation
with them, because all along

1155
00:56:41,064 --> 00:56:46,134
that military cooperation
was contingent on Russia

1156
00:56:46,136 --> 00:56:48,806
performing the duties they
committed to perform.

1157
00:56:48,805 --> 00:56:52,245
And not only have they
failed in that effort,

1158
00:56:54,310 --> 00:56:56,310
they've actually be doubling
down on the kinds of

1159
00:56:56,312 --> 00:56:58,312
strategies that we've been
trying to prevent in the

1160
00:56:58,314 --> 00:56:59,314
first place.

1161
00:56:59,315 --> 00:57:02,415
The Press: Over the weekend
there was a picture of the

1162
00:57:02,418 --> 00:57:07,358
First Lady and President
George Bush in an embrace

1163
00:57:07,357 --> 00:57:08,957
that sort of went viral.

1164
00:57:08,958 --> 00:57:12,298
Can you just explain the
relationship between them?

1165
00:57:12,295 --> 00:57:14,395
Is it of affection?

1166
00:57:14,397 --> 00:57:19,307
Just tell us more
about that hug.

1167
00:57:19,302 --> 00:57:21,372
(laughter)

1168
00:57:21,371 --> 00:57:22,911
The Press: And I
have a follow-up.

1169
00:57:22,906 --> 00:57:24,846
(laughter)

1170
00:57:24,841 --> 00:57:30,351
Mr. Earnest: Well, Gardiner,
I think what is obvious from

1171
00:57:30,346 --> 00:57:33,986
the photo is that Mrs. Obama
has genuine affection for

1172
00:57:33,983 --> 00:57:35,383
former President Bush.

1173
00:57:35,385 --> 00:57:39,025
And while they were not
photographed hugging -- at

1174
00:57:39,022 --> 00:57:44,292
least that I'm aware of --
Mrs. Obama also has a lot of

1175
00:57:44,294 --> 00:57:46,364
affection for Mrs.
Bush, as well.

1176
00:57:46,362 --> 00:57:51,472
Over the years, they have
had an opportunity to appear

1177
00:57:51,467 --> 00:57:58,307
together at events, some of
them somber and some of

1178
00:57:58,308 --> 00:58:00,408
them celebratory.

1179
00:58:00,410 --> 00:58:10,050
And, look, there's been a
lot of discussion about how

1180
00:58:10,053 --> 00:58:14,253
people who have served in
the Oval Office, even if

1181
00:58:14,257 --> 00:58:19,267
they have different
political philosophies and

1182
00:58:19,262 --> 00:58:24,802
belong to different
political parties, have a

1183
00:58:24,801 --> 00:58:28,501
lot of appreciation for
people who have assumed

1184
00:58:28,504 --> 00:58:29,504
similar burdens.

1185
00:58:29,505 --> 00:58:32,775
And I think that's certainly
true in this case.

1186
00:58:32,775 --> 00:58:37,785
The hug was not an
indication that political

1187
00:58:40,583 --> 00:58:42,583
difference of opinion
have been resolved.

1188
00:58:45,388 --> 00:58:50,028
But I think it is a reminder
that people who have

1189
00:58:50,026 --> 00:58:55,036
different views but love
their country can find ways

1190
00:58:58,368 --> 00:59:05,438
to cooperate in a way that's
good for the country.

1191
00:59:05,441 --> 00:59:07,241
And, look, the President --
President Obama -- in his

1192
00:59:07,243 --> 00:59:13,953
comments, made reference
to the fact that it was

1193
00:59:13,950 --> 00:59:16,650
President Bush that signed
into law the bill that

1194
00:59:16,653 --> 00:59:22,723
initiated the construction
of the project.

1195
00:59:22,725 --> 00:59:29,265
And I think it's an
indication that, again, for

1196
00:59:29,265 --> 00:59:34,005
our political differences, a
shared commitment to a set

1197
00:59:34,003 --> 00:59:37,473
of basic American values
is what has long made the

1198
00:59:37,473 --> 00:59:39,413
United States of America the
greatest country on Earth.

1199
00:59:39,409 --> 00:59:40,379
The Press: Josh, one more.

1200
00:59:40,376 --> 00:59:41,546
On TPP.

1201
00:59:41,544 --> 00:59:43,744
It's clearly one of the
last big priorities of

1202
00:59:43,746 --> 00:59:45,116
the administration.

