English subtitles for clip: File:9-27-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,870
Mr. Earnest:
Well, well, well.

2
00:00:01,868 --> 00:00:03,868
(laughter)

3
00:00:03,870 --> 00:00:06,270
Where to start?

4
00:00:06,272 --> 00:00:09,772
The Press: Are you talking
about last night maybe?

5
00:00:10,543 --> 00:00:12,183
Mr. Earnest: Since I'm
not sure where to start,

6
00:00:12,178 --> 00:00:14,848
Darlene, why don't you
decide where we'll start?

7
00:00:16,816 --> 00:00:18,686
The Press: Do you have
any observations from

8
00:00:18,685 --> 00:00:20,685
the President about
the debate last night?

9
00:00:20,687 --> 00:00:22,887
I mean, did he keep at
least one ear on all

10
00:00:22,889 --> 00:00:24,759
or part of it?

11
00:00:24,758 --> 00:00:26,288
Mr. Earnest: As
predicted, the President

12
00:00:26,292 --> 00:00:29,632
did have the debate on
television last night

13
00:00:29,629 --> 00:00:32,329
in the Indian Treaty Room
of the residence while

14
00:00:32,332 --> 00:00:40,302
he was reviewing his
nightly to-do list.

15
00:00:40,306 --> 00:00:42,446
The President had an
opportunity to talk about

16
00:00:42,442 --> 00:00:44,512
this with Ryan Seacrest
just a little bit earlier

17
00:00:44,511 --> 00:00:47,311
this afternoon.

18
00:00:47,313 --> 00:00:51,153
But, look, his main takeaway
is that the candidate that

19
00:00:51,151 --> 00:00:55,591
he strongly supports is the
candidate that performed

20
00:00:55,588 --> 00:00:57,588
quite strongly in the
debate last night.

21
00:00:57,590 --> 00:00:59,590
She made a very powerful
case, particularly at the

22
00:00:59,592 --> 00:01:03,802
beginning, for building
on the economic progress

23
00:01:03,797 --> 00:01:08,937
this country has made in
digging out of the worst

24
00:01:08,935 --> 00:01:11,605
economic downturn since
the Great Depression.

25
00:01:11,604 --> 00:01:15,744
She laid out a strategy
that's focused on cutting

26
00:01:15,742 --> 00:01:19,312
taxes for middle-class
families, asking those at

27
00:01:19,312 --> 00:01:21,312
the top of the income scale
to pay a little bit more,

28
00:01:21,314 --> 00:01:23,714
closing tax loopholes that
only benefit the wealthy and

29
00:01:23,716 --> 00:01:26,916
the well-connected, focusing
on investments in early

30
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,420
childhood education
and college education,

31
00:01:29,422 --> 00:01:31,422
growing our economy
from the middle out.

32
00:01:31,424 --> 00:01:33,424
That is precisely the
economic strategy that

33
00:01:33,426 --> 00:01:35,496
President Obama has pursued,
and that is the strategy

34
00:01:35,495 --> 00:01:40,835
that has yielded the longest
streak of consecutive,

35
00:01:40,834 --> 00:01:44,374
monthly job growth numbers
in our nation's history.

36
00:01:44,370 --> 00:01:46,370
And we saw in the Census
data that was released just

37
00:01:46,372 --> 00:01:53,242
a couple of weeks ago that
in 2015, the median income

38
00:01:53,246 --> 00:01:58,416
in this country rose higher
than it ever has -- at least

39
00:01:58,418 --> 00:02:04,458
on record -- in one year,
and that poverty declined

40
00:02:04,457 --> 00:02:08,357
as much in one year as it
has in about 50 years.

41
00:02:08,361 --> 00:02:12,361
So the President has pursued
a strategy similar to the

42
00:02:12,365 --> 00:02:14,435
one that Secretary
Clinton advocated,

43
00:02:14,434 --> 00:02:17,174
and our country has
benefitted enormously from it.

44
00:02:17,170 --> 00:02:19,510
And he certainly was pleased
to hear her deliver such

45
00:02:19,506 --> 00:02:22,506
a persuasive case about
why that's a strategy that

46
00:02:22,509 --> 00:02:25,649
is worth building on.

47
00:02:26,212 --> 00:02:30,782
The Press: What did he think
when the subject turned to

48
00:02:30,783 --> 00:02:34,323
Donald Trump's taxes and his
refusal to release them,

49
00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,320
and he bragged about how
it made him smarter

50
00:02:37,323 --> 00:02:39,293
to not pay any
federal income taxes?

51
00:02:39,292 --> 00:02:41,132
I mean, is there
any reaction from

52
00:02:41,127 --> 00:02:42,527
the President to that?

53
00:02:42,529 --> 00:02:43,829
Or even from you?

54
00:02:43,830 --> 00:02:45,600
I know you said you don't
want to stand up there

55
00:02:45,598 --> 00:02:47,598
every day and react
to everything that

56
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,600
Donald Trump says, but --

57
00:02:49,602 --> 00:02:50,842
Mr. Earnest: Well,
the President is also in

58
00:02:50,837 --> 00:02:52,377
a position where he has a
little bit more latitude

59
00:02:52,372 --> 00:02:58,482
to respond to these
kinds of declarations.

60
00:02:58,478 --> 00:03:04,718
So I think what I'll just
leave it to is the President

61
00:03:04,717 --> 00:03:08,387
is somebody who, when he was
running for President, made

62
00:03:08,388 --> 00:03:12,188
a conscious decision to
abide by the standard that's

63
00:03:12,191 --> 00:03:14,991
been observed for more
than a generation, which

64
00:03:14,994 --> 00:03:17,964
is he made a decision to
release his tax returns.

65
00:03:17,964 --> 00:03:20,804
And even while serving in
office as President, he

66
00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:26,310
continues to release his tax
returns on an annual basis.