1203
00:59:45,114 --> 00:59:48,114
You just sent out a note
from Secretary Pritzker

1204
00:59:48,117 --> 00:59:50,787
highlighting the TPP
benefits for small businesses.

1205
00:59:50,787 --> 00:59:53,887
There is a sense on Capitol
Hill that you're going to

1206
00:59:53,890 --> 00:59:57,390
have to give something to
McConnell and Ryan to get

1207
00:59:57,393 --> 01:00:01,703
TPP through a lame duck
session of Congress.

1208
01:00:01,698 --> 01:00:04,868
Can you give us any hint
about what you guys are

1209
01:00:04,867 --> 01:00:08,767
willing to kind of give up
to get this thing going?

1210
01:00:08,771 --> 01:00:11,011
Are there discussions yet
about this going on in the

1211
01:00:11,007 --> 01:00:12,607
White House?

1212
01:00:12,608 --> 01:00:15,578
Is there just sort of a
wait for the election?

1213
01:00:15,578 --> 01:00:18,378
Where are you on
getting TPP done?

1214
01:00:18,381 --> 01:00:20,681
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
the administration is

1215
01:00:20,683 --> 01:00:23,153
committed to working closely
with Leader McConnell and

1216
01:00:23,152 --> 01:00:25,822
Speaker Ryan's office to
find the most effective path

1217
01:00:25,822 --> 01:00:30,832
forward in Congress for the
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

1218
01:00:34,030 --> 01:00:38,130
Both Speaker Ryan and Leader
McConnell, throughout their

1219
01:00:38,134 --> 01:00:43,544
decades-long service in the
Congress, have been ardent

1220
01:00:43,539 --> 01:00:46,079
proponents of agreements
like the

1221
01:00:46,075 --> 01:00:48,645
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

1222
01:00:48,644 --> 01:00:53,654
So I'm not aware of any deal
that's going to be cut.

1223
01:00:56,085 --> 01:01:00,155
I think the case the
President would make is

1224
01:01:03,426 --> 01:01:07,066
consider your previous
position and your philosophy

1225
01:01:07,063 --> 01:01:13,533
on these kinds of issues and
recognize that, regardless

1226
01:01:13,536 --> 01:01:17,076
of the outcome of the
presidential election,

1227
01:01:17,073 --> 01:01:19,773
there's not likely to be a
President sitting in the

1228
01:01:19,776 --> 01:01:26,386
Oval Office for the next
four years that supports this.

1229
01:01:26,382 --> 01:01:32,922
So there is a now-or-never
element to this.

1230
01:01:32,922 --> 01:01:36,262
But look, ultimately people
like Leader McConnell and

1231
01:01:36,259 --> 01:01:39,529
Speaker Ryan are experts in
the legislative process and

1232
01:01:39,529 --> 01:01:41,829
they certainly are
experts when it comes to

1233
01:01:41,831 --> 01:01:42,831
congressional politics.

1234
01:01:42,832 --> 01:01:47,132
And in this case, our
interests are aligned.

1235
01:01:47,136 --> 01:01:51,306
We're eager to work with
them to get this deal across

1236
01:01:51,307 --> 01:01:55,047
the finish line, as
are a number of outside

1237
01:01:55,044 --> 01:01:57,214
organizations who wield
significant influence in

1238
01:01:57,213 --> 01:02:00,053
American politics but don't
typically use that influence

1239
01:02:00,049 --> 01:02:02,789
to advocate for President
Obama's agenda.

1240
01:02:02,785 --> 01:02:04,785
These are organizations like
the Chamber of Commerce and

1241
01:02:04,787 --> 01:02:07,157
the Business Roundtable and
National Association of

1242
01:02:07,156 --> 01:02:09,826
Manufacturers and the Farm
Bureau -- these are all

1243
01:02:09,826 --> 01:02:11,826
organizations,
Republican-leaning

1244
01:02:11,828 --> 01:02:13,998
organizations, that are
strong supporters of the

1245
01:02:13,996 --> 01:02:16,266
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

1246
01:02:16,265 --> 01:02:21,505
So we certainly would count
on them to also advance our

1247
01:02:21,504 --> 01:02:25,374
case and to make clear
to Republican leaders in

1248
01:02:25,374 --> 01:02:27,344
Congress that this is an
important priority for the

1249
01:02:27,343 --> 01:02:29,643
country, an important
priority for our economy.