67
00:03:26,306 --> 00:03:29,476
And I'm not aware of any
federal law requiring it,

68
00:03:29,475 --> 00:03:34,445
but if every presidential
candidate in both parties

69
00:03:34,447 --> 00:03:37,617
dating back to the '70s
has done it, then it

70
00:03:37,617 --> 00:03:40,457
certainly is something
that voters can expect.

71
00:03:40,453 --> 00:03:42,093
And the President believes
that that kind of

72
00:03:42,088 --> 00:03:45,528
transparency is good for
the process and good for

73
00:03:45,525 --> 00:03:48,965
voters as they make a really
important decision about

74
00:03:48,962 --> 00:03:51,162
the future of the country.

75
00:03:51,164 --> 00:03:53,204
The Press: On one other
topic, Senate Democrats are

76
00:03:53,199 --> 00:03:55,999
threatening to block the CR
this afternoon because it

77
00:03:56,002 --> 00:03:59,842
doesn't include money for
Flint, Michigan, which is an

78
00:03:59,839 --> 00:04:02,179
issue that you've said has
concerned the President.

79
00:04:02,175 --> 00:04:06,315
Does the White House support
Senate Democrats in their

80
00:04:06,312 --> 00:04:08,982
stated attempt to block
this bill this afternoon?

81
00:04:08,982 --> 00:04:13,182
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President has made clear

82
00:04:13,186 --> 00:04:16,686
for months that Congress
needs to act to provide

83
00:04:16,689 --> 00:04:20,129
resources to this
community of Flint.

84
00:04:20,126 --> 00:04:21,866
The President had an
opportunity to visit that

85
00:04:21,861 --> 00:04:23,901
community back in the
spring, and he met with the

86
00:04:23,896 --> 00:04:28,736
mayor, and he talked to
some residents, he talked

87
00:04:28,735 --> 00:04:31,735
to federal officials who
were responsible for

88
00:04:31,738 --> 00:04:34,208
coordinating the response.

89
00:04:34,207 --> 00:04:43,447
And what he saw was a
community that had been let

90
00:04:43,449 --> 00:04:47,619
down by their government.

91
00:04:47,620 --> 00:04:52,430
And we've been advocating
for months that Congress has

92
00:04:52,425 --> 00:04:55,495
a responsibility to step
forward and provide

93
00:04:55,495 --> 00:04:58,835
resources to assist that
community in their recovery.

94
00:04:58,831 --> 00:05:01,171
Now, the executive branch,
the administration has

95
00:05:01,167 --> 00:05:03,167
certainly fulfilled
our responsibilities.

96
00:05:03,169 --> 00:05:06,609
The President mobilized
FEMA; FEMA handed out

97
00:05:06,606 --> 00:05:10,206
hundreds of thousands
of liters of water.

98
00:05:10,209 --> 00:05:15,379
We have seen ramped-up
assistance to meet the basic

99
00:05:15,381 --> 00:05:20,151
health care needs of
children that potentially

100
00:05:20,153 --> 00:05:22,153
were negatively affected
by drinking the water.

101
00:05:22,155 --> 00:05:26,125
And there's been an effort
to try to address some

102
00:05:26,125 --> 00:05:28,795
of these problems at
the community level.

103
00:05:28,795 --> 00:05:30,995
But there is a significant
investment in infrastructure

104
00:05:30,997 --> 00:05:33,567
in Flint that's required to
address this problem,

105
00:05:33,566 --> 00:05:35,536
and Congress has a
responsibility to step

106
00:05:35,535 --> 00:05:37,535
forward and provide
those resources.

107
00:05:37,537 --> 00:05:39,537
The President has been
calling on them to

108
00:05:39,539 --> 00:05:42,109
do that for months.

109
00:05:42,108 --> 00:05:47,718
So included in the proposed
text -- at least based on

110
00:05:47,714 --> 00:05:51,184
what I've been told -- are
steps that Congress has

111
00:05:51,184 --> 00:05:55,224
taken to provide relief to
families in Louisiana and

112
00:05:55,221 --> 00:05:58,591
Maryland and other places
that have been hit by

113
00:05:58,591 --> 00:06:00,131
historic flooding.

114
00:06:00,126 --> 00:06:02,366
Those are communities that
need to be rebuilt as well,

115
00:06:02,361 --> 00:06:04,901
and the President was
among the first to call on

116
00:06:04,897 --> 00:06:09,137
Congress to act to provide
resources to Louisiana.

117
00:06:09,135 --> 00:06:11,135
And the President believes
that Congress should do

118
00:06:11,137 --> 00:06:15,637
the same thing for Flint
and other communities

119
00:06:15,641 --> 00:06:18,281
that are dealing with
similar challenges.

120
00:06:18,277 --> 00:06:20,117
The Press: Republicans say,
though, that they will take

121
00:06:20,113 --> 00:06:22,913
care of Flint, Michigan,
in separate legislation.

122
00:06:22,915 --> 00:06:25,055
So does the White House not
believe Republicans when

123
00:06:25,051 --> 00:06:27,891
they say that that's how
they'll take care of that?

124
00:06:27,887 --> 00:06:31,727
Mr. Earnest: Well, based on
-- as I have acknowledged

125
00:06:31,724 --> 00:06:33,594
on many occasions standing
here, I am certainly no

126
00:06:33,593 --> 00:06:35,863
expert in the legislative
procedure, but based

127
00:06:35,862 --> 00:06:39,662
on what I understand of the
situation, there is some

128
00:06:39,665 --> 00:06:42,735
funding for Flint included
in the Senate's version of

129
00:06:42,735 --> 00:06:45,805
the water resources bill.

130
00:06:45,805 --> 00:06:53,745
The House version does not
include funding for -- the

131
00:06:53,746 --> 00:06:55,416
House version of the water
resources bill does not

132
00:06:55,414 --> 00:06:57,384
include funding for Flint.

133
00:06:57,383 --> 00:06:59,383
Now, this is a little ironic
because the Speaker of the

134
00:06:59,385 --> 00:07:03,325
House says he opposes adding
funding for Flint to the

135
00:07:03,322 --> 00:07:06,022
continuing resolution and
believes that it should

136
00:07:06,025 --> 00:07:10,665
be handled in the
Water Resources bill.