1250
01:02:29,645 --> 01:02:33,585
And we'll see what happens.

1251
01:02:33,583 --> 01:02:36,423
Should make for an
interesting fall and winter.

1252
01:02:36,419 --> 01:02:36,989
Toluse.

1253
01:02:36,986 --> 01:02:37,986
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

1254
01:02:37,987 --> 01:02:41,487
You've talked a lot about
the credibility of Russia in

1255
01:02:41,491 --> 01:02:46,391
the Syrian issue, and said
the credibility is -- their

1256
01:02:46,395 --> 01:02:51,035
influence over the Assad
regime is questionable.

1257
01:02:51,033 --> 01:02:53,303
I'm wondering if the U.S.

1258
01:02:53,302 --> 01:02:55,342
and the international
community's credibility with

1259
01:02:55,338 --> 01:02:59,178
the opposition forces is at
risk, given the fact that

1260
01:02:59,175 --> 01:03:02,845
you've advocated for two
ceasefires that have fallen

1261
01:03:02,845 --> 01:03:08,715
apart and right now members
of the opposition are crying

1262
01:03:08,718 --> 01:03:09,718
out against the silence of
the international community.

1263
01:03:09,719 --> 01:03:12,159
Do you worry that if you
come back to the opposition

1264
01:03:12,155 --> 01:03:14,895
with a future deal that
they're going to be less

1265
01:03:14,891 --> 01:03:17,831
likely to put down their
arms or separate themselves

1266
01:03:17,827 --> 01:03:20,867
from Nusra because they
worry about what's happened

1267
01:03:20,863 --> 01:03:23,263
in the past and
don't give the U.S.

1268
01:03:23,266 --> 01:03:24,366
and the international
community that

1269
01:03:24,367 --> 01:03:26,207
public credibility?

1270
01:03:26,202 --> 01:03:29,042
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
Toluse, the President and

1271
01:03:29,038 --> 01:03:31,508
the administration are not
going to be in a position of

1272
01:03:31,507 --> 01:03:34,807
apologizing for
advocating for peace.

1273
01:03:34,810 --> 01:03:38,310
And that's what we have
sought to do in the context

1274
01:03:38,314 --> 01:03:41,254
of these protracted
diplomatic discussions with

1275
01:03:41,250 --> 01:03:42,890
the Russians.

1276
01:03:42,885 --> 01:03:45,625
Trying to get Russia -- the
country that appears to have

1277
01:03:45,621 --> 01:03:49,191
the most influence with the
Assad regime -- to use that

1278
01:03:49,192 --> 01:03:54,432
influence to protect
innocent people has been our

1279
01:03:54,430 --> 01:03:58,970
strategy, at least for
trying to address the

1280
01:03:58,968 --> 01:04:00,268
political
situation in Syria.

1281
01:04:00,269 --> 01:04:04,409
We've obviously had another
very forceful strategy for

1282
01:04:04,407 --> 01:04:06,407
countering extremist
elements, including ISIL,

1283
01:04:06,409 --> 01:04:08,279
inside of Iraq and in Syria
that's involved carrying out

1284
01:04:08,277 --> 01:04:13,087
15,000 airstrikes and a
number of other things.

1285
01:04:13,082 --> 01:04:16,822
But when it comes to trying
to address the kind of

1286
01:04:16,819 --> 01:04:20,619
violence that's plagued
communities like Aleppo,

1287
01:04:20,623 --> 01:04:22,223
that's been our approach.

1288
01:04:22,225 --> 01:04:27,235
And it's not like there
are a whole bunch of other

1289
01:04:29,365 --> 01:04:32,835
people advocating a
different approach.

1290
01:04:32,835 --> 01:04:38,075
There have not been a lot
of specific alternative

1291
01:04:38,074 --> 01:04:42,574
proposals that people are
encouraging President Obama

1292
01:04:42,578 --> 01:04:44,178
to pursue.

1293
01:04:44,180 --> 01:04:49,390
So with regard to opposition
forces on the ground inside

1294
01:04:49,385 --> 01:04:54,395
of Syria, our message to
them has been -- for some of

1295
01:04:57,260 --> 01:05:00,430
them, has been that we're
very focused on ISIL and we

1296
01:05:00,429 --> 01:05:03,499
want them to be
focused on ISIL too.

1297
01:05:03,499 --> 01:05:06,099
To the political opposition
inside of Syria, our

1298
01:05:06,102 --> 01:05:09,702
argument has been, we agree
that a political transition

1299
01:05:09,705 --> 01:05:13,005
inside of Syria is long
overdue and we are deeply

1300
01:05:13,009 --> 01:05:16,349
concerned by the increasing
frequency with which the

1301
01:05:16,345 --> 01:05:21,215
Assad regime has been
willing to target civilian

1302
01:05:21,217 --> 01:05:23,217
populations.

1303
01:05:24,420 --> 01:05:28,660
So those are -- that's in a
nutshell has been President

1304
01:05:28,658 --> 01:05:31,528
Obama's assessment
of the situation.

1305
01:05:31,527 --> 01:05:37,137
And given those facts on the
ground, we have tried to

1306
01:05:37,133 --> 01:05:41,933
pursue our goals with a
clear-eyed sense of what our

1307
01:05:41,937 --> 01:05:44,577
national security
imperatives are and what our

1308
01:05:44,573 --> 01:05:47,043
moral imperatives are.

1309
01:05:47,043 --> 01:05:50,683
And even as the situation
worsens and gets more

1310
01:05:50,680 --> 01:05:55,690
difficult, we're still going
to be guided by America's

1311
01:05:57,720 --> 01:06:01,360
national security interest
as the top priority, but

1312
01:06:01,357 --> 01:06:03,357
also making sure that we're
pursuing a strategy that's

1313
01:06:03,359 --> 01:06:07,929
consistent with the kinds of
values that we hold dear in

1314
01:06:07,930 --> 01:06:08,860
this country.

1315
01:06:08,864 --> 01:06:12,404
The Press: On the crime
stats that came out -- FBI

1316
01:06:12,401 --> 01:06:16,071
Director Comey, last year,
he talked a lot about a

1317
01:06:16,072 --> 01:06:19,242
Ferguson effect, and now we
are seeing -- at least in

1318
01:06:19,241 --> 01:06:22,781
the numbers -- the number of
homicides in violent crimes

1319
01:06:22,778 --> 01:06:25,518
increasing between
2014 and 2015.

1320
01:06:25,514 --> 01:06:28,354
Has that caused you to
re-assess your reaction to

1321
01:06:28,351 --> 01:06:31,151
the claim that there's
been a Ferguson effect?

1322
01:06:31,153 --> 01:06:33,393
Mr. Earnest: Listen, based
on the numbers that have

1323
01:06:33,389 --> 01:06:35,389
been released today by the
Department of Justice, I

1324
01:06:35,391 --> 01:06:37,531
think even the Department
of Justice has acknowledged

1325
01:06:37,526 --> 01:06:42,896
that it's difficult to cite
one specific cause for some

1326
01:06:42,898 --> 01:06:45,538
of the changes that
we see in the numbers.

1327
01:06:45,534 --> 01:06:48,874
Presumably, that's also true
in the numbers that we've

1328
01:06:48,871 --> 01:06:53,941
seen in the first six months
of 2016 that indicate a

1329
01:06:53,943 --> 01:06:56,213
reduction in violent crime
in some of the same cities

1330
01:06:56,212 --> 01:06:58,352
where there was an
increase last year.

1331
01:06:58,347 --> 01:07:02,047
So I guess the point is,
collecting this data is

1332
01:07:02,051 --> 01:07:05,791
important and it certainly
gives academics and experts

1333
01:07:05,788 --> 01:07:09,558
an opportunity to carefully
evaluate the trends and try

1334
01:07:09,558 --> 01:07:13,198
to determine whether there
are some policy changes that

1335
01:07:13,195 --> 01:07:15,135
would make our
country safer.

1336
01:07:15,131 --> 01:07:17,131
The thing that we do know
by looking at the broader

1337
01:07:17,133 --> 01:07:19,503
trends is that violent crime
in this country is at or

1338
01:07:19,502 --> 01:07:21,502
near historic lows, and
that's a good thing.

1339
01:07:21,504 --> 01:07:24,774
But the President is
certainly advocating for

1340
01:07:24,774 --> 01:07:26,944
policies that he believes
would drive those numbers

1341
01:07:26,942 --> 01:07:29,112
down even further.