137
00:07:10,663 --> 00:07:12,863
But it's not included in the
Water Resources bill that

138
00:07:12,865 --> 00:07:14,805
advancing through the House.

139
00:07:14,801 --> 00:07:16,801
And then he has the nerve
to suggest that it's

140
00:07:16,803 --> 00:07:20,843
Democrats who are the
ones causing problems.

141
00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:27,210
So I guess a little
clarity about Republicans'

142
00:07:27,213 --> 00:07:31,413
commitment to addressing
this issue is needed.

143
00:07:31,417 --> 00:07:37,627
And after waiting for six
or seven months for this

144
00:07:37,623 --> 00:07:41,293
funding to come through,
that clarification would

145
00:07:41,294 --> 00:07:44,264
be eagerly welcomed by
the White House, but most

146
00:07:44,263 --> 00:07:48,063
importantly, by the
people in Flint.

147
00:07:48,067 --> 00:07:50,637
Roberta?

148
00:07:50,636 --> 00:07:52,976
The Press: You talked about
the economic case that

149
00:07:52,972 --> 00:07:56,042
Secretary Clinton laid out,
but I'm wondering -- last

150
00:07:56,042 --> 00:07:59,542
night we saw her on the
offensive on issues like

151
00:07:59,545 --> 00:08:03,345
race and the birther
issue and temperament.

152
00:08:03,349 --> 00:08:04,919
And I'm wondering what the
President said to you

153
00:08:04,917 --> 00:08:07,117
about what he thought about
the tone of the debate,

154
00:08:07,119 --> 00:08:11,289
and some of the
attacks that we saw.

155
00:08:11,290 --> 00:08:12,530
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
the President has made the

156
00:08:12,525 --> 00:08:15,565
observation on a number of
occasions that there's a

157
00:08:15,561 --> 00:08:24,441
tradition in this country
of a pretty confrontational

158
00:08:24,437 --> 00:08:26,237
brand of politics.

159
00:08:26,239 --> 00:08:28,609
And I think what the
American people are looking

160
00:08:28,608 --> 00:08:33,408
for in their leaders are
people who are tough enough

161
00:08:33,412 --> 00:08:38,082
to enter the arena and stand
up for what they believe in,

162
00:08:38,084 --> 00:08:39,884
and to make a forceful
case for what they believe

163
00:08:39,886 --> 00:08:43,756
in and to respond to even
some tough criticism

164
00:08:43,756 --> 00:08:45,896
of the priorities
and their agenda.

165
00:08:45,892 --> 00:08:48,532
And the President certainly
engaged in that process

166
00:08:48,527 --> 00:08:50,527
over the last eight years
or so, and he's got

167
00:08:50,529 --> 00:08:52,799
the scars to prove it.

168
00:08:52,798 --> 00:08:57,808
So, look, I know that there
was an expression from

169
00:09:02,108 --> 00:09:04,648
at least one candidate last
night who was concerned

170
00:09:04,644 --> 00:09:08,584
that people weren't
being nice to him.

171
00:09:08,581 --> 00:09:12,751
But, look, this is supposed
to be a vigorous debate,

172
00:09:12,752 --> 00:09:16,522
and when you consider the
stakes in this election,

173
00:09:16,522 --> 00:09:20,362
the President would
anticipate and expect

174
00:09:20,359 --> 00:09:21,559
a tough debate
on the issues.

175
00:09:21,560 --> 00:09:23,560
I think that's what
we saw last night.

176
00:09:23,562 --> 00:09:25,862
The Press: And out of
curiosity, why did the

177
00:09:25,865 --> 00:09:28,105
White House -- or why did
he choose to go on Ryan

178
00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:31,140
Seacrest to talk about
the debate and give his

179
00:09:31,137 --> 00:09:33,007
response or
reaction to it?

180
00:09:33,005 --> 00:09:34,775
What was sort of
the decision behind

181
00:09:34,774 --> 00:09:35,874
that audience?

182
00:09:35,875 --> 00:09:39,515
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
reason that the President

183
00:09:39,512 --> 00:09:42,852
wanted to go on the Ryan
Seacrest show today is that

184
00:09:42,848 --> 00:09:46,718
today is National Voter
Registration Day, and the

185
00:09:46,719 --> 00:09:48,919
President devoted most of
his appearance on that

186
00:09:48,921 --> 00:09:53,961
program to encouraging
people to register to vote.

187
00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,960
The President also taped an
interview with Steve Harvey

188
00:09:55,962 --> 00:09:58,532
that will air tomorrow where
he made a similar case.

189
00:09:58,531 --> 00:10:00,871
So that's why he did
those radio shows.

190
00:10:00,866 --> 00:10:03,606
But it's not surprising --
or at least it wasn't a

191
00:10:03,602 --> 00:10:05,602
surprise to anybody at the
White House -- that he

192
00:10:05,604 --> 00:10:07,874
was asked by both those
hosts for a reaction

193
00:10:07,873 --> 00:10:08,873
to the debate last night.

194
00:10:08,874 --> 00:10:11,374
The Press: And just
quickly on the Yahoo hack.

195
00:10:11,377 --> 00:10:14,617
I'm wondering whether the
White House has concerns or

196
00:10:14,613 --> 00:10:16,853
questions about whether the
company waited too long

197
00:10:16,849 --> 00:10:20,519
to notify users about
when it happened.

198
00:10:20,519 --> 00:10:22,089
Mr. Earnest: Well, I will
say that I cannot speak to

199
00:10:22,088 --> 00:10:31,028
the details in terms of what
Yahoo has indicated occurred

200
00:10:31,030 --> 00:10:33,700
in the context of this hack.

201
00:10:33,699 --> 00:10:36,899
But I'd refer to my
colleagues at the

202
00:10:36,902 --> 00:10:39,502
Department of Justice and the
Department of Homeland

203
00:10:39,505 --> 00:10:42,775
Security who have
jurisdiction here and may be

204
00:10:42,775 --> 00:10:45,775
able to provide you with
some greater clarity about

205
00:10:45,778 --> 00:10:48,178
what they've concluded.

206
00:10:48,180 --> 00:10:48,910
Chris.

207
00:10:48,914 --> 00:10:50,584
The Press: Josh, on the
President's schedule today

208
00:10:50,583 --> 00:10:54,323
is a fundraiser in D.C. for
the Hillary Victory Fund

209
00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:56,460
that's an LGBT and
allies discussion.

210
00:10:56,455 --> 00:11:00,695
I'm sure the President has
the goal of raising a lot

211
00:11:00,693 --> 00:11:03,093
of money at the event, but
does he have any sort of

212
00:11:03,095 --> 00:11:05,065
achievement in mind in terms
of the message he wants

213
00:11:05,064 --> 00:11:07,134
to convey to those
in attendance.

214
00:11:07,133 --> 00:11:10,203
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris,
this is a rather small

215
00:11:10,202 --> 00:11:11,902
event, so it's not open.

216
00:11:11,904 --> 00:11:16,174
The President will spend
his time in discussion with

217
00:11:16,175 --> 00:11:21,215
those who are attending the
event and talking about

218
00:11:21,213 --> 00:11:23,213
something you've heard the
President talk about a lot

219
00:11:23,215 --> 00:11:25,215
before, which is, the stakes
in this election; how

220
00:11:25,217 --> 00:11:30,027
important it is for
Democrats to stand up for

221
00:11:30,022 --> 00:11:32,692
our values and fight in
support of a candidate

222
00:11:32,691 --> 00:11:36,861
that's seeking
to advance them.

223
00:11:36,862 --> 00:11:40,002
And the President's already
spoken a lot publicly

224
00:11:39,999 --> 00:11:41,999
about his strong support
for Secretary Clinton,

225
00:11:42,001 --> 00:11:44,971
and I would expect him to
reiterate that pitch

226
00:11:44,970 --> 00:11:47,870
once again at the
event this afternoon.

227
00:11:47,873 --> 00:11:51,373
The Press: One of the things
that we did not see during

228
00:11:51,377 --> 00:11:54,217
the Obama administration
was the appointment of an

229
00:11:54,213 --> 00:11:56,983
openly-LGBT Cabinet member.

230
00:11:56,982 --> 00:11:59,882
If one of the attendance
members brought that up or

231
00:11:59,885 --> 00:12:03,755
any other enhancement of
LGBT rights that they

232
00:12:03,756 --> 00:12:07,226
wanted to have done,
how do you imagine

233
00:12:07,226 --> 00:12:10,496
the President
would respond?

234
00:12:10,496 --> 00:12:13,396
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris, I
think the President's

235
00:12:13,399 --> 00:12:18,369
quite proud of his record
of ensuring that there

236
00:12:18,370 --> 00:12:22,710
are senior officials in
his administration --

237
00:12:22,708 --> 00:12:25,008
let me say it this way.

238
00:12:25,010 --> 00:12:28,950
The President is quite
proud of appointing senior

239
00:12:28,948 --> 00:12:31,748
officials in his
administration that

240
00:12:31,750 --> 00:12:34,520
reflect the diversity
of the country.

241
00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,720
And that's true when you
consider the President's

242
00:12:37,723 --> 00:12:39,293
White House staff.

243
00:12:39,291 --> 00:12:41,931
It's true when you
consider senior officials

244
00:12:41,927 --> 00:12:45,927
who serve at agencies
across the government.

245
00:12:45,931 --> 00:12:47,571
It's also true when you
consider the appointments

246
00:12:47,566 --> 00:12:50,566
that the President's made
to the federal bench.

247
00:12:50,569 --> 00:12:56,209
And whether you evaluate
that diversity based on

248
00:12:56,208 --> 00:13:01,218
race, or religion, or sexual
orientation, the President's

249
00:13:05,518 --> 00:13:11,028
record surpasses that
of his predecessors.

250
00:13:11,023 --> 00:13:13,023
And he is quite
proud of that legacy.

251
00:13:16,295 --> 00:13:19,965
He also believes that's a
legacy that can be built on.

252
00:13:19,965 --> 00:13:24,375
And I'll let Secretary
Clinton speak to what her

253
00:13:24,370 --> 00:13:26,810
plans are for the kinds of
appointments that she would

254
00:13:26,805 --> 00:13:30,105
choose to make if she
were elected President.

255
00:13:30,109 --> 00:13:31,139
April.

256
00:13:31,143 --> 00:13:35,853
The Press: Josh, last night,
many people are hands-down

257
00:13:35,848 --> 00:13:38,288
saying that Hillary
Clinton was the victor,

258
00:13:38,284 --> 00:13:41,154
who include people from
the Republican Party.

259
00:13:41,153 --> 00:13:43,423
But at the same time,
with this victory, does

260
00:13:43,422 --> 00:13:45,592
the White House still
believe that there is still

261
00:13:45,591 --> 00:13:48,761
an open window for Donald
Trump to still possibly

262
00:13:48,761 --> 00:13:50,431
become number 45?

263
00:13:50,429 --> 00:13:52,099
Mr. Earnest: The President
believes it's important

264
00:13:52,097 --> 00:13:57,437
for people all across
the country not

265
00:13:57,436 --> 00:14:00,176
to be complacent when the
stakes are so high.

266
00:14:00,172 --> 00:14:04,042
And that's why the
President was encouraging

267
00:14:04,043 --> 00:14:06,043
people to register
to vote today

268
00:14:06,045 --> 00:14:08,045
on National Voter
Registration Day.

269
00:14:08,047 --> 00:14:10,847
It's also why the President
is going to spend a good

270
00:14:10,849 --> 00:14:13,089
portion of his October
encouraging people all

271
00:14:13,085 --> 00:14:15,525
across the country to get
out to the polls and make

272
00:14:15,521 --> 00:14:19,521
their voices heard
on this Election Day.