1342
01:07:29,111 --> 01:07:29,641
Byron.

1343
01:07:29,645 --> 01:07:30,675
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1344
01:07:30,679 --> 01:07:33,349
Some FBI documents released
last week showed the

1345
01:07:33,349 --> 01:07:35,349
President used a pseudonym
to email with

1346
01:07:35,351 --> 01:07:36,381
Secretary Clinton.

1347
01:07:36,385 --> 01:07:39,485
Can you shed any light on
what that exactly -- is that

1348
01:07:39,488 --> 01:07:41,358
like a screenname or --

1349
01:07:41,357 --> 01:07:42,527
Mr. Earnest: Well, did you

1350
01:07:42,525 --> 01:07:43,395
assume the President's
email address was

1351
01:07:43,392 --> 01:07:44,832
b.obama@whitehouse.gov?

1352
01:07:44,827 --> 01:07:45,557
(laughter)

1353
01:07:45,561 --> 01:07:46,031
The Press: I did not.

1354
01:07:46,028 --> 01:07:46,458
Mr. Earnest: Okay, good.

1355
01:07:46,462 --> 01:07:46,832
(laughter)

1356
01:07:46,829 --> 01:07:47,359
The Press: I tried
it a few times.

1357
01:07:47,363 --> 01:07:48,263
(laughter)

1358
01:07:48,264 --> 01:07:48,664
Mr. Earnest: Good.

1359
01:07:48,664 --> 01:07:49,164
I see.

1360
01:07:49,165 --> 01:07:49,535
I see.

1361
01:07:49,532 --> 01:07:50,032
Good.

1362
01:07:50,032 --> 01:07:50,802
So you didn't take it
personally when you didn't

1363
01:07:50,800 --> 01:07:51,500
get a response then?

1364
01:07:51,500 --> 01:07:52,130
The Press: That's true.

1365
01:07:52,134 --> 01:07:53,404
Mr. Earnest: That's good.

1366
01:07:53,402 --> 01:07:54,442
That's good.

1367
01:07:54,437 --> 01:07:59,847
Listen, I think what it
means is it means that there

1368
01:07:59,842 --> 01:08:01,642
are some common-sense
security measures that have

1369
01:08:01,644 --> 01:08:08,714
been put in place to protect
the President's email.

1370
01:08:08,717 --> 01:08:12,217
I think for obvious reasons
we don't discuss a lot of

1371
01:08:12,221 --> 01:08:16,761
those measures publicly, but
the fact that it's not easy

1372
01:08:16,759 --> 01:08:18,859
to predict exactly what the
President's email address

1373
01:08:18,861 --> 01:08:21,331
is, is, in fact, one
of those measures.

1374
01:08:21,330 --> 01:08:24,000
The Press: Can you shed any
light on how he uses email?

1375
01:08:23,999 --> 01:08:25,799
Is it common for him to
communicate with other

1376
01:08:25,801 --> 01:08:28,241
Cabinet Secretaries directly
by email, or is it more of a

1377
01:08:28,237 --> 01:08:29,477
-- does he send
personal emails?

1378
01:08:29,472 --> 01:08:31,872
How does he use it?

1379
01:08:31,874 --> 01:08:35,144
Mr. Earnest: There is a
limited universe of people

1380
01:08:35,144 --> 01:08:38,584
that can send emails to or
receive emails from the

1381
01:08:38,581 --> 01:08:43,181
President's email address.

1382
01:08:43,185 --> 01:08:44,785
And, again, that is also a
function of the security

1383
01:08:44,787 --> 01:08:46,657
measures that we
have in place.

1384
01:08:46,655 --> 01:08:49,195
I don't know how many
Cabinet members are in

1385
01:08:49,191 --> 01:08:52,661
that universe.

1386
01:08:52,661 --> 01:08:58,771
But I think the President
largely uses email the way

1387
01:08:58,767 --> 01:09:00,907
that other people do, too.

1388
01:09:00,903 --> 01:09:07,843
He does a little business,
but he also will exchange

1389
01:09:07,843 --> 01:09:10,283
pleasantries and other
personal notes via email

1390
01:09:10,279 --> 01:09:11,279
as well.