273
00:14:19,525 --> 00:14:22,025
And the President believes
that that's an important

274
00:14:22,027 --> 00:14:23,597
thing to do.

275
00:14:23,596 --> 00:14:25,436
The Press: Vice President
Biden used some very strong

276
00:14:25,431 --> 00:14:28,501
language today, talking
about some of Donald Trump's

277
00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:31,070
comments from last night,
particularly when it came to

278
00:14:31,070 --> 00:14:36,410
Donald Trump saying it was
a good business deal when

279
00:14:36,408 --> 00:14:39,448
there was a housing crisis
in America -- he was

280
00:14:39,445 --> 00:14:43,045
benefitting from
people's problems.

281
00:14:43,048 --> 00:14:45,318
The Vice President used
the word, h-e-double

282
00:14:45,317 --> 00:14:46,317
hockey sticks.

283
00:14:46,318 --> 00:14:51,458
So did the President feel --
well, I don't want to press

284
00:14:51,457 --> 00:14:54,197
it in the briefing room --

285
00:14:54,193 --> 00:14:55,523
Mr. Earnest: I appreciate
your restraint.

286
00:14:55,527 --> 00:14:56,767
(laughter)

287
00:14:56,762 --> 00:14:58,532
The Press: Thank you.

288
00:15:00,032 --> 00:15:04,872
Did the President feel as
upset about that someone who

289
00:15:04,870 --> 00:15:10,110
potentially could be in the
Oval Office has profited off

290
00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:13,279
of people's pain -- the
American public's pain?

291
00:15:13,279 --> 00:15:15,179
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think the President

292
00:15:15,180 --> 00:15:19,320
believes that that is a
worthy question for voters

293
00:15:19,318 --> 00:15:25,028
to ask themselves.

294
00:15:25,024 --> 00:15:26,964
President Obama's
career in public life

295
00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:28,829
is different than that.

296
00:15:28,827 --> 00:15:32,197
President Obama had spent
the early stages of his

297
00:15:32,197 --> 00:15:37,207
career as a community
organizer, helping people

298
00:15:37,202 --> 00:15:39,972
in communities that were
facing significant

299
00:15:39,972 --> 00:15:48,152
economic headwinds
protect their community.

300
00:15:48,147 --> 00:15:50,847
And whether or not that is
-- so that's what made the

301
00:15:50,849 --> 00:15:55,719
President an advocate for
expanded health care access

302
00:15:55,721 --> 00:15:57,621
and affordable housing
programs and stronger

303
00:15:57,623 --> 00:16:00,763
education programs.

304
00:16:00,759 --> 00:16:03,629
And the President worked
closely with faith-based

305
00:16:03,629 --> 00:16:07,429
organizations, helped
citizens organize

306
00:16:07,433 --> 00:16:12,603
and petition
their government.

307
00:16:12,604 --> 00:16:14,944
So when faced with these
kinds of challenges in the

308
00:16:14,940 --> 00:16:18,310
past, President Obama
wasn't seeking a profit,

309
00:16:18,310 --> 00:16:21,280
he was trying to
help people.

310
00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,450
And he's pursued that
same kind of approach

311
00:16:24,450 --> 00:16:26,120
even as the leader
of the free world.

312
00:16:26,118 --> 00:16:27,858
And many of the policies
that he's been focused on

313
00:16:27,853 --> 00:16:29,693
as President of the United
States, particularly early

314
00:16:29,688 --> 00:16:34,758
in his presidency, were
about ensuring that

315
00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,100
middle-class families
would get a fair shake

316
00:16:37,096 --> 00:16:38,736
and a fair shot.

317
00:16:38,731 --> 00:16:42,401
That's why he fought so
hard to create the Consumer

318
00:16:42,401 --> 00:16:45,171
Financial Protection Bureau
-- the only financial

319
00:16:45,170 --> 00:16:47,840
regulator in Washington,
D.C. that has

320
00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,740
a mission statement
focused on consumers

321
00:16:51,744 --> 00:16:53,414
and middle-class families.

322
00:16:53,412 --> 00:16:56,352
That's why the President
fought so hard

323
00:16:56,348 --> 00:16:58,118
to expand access to
quality, affordable

324
00:16:58,117 --> 00:17:00,057
health insurance
for every American.

325
00:17:00,052 --> 00:17:02,422
That's why the President's
focus in improving the

326
00:17:02,421 --> 00:17:04,121
economy has been focused
on growing the economy

327
00:17:04,123 --> 00:17:05,553
from the middle out.

328
00:17:05,557 --> 00:17:09,197
That's been his approach
throughout his career, and

329
00:17:09,194 --> 00:17:11,694
he believes that's an
approach worth building on.

330
00:17:11,697 --> 00:17:13,297
Secretary Clinton has got a
similar story to tell when

331
00:17:13,298 --> 00:17:16,368
you consider her
professional career.

332
00:17:16,368 --> 00:17:18,268
I'll let her
talk about that.

333
00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:20,840
But I think it is certainly
appropriate -- and I think

334
00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:22,109
the President made this
clear in the context of his

335
00:17:22,107 --> 00:17:25,207
presidential -- when he was
a candidate on the ballot,

336
00:17:25,210 --> 00:17:28,980
he made clear that he
intended to pursue a

337
00:17:28,981 --> 00:17:32,851
different approach or pursue
an approach different than

338
00:17:32,851 --> 00:17:34,521
the one that was advocated
last night by the Republican

339
00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:40,660
nominee, but an approach
that's consistent with

340
00:17:40,659 --> 00:17:42,199
President Obama's focus on
middle-class families and

341
00:17:42,194 --> 00:17:43,594
those families that are
trying to get into the

342
00:17:43,595 --> 00:17:45,935
middle class that he's
demonstrated throughout

343
00:17:45,931 --> 00:17:47,471
his career.

344
00:17:47,466 --> 00:17:51,306
The Press: Lastly, when both
candidates were asked about

345
00:17:51,303 --> 00:17:56,243
how to heal the racial
divide that has been quite

346
00:17:56,241 --> 00:18:00,951
evident in this election
cycle, Donald Trump said it

347
00:18:00,946 --> 00:18:02,646
was about law and
order, and then he goes

348
00:18:02,648 --> 00:18:06,488
into talking about
stop-and-frisk.

349
00:18:06,485 --> 00:18:07,955
What does this
administration feel about

350
00:18:07,953 --> 00:18:11,923
that -- particularly when
you started not long ago

351
00:18:11,924 --> 00:18:15,594
having conversations on
race and he's talking

352
00:18:15,594 --> 00:18:20,304
racial profiling and law and
order -- what's the thought

353
00:18:20,299 --> 00:18:21,569
about that?

354
00:18:21,567 --> 00:18:24,337
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, as
was noted during the debate,

355
00:18:24,336 --> 00:18:28,406
there are a lot of
constitutional questions

356
00:18:28,407 --> 00:18:31,547
that are raised by that
policy, and there's even a

357
00:18:31,543 --> 00:18:34,513
federal judge who weighed
in and made clear that that

358
00:18:34,513 --> 00:18:36,483
stop-and-frisk policy that
was used in New York is one

359
00:18:36,482 --> 00:18:40,752
that was inconsistent
with the Constitution.

360
00:18:40,752 --> 00:18:46,262
As I've observed before --
it's a little strange to

361
00:18:46,258 --> 00:18:49,398
hear somebody who claims to
feel so passionately

362
00:18:49,394 --> 00:18:51,764
about protecting the
constitutional right

363
00:18:51,763 --> 00:18:56,833
to bear arms treat the
constitutional right

364
00:18:56,835 --> 00:18:59,905
protecting against illegal
search and seizure

365
00:18:59,905 --> 00:19:01,905
so cavalierly.

366
00:19:05,744 --> 00:19:09,584
So President Obama believes
that both of those

367
00:19:09,581 --> 00:19:11,981
constitutional rights are
worth protecting, and that

368
00:19:11,984 --> 00:19:17,594
certainly is consistent with
his approach to these

369
00:19:17,589 --> 00:19:18,589
kinds of issues.

370
00:19:18,590 --> 00:19:21,630
I think what's also true
is -- and I'll leave it to

371
00:19:21,627 --> 00:19:24,527
officials in New York to
speak to this -- but since

372
00:19:24,530 --> 00:19:29,640
that stop-and-frisk policy
was ended, they've seen

373
00:19:29,635 --> 00:19:31,875
an improvement in
their crime rates.

374
00:19:34,206 --> 00:19:39,216
So can you draw real, firm
conclusions about the impact

375
00:19:39,211 --> 00:19:42,951
of that policy based on
just a year or two of data?

376
00:19:42,948 --> 00:19:45,288
I'll leave that
to the experts.

377
00:19:45,284 --> 00:19:48,354
But those are the facts
and I think they're worth

378
00:19:48,353 --> 00:19:50,353
considering as you evaluate
the approach that's being

379
00:19:50,355 --> 00:19:53,125
advocated by at least one
candidate for President.

380
00:19:53,125 --> 00:19:53,825
Olivier.

381
00:19:53,825 --> 00:19:54,325
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

382
00:19:54,326 --> 00:19:56,726
Is the President preparing
to send more American troops

383
00:19:56,728 --> 00:19:58,798
to Iraq or Syria?

384
00:19:58,797 --> 00:19:59,897
Mr. Earnest: Olivier, I
don't have any announcements

385
00:19:59,898 --> 00:20:02,498
at this point about
additional commitment of

386
00:20:02,501 --> 00:20:06,301
resources to our efforts
against ISIL in Iraq and in

387
00:20:06,305 --> 00:20:09,175
Syria, but you've heard the
President speak many times

388
00:20:09,174 --> 00:20:12,774
about his approach to these
issues, which is, every time

389
00:20:12,778 --> 00:20:14,778
the President gets his
national security team

390
00:20:14,780 --> 00:20:17,880
together to discuss our
ongoing strategy against

391
00:20:17,883 --> 00:20:21,283
ISIL, they have a discussion
about which aspects

392
00:20:21,286 --> 00:20:25,656
of that strategy are
making the most progress.

393
00:20:25,657 --> 00:20:27,657
And we've enjoyed some
important progress

394
00:20:27,659 --> 00:20:28,659
in recent weeks.

395
00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:31,930
There is additional progress
that's been made on the

396
00:20:31,930 --> 00:20:36,200
ground against ISIL, both
in Iraq and in Syria.

397
00:20:36,201 --> 00:20:38,571
The noose around the
ISIL leadership

398
00:20:38,570 --> 00:20:41,370
in Mosul and in Raqqa
continues to tighten.

399
00:20:41,373 --> 00:20:44,243
That's a testament to the
efforts of the forces on the

400
00:20:44,242 --> 00:20:46,312
ground that are supported
by the United States

401
00:20:46,311 --> 00:20:48,011
and our coalition
partners.

402
00:20:48,013 --> 00:20:50,013
We've also made progress
in applying pressure

403
00:20:50,015 --> 00:20:51,685
to the ISIL leadership.

404
00:20:51,683 --> 00:20:55,423
And earlier this month -- or
over the last month, there

405
00:20:55,420 --> 00:20:58,060
were a couple of strikes
that were taken by the

406
00:20:58,056 --> 00:21:00,696
United States that took
two senior ISIL officials

407
00:21:00,692 --> 00:21:01,692
off the battlefield.

408
00:21:01,693 --> 00:21:05,593
These are two individuals
who had a central role

409
00:21:05,597 --> 00:21:09,197
in plotting ISIL's
external operations.

410
00:21:09,201 --> 00:21:11,471
That doesn't just enhance
the national security of the

411
00:21:11,470 --> 00:21:14,870
United States; that also
makes it harder for ISIL

412
00:21:14,873 --> 00:21:21,883
to carry out attacks in
Europe and other places

413
00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,380
where the United States is
invested in our allies'

414
00:21:24,383 --> 00:21:26,923
national security.