1391
01:09:11,280 --> 01:09:13,880
And I think Secretary
Clinton -- at least based on

1392
01:09:13,883 --> 01:09:15,883
the descriptions of the
emails that he traded with

1393
01:09:15,885 --> 01:09:19,625
Secretary Clinton indicate
that that often is the

1394
01:09:19,622 --> 01:09:21,962
nature of his
conversations over email.

1395
01:09:21,957 --> 01:09:24,797
The Press: -- reports
indicate that the President

1396
01:09:24,793 --> 01:09:27,633
is using a secured
government email device of

1397
01:09:27,630 --> 01:09:29,000
some sort.

1398
01:09:28,998 --> 01:09:31,838
Do you happen to know how
emails on that account would

1399
01:09:31,834 --> 01:09:32,864
be archived?

1400
01:09:32,868 --> 01:09:36,038
Is every email he sends
going to be considered a

1401
01:09:36,038 --> 01:09:38,308
presidential record under
the Presidential Record Act?

1402
01:09:38,307 --> 01:09:41,147
Or are there going to be
some personal correspondence

1403
01:09:41,143 --> 01:09:41,913
that's exempt?

1404
01:09:41,911 --> 01:09:43,081
Do you know
anything about that?

1405
01:09:43,078 --> 01:09:45,248
Mr. Earnest: Well, what I do
know is I do know that all

1406
01:09:45,247 --> 01:09:47,787
of the emails that he
sends will be archived.

1407
01:09:47,783 --> 01:09:52,793
I don't know how archivists
will then treat that

1408
01:09:55,925 --> 01:10:01,995
information, so I guess
we'll have to see

1409
01:10:01,997 --> 01:10:02,997
in the future.

1410
01:10:02,998 --> 01:10:05,638
But I can confirm for you
that those emails are saved

1411
01:10:05,634 --> 01:10:07,434
consistent with the spirit
of the Presidential

1412
01:10:07,436 --> 01:10:08,106
Records Act.

1413
01:10:08,103 --> 01:10:09,443
Gregory.

1414
01:10:09,438 --> 01:10:10,908
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

1415
01:10:10,906 --> 01:10:11,476
Do you email the President?

1416
01:10:11,473 --> 01:10:13,743
Mr. Earnest: I've emailed
the President before, yes.

1417
01:10:13,742 --> 01:10:18,682
The Press: What about?

1418
01:10:18,681 --> 01:10:19,151
(laughter)

1419
01:10:19,148 --> 01:10:21,118
The Press: What's
the address?

1420
01:10:21,116 --> 01:10:21,686
(laughter)

1421
01:10:21,684 --> 01:10:22,214
Mr. Earnest: I guess
pursuant to -- The Press:

1422
01:10:22,217 --> 01:10:23,357
Well, you come out here
sometimes and you say, I've

1423
01:10:23,352 --> 01:10:24,752
spoken to the President
about something.

1424
01:10:24,753 --> 01:10:27,753
Are those conversations
always in the Oval Office?

1425
01:10:27,756 --> 01:10:31,896
Or are there times when he
will send you a message to

1426
01:10:31,894 --> 01:10:33,994
relay to us through email?

1427
01:10:33,996 --> 01:10:36,966
Mr. Earnest: It's almost
always in a face-to-face

1428
01:10:36,966 --> 01:10:39,606
conversation with the
President when I cite

1429
01:10:39,602 --> 01:10:40,602
that experience.

1430
01:10:40,603 --> 01:10:44,073
The Press: So are --
you said they're both

1431
01:10:44,073 --> 01:10:45,573
business-conducted
and some pleasantries.

1432
01:10:45,574 --> 01:10:47,114
Are they mostly pleasantries
with you, or does --

1433
01:10:47,109 --> 01:10:48,349
Mr. Earnest: It's both.

1434
01:10:48,344 --> 01:10:49,474
It's both.

1435
01:10:49,478 --> 01:10:50,848
(laughter)

1436
01:10:50,846 --> 01:10:52,186
This feels weirdly personal
all of a sudden, doesn't it?

1437
01:10:52,181 --> 01:10:53,851
(laughter)

1438
01:10:53,849 --> 01:10:54,679
The Press: Well, this is
obviously unique in the

1439
01:10:54,683 --> 01:10:55,753
history of the presidency.