415
00:21:26,918 --> 00:21:28,918
But as the President has
these conversations with

416
00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,820
his national security team,
they aren't just looking

417
00:21:31,823 --> 00:21:33,823
to see which aspects
of that strategy

418
00:21:33,825 --> 00:21:34,825
are showing progress.

419
00:21:34,826 --> 00:21:37,196
The President regularly
asks, could we make more

420
00:21:37,195 --> 00:21:39,365
progress if we devote
additional resources

421
00:21:39,364 --> 00:21:43,034
to that effort?

422
00:21:43,035 --> 00:21:45,535
And when the answer to
that question is yes,

423
00:21:45,537 --> 00:21:47,177
the President has worked
very closely with his team

424
00:21:47,172 --> 00:21:50,142
to find those resources
and to devote them

425
00:21:50,142 --> 00:21:52,282
to that effort in
a timely fashion.

426
00:21:52,277 --> 00:21:54,177
So, I don't have any
announcements at this point,

427
00:21:54,179 --> 00:21:56,549
but we'll keep you
posted if that changes.

428
00:21:56,548 --> 00:21:56,848
The Press: One more.

429
00:21:56,848 --> 00:22:01,058
There's a Daily Beast report
that the senior -- Special

430
00:22:01,053 --> 00:22:03,993
Envoy to Syria Michael
Ratney was told two days

431
00:22:03,989 --> 00:22:06,489
before the latest airstrikes
against the so-called

432
00:22:06,491 --> 00:22:08,691
White Helmets in Aleppo
that an attack was coming.

433
00:22:08,694 --> 00:22:11,764
Can you confirm
that the U.S. government

434
00:22:11,763 --> 00:22:13,763
at that level
had advance warning?

435
00:22:13,765 --> 00:22:15,905
Mr. Earnest: Olivier, I
have not seen that report,

436
00:22:15,901 --> 00:22:17,901
but why don't I check on
it and we will follow

437
00:22:17,903 --> 00:22:19,073
up with you directly.

438
00:22:19,071 --> 00:22:20,071
Cheryl.

439
00:22:20,072 --> 00:22:21,072
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

440
00:22:21,073 --> 00:22:22,073
Two quick topics.

441
00:22:22,074 --> 00:22:26,644
On the CR, if Congress
can't get an agreement

442
00:22:26,645 --> 00:22:28,485
by the end of the week,
will the President sign

443
00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,980
a two- or three-day
extension if needed?

444
00:22:30,982 --> 00:22:32,652
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
heard that option be

445
00:22:32,651 --> 00:22:33,651
floated at this point.

446
00:22:33,652 --> 00:22:35,652
The President certainly is
not interested in seeing

447
00:22:35,654 --> 00:22:40,464
the government funding
lapse, but this

448
00:22:40,459 --> 00:22:42,459
is not an executive
branch responsibility.

449
00:22:42,461 --> 00:22:44,461
This is a legislative
branch responsibility.

450
00:22:44,463 --> 00:22:46,463
And Republicans have a
substantial majority

451
00:22:46,465 --> 00:22:48,465
in both the House
and the Senate.

452
00:22:48,467 --> 00:22:50,467
It is the responsibility of
House and Senate Republican

453
00:22:50,469 --> 00:22:53,109
leaders to pass a
bipartisan budget bill

454
00:22:53,105 --> 00:22:55,305
that arrives on the
President's desk in time for

455
00:22:55,307 --> 00:23:01,047
him to sign it before funding
runs out on September 30th.

456
00:23:01,046 --> 00:23:04,286
So I recognize that right
now Republicans in the

457
00:23:04,282 --> 00:23:06,282
Congress are scrambling to
try to figure out how

458
00:23:06,284 --> 00:23:07,984
to get this done.

459
00:23:07,986 --> 00:23:09,956
Some of that may be
attributable to the fact

460
00:23:09,955 --> 00:23:12,695
they took seven weeks
off earlier this year.

461
00:23:12,691 --> 00:23:15,961
Maybe that's time that would
have been better spent

462
00:23:15,961 --> 00:23:19,031
actually focusing on putting
together a responsible

463
00:23:19,030 --> 00:23:21,070
bipartisan budget proposal.

464
00:23:21,066 --> 00:23:22,666
The Press: And
one other thing.

465
00:23:22,667 --> 00:23:27,207
Today, the D.C. Circuit is
hearing oral arguments in

466
00:23:27,205 --> 00:23:29,575
the Clean Power Plan.

467
00:23:29,574 --> 00:23:33,174
Can you outline any of the
administration's arguments?

468
00:23:33,178 --> 00:23:35,778
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll
leave it to my colleagues

469
00:23:35,781 --> 00:23:37,951
at the Department of Justice
to make the legal case

470
00:23:37,949 --> 00:23:39,719
to the D.C. Circuit.

471
00:23:39,718 --> 00:23:43,658
Obviously, we've got a lot
of confidence in the case

472
00:23:43,655 --> 00:23:45,095
that they will make.

473
00:23:45,090 --> 00:23:48,460
The administration was
acting on a strong legal

474
00:23:48,460 --> 00:23:52,800
and technical foundation in
issuing -- or putting

475
00:23:52,798 --> 00:23:55,768
forward the policy that
the administration

476
00:23:55,767 --> 00:23:58,337
announced last year.

477
00:23:58,336 --> 00:24:02,576
And the President is
convinced that this is a

478
00:24:02,574 --> 00:24:07,544
policy that is important to
living up to the commitments

479
00:24:10,916 --> 00:24:12,916
that we've made in the
context of cutting carbon

480
00:24:12,918 --> 00:24:15,088
pollution in a way that will
be good for the long-term

481
00:24:15,086 --> 00:24:16,986
health of the planet.

482
00:24:16,988 --> 00:24:18,688
The President is also
convinced that this policy

483
00:24:18,690 --> 00:24:20,060
is actually going to
end up being good for

484
00:24:20,058 --> 00:24:21,158
the U.S. economy.