1440
01:10:55,751 --> 01:10:56,781
Mr. Earnest: Sure, I
know, I understand.

1441
01:10:56,785 --> 01:11:01,725
The Press: You have this
now, as Byron alluded to, an

1442
01:11:01,724 --> 01:11:04,764
historical record that
will chronicle how the

1443
01:11:04,760 --> 01:11:07,460
President's thinking on any
given --

1444
01:11:07,463 --> 01:11:08,563
The Press: Is he worried about you as a family man?

1445
01:11:08,564 --> 01:11:10,304
(laughter)

1446
01:11:10,299 --> 01:11:13,539
Mr. Earnest: I don't think
that there will be a lot of

1447
01:11:13,535 --> 01:11:16,335
anticipation on the part of
historians eager to see what

1448
01:11:16,338 --> 01:11:18,338
emails the President
was trading with me.

1449
01:11:18,340 --> 01:11:20,340
I don't think it will end
up being that interesting.

1450
01:11:20,342 --> 01:11:22,342
But, yes, some of it is
work-related, some of it's not.

1451
01:11:22,344 --> 01:11:23,844
The Press: I mean, is he
sending you like 50 emails a

1452
01:11:23,846 --> 01:11:25,276
day, 200 emails a day?

1453
01:11:25,280 --> 01:11:25,950
What is it?

1454
01:11:25,948 --> 01:11:28,588
Mr. Earnest: Well, no, I
don't think I'm going to get

1455
01:11:28,584 --> 01:11:30,424
into a lot of detail about
this, but, no, the President

1456
01:11:30,419 --> 01:11:32,489
doesn't send nearly as many
emails as I think probably

1457
01:11:32,488 --> 01:11:36,228
everybody in this room is
required to do, primarily

1458
01:11:36,225 --> 01:11:37,125
because --

1459
01:11:37,126 --> 01:11:38,256
The Press:
(inaudible)

1460
01:11:38,260 --> 01:11:39,090
Mr. Earnest: Not that I'm aware of.

1461
01:11:39,094 --> 01:11:40,194
(laughter)

1462
01:11:40,195 --> 01:11:41,765
Never in an email with
me, I'll tell you that.

1463
01:11:41,764 --> 01:11:44,734
But, look, the President
also has a system that most

1464
01:11:44,733 --> 01:11:48,573
of us don't benefit from,
which is that he's got

1465
01:11:48,570 --> 01:11:50,640
essentially a staff
secretary that can make sure

1466
01:11:50,639 --> 01:11:53,709
that memos and things are
delivered directly to him

1467
01:11:53,709 --> 01:11:55,979
and then are appropriately
-- his response is

1468
01:11:55,978 --> 01:11:57,978
appropriately
circulated to people.

1469
01:11:57,980 --> 01:11:59,980
So he doesn't rely on it --
need to rely on it in the

1470
01:11:59,982 --> 01:12:03,452
same way that presumably all
the rest of us do in terms

1471
01:12:03,452 --> 01:12:07,322
of handling basic
day-to-day functions.

1472
01:12:07,322 --> 01:12:10,092
The Press: Is it a volume as
large as, say, that amassed

1473
01:12:10,092 --> 01:12:10,962
by Secretary Clinton?

1474
01:12:10,959 --> 01:12:12,099
That's what I'm
trying to get at.

1475
01:12:12,094 --> 01:12:13,634
(laughter)

1476
01:12:13,629 --> 01:12:14,199
Mr. Earnest: I wouldn't
characterize it further

1477
01:12:14,196 --> 01:12:14,766
than that.

1478
01:12:14,763 --> 01:12:15,393
Dave, I'll give
you the last one.

1479
01:12:15,397 --> 01:12:20,107
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1480
01:12:20,102 --> 01:12:22,102
Back along the lines of
Toluse's question on the

1481
01:12:22,104 --> 01:12:23,104
FBI statistics.

1482
01:12:23,105 --> 01:12:25,105
Coming at a time when
there's so much focus on

1483
01:12:25,107 --> 01:12:27,107
protests and police
shootings, isn't the White

1484
01:12:27,109 --> 01:12:29,579
House at all concerned that
this one-year rise in crime

1485
01:12:29,578 --> 01:12:32,418
is playing into Donald
Trump's hands about his

1486
01:12:32,414 --> 01:12:35,154
campaign message about
restoring law and order in

1487
01:12:35,150 --> 01:12:36,120
the country?

1488
01:12:36,118 --> 01:12:39,488
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I've not found that the

1489
01:12:39,488 --> 01:12:41,828
release of new facts has
much impact on the rhetoric

1490
01:12:41,824 --> 01:12:43,824
we've seen on the
campaign trail.

1491
01:12:43,826 --> 01:12:46,196
So no, we have not been
particularly concerned

1492
01:12:46,195 --> 01:12:46,825
about that.

1493
01:12:46,829 --> 01:12:47,759
The Press: Okay.

1494
01:12:47,763 --> 01:12:49,733
About the President's trip
to Fort Lee on Wednesday to

1495
01:12:49,732 --> 01:12:53,472
visit with the troops,
obviously, can't --

1496
01:12:53,469 --> 01:12:55,739
politicking on a military
base isn't allowed.

1497
01:12:55,738 --> 01:12:59,378
And the President is going
there to meet with troops,

1498
01:12:59,375 --> 01:13:00,645
hold a town hall meeting.

1499
01:13:00,642 --> 01:13:04,342
Yet, it's six weeks before
a big election in a very

1500
01:13:04,346 --> 01:13:07,286
important swing state, so
how can you say this isn't

1501
01:13:07,282 --> 01:13:10,122
at least a partly
political trip?

1502
01:13:10,119 --> 01:13:12,119
Mr. Earnest: Well, Dave,
I can tell you it's not a

1503
01:13:12,121 --> 01:13:13,121
political trip.

1504
01:13:13,122 --> 01:13:15,122
The President does not
intend to do any politicking

1505
01:13:15,124 --> 01:13:16,924
on a military base.

1506
01:13:16,925 --> 01:13:19,995
I don't think the President
should avoid traveling to a

1507
01:13:19,995 --> 01:13:23,465
military base just because
it's an election year; if

1508
01:13:23,465 --> 01:13:25,465
anything, it's in the midst
of an election year, we

1509
01:13:25,467 --> 01:13:28,407
should have all that much
more appreciation for the

1510
01:13:28,403 --> 01:13:30,903
service and sacrifice that's
made by our men and women in

1511
01:13:30,906 --> 01:13:32,646
uniform and their families.

1512
01:13:32,641 --> 01:13:34,641
And that's what the
President will do when he

1513
01:13:34,643 --> 01:13:37,243
travels to the military
base, and there will be --

1514
01:13:37,246 --> 01:13:41,516
he expect to spend some time
talking to servicemembers

1515
01:13:41,517 --> 01:13:43,957
and their families, and then
he also expects to spend

1516
01:13:43,952 --> 01:13:47,822
some time answering some
questions for a program that

1517
01:13:47,823 --> 01:13:49,963
will be aired on CNN
later that night.

1518
01:13:49,958 --> 01:13:52,198
But the President is very
much looking forward to it.

1519
01:13:52,194 --> 01:13:54,764
And I think it should
be a good conversation.

1520
01:13:54,763 --> 01:13:56,633
The Press: Last question --
while he's there, does the

1521
01:13:56,632 --> 01:13:58,402
President plan -- have
any plans to highlight in

1522
01:13:58,400 --> 01:14:00,940
particular the contributions
of Muslim soldiers?

1523
01:14:00,936 --> 01:14:04,736
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any specific plan that's

1524
01:14:04,740 --> 01:14:08,280
in place for the President
to do that, but I think

1525
01:14:08,277 --> 01:14:10,477
there have been a number of
other occasions where the

1526
01:14:10,479 --> 01:14:12,879
President has had an
opportunity to talk about

1527
01:14:12,881 --> 01:14:15,851
the service and sacrifice of
patriotic Muslims who serve

1528
01:14:15,851 --> 01:14:17,951
in the United
States military.

1529
01:14:17,953 --> 01:14:22,023
So that's not the express
purpose of the trip, but if

1530
01:14:22,024 --> 01:14:25,124
it comes up the President
won't hesitate to talk about it.

1531
01:14:25,127 --> 01:14:25,827
Thanks, everybody.

1532
01:14:25,828 --> 01:14:26,358
We'll see you tomorrow.

1533
01:14:26,361 --> 01:14:27,661
Enjoy the debate.