485
00:24:21,159 --> 00:24:25,459
We know that investments in
clean energy have created

486
00:24:25,463 --> 00:24:28,463
tens -- or supported tens of
thousands of jobs all across

487
00:24:28,466 --> 00:24:33,206
the country, and we've had
success in significantly

488
00:24:33,205 --> 00:24:38,215
expanding the amount of
energy that is produced

489
00:24:41,112 --> 00:24:44,852
through wind and solar and
other renewable forms.

490
00:24:44,850 --> 00:24:47,490
I'll also point out that
there are significant

491
00:24:47,485 --> 00:24:52,125
public health consequences
for this policy.

492
00:24:52,123 --> 00:24:55,223
And our scientists estimate
that implementing this

493
00:24:55,227 --> 00:25:00,067
policy to reduce carbon
pollution by 32 percent by

494
00:25:00,065 --> 00:25:06,235
2030 would avoid 3,000
premature deaths, 90,000

495
00:25:06,238 --> 00:25:12,078
childhood asthma attacks,
and eliminate 300,000

496
00:25:12,077 --> 00:25:15,417
missed work- and schooldays
each year by 2030.

497
00:25:15,413 --> 00:25:19,983
So there are a lot of
important reasons why the

498
00:25:19,985 --> 00:25:23,355
President has prioritized
this approach to cutting

499
00:25:23,355 --> 00:25:27,655
carbon pollution, and the
administration is quite

500
00:25:27,659 --> 00:25:31,099
confident in the legal power
of the arguments that we'll

501
00:25:31,096 --> 00:25:34,636
make before the D.C. Circuit
about why it's within the

502
00:25:34,633 --> 00:25:37,273
scope of the President's
authority to make that

503
00:25:37,269 --> 00:25:39,469
kind of policy decision.

504
00:25:39,471 --> 00:25:40,501
Margaret.

505
00:25:40,505 --> 00:25:42,905
The Press: Josh, the Senate
does appear poised to

506
00:25:42,908 --> 00:25:46,078
override that presidential
veto of the 9/11 bill that

507
00:25:46,077 --> 00:25:48,947
would allow the families
to sue Saudi Arabia.

508
00:25:48,947 --> 00:25:52,547
Why do you think that it's
this particular issue that

509
00:25:52,550 --> 00:25:56,220
has allowed the first
presidential veto override?

510
00:25:56,221 --> 00:26:00,721
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think there are a couple

511
00:26:00,725 --> 00:26:01,295
reasons for that.

512
00:26:01,293 --> 00:26:04,163
The first is, we have not
seen the United States

513
00:26:04,162 --> 00:26:05,802
Congress be
particularly effective

514
00:26:05,797 --> 00:26:07,997
at passing legislation.

515
00:26:07,999 --> 00:26:10,899
The President hasn't issued
that many vetoes, period.

516
00:26:10,902 --> 00:26:14,202
And I made this observation
on a number of occasions.

517
00:26:14,205 --> 00:26:18,145
Over the last couple of
years, we haven't seen

518
00:26:18,143 --> 00:26:20,613
Speaker Boehner or Speaker
Ryan work effectively with

519
00:26:20,612 --> 00:26:24,182
Leader McConnell to pass
legislation that advances

520
00:26:24,182 --> 00:26:25,822
the conservative agenda.

521
00:26:25,817 --> 00:26:28,017
It's not as if in the last
year and a half you've seen

522
00:26:28,019 --> 00:26:33,029
Congress pass bills that
would cut taxes for American

523
00:26:35,660 --> 00:26:39,700
businesses or cut spending
-- cut government spending

524
00:26:39,698 --> 00:26:41,838
-- or increase funding for
the military, or any

525
00:26:41,833 --> 00:26:45,533
of the other conservative
priorities that they

526
00:26:45,537 --> 00:26:48,637
spend a lot of time
talking about but not

527
00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:50,510
actually legislating.

528
00:26:50,508 --> 00:26:52,508
So the fact that the
President hasn't vetoed that

529
00:26:52,510 --> 00:26:54,750
many bills I think is a
pretty damning indictment

530
00:26:54,746 --> 00:26:59,216
of the effectiveness of
Republicans in Congress.

531
00:26:59,217 --> 00:27:00,217
That's just a fact.

532
00:27:00,218 --> 00:27:02,618
I think that is why
it's not just Democrats

533
00:27:02,620 --> 00:27:04,620
who are dissatisfied
with the performance

534
00:27:04,622 --> 00:27:05,622
of the United
States Congress.

535
00:27:05,623 --> 00:27:07,623
There are plenty of
Republicans who

536
00:27:07,625 --> 00:27:08,595
are pretty unhappy.

537
00:27:08,593 --> 00:27:09,423
They cast votes.

538
00:27:09,427 --> 00:27:10,697
They elected a
Republican majority

539
00:27:10,695 --> 00:27:12,095
to the United States
Congress and what do they

540
00:27:12,097 --> 00:27:13,267
have to show for it?

541
00:27:13,264 --> 00:27:15,534
Not very much.

542
00:27:15,533 --> 00:27:17,373
So that's part of it.

543
00:27:17,369 --> 00:27:23,279
I think the other part of
it is that you have seen

544
00:27:23,274 --> 00:27:29,244
Democrats on Capitol Hill
who work very effectively to

545
00:27:29,247 --> 00:27:32,617
try to champion ideas that
the President supports as

546
00:27:32,617 --> 00:27:38,387
well, and having a lot of
Democratic unity in fighting

547
00:27:38,390 --> 00:27:41,160
for some of the priorities
that the President cares

548
00:27:41,159 --> 00:27:44,429
about has allowed us to
make some progress

549
00:27:44,429 --> 00:27:47,329
in areas that are
Democratic priorities.

550
00:27:47,332 --> 00:27:53,842
So one example of that would
be the budget agreement that

551
00:27:53,838 --> 00:27:55,838
they reached last year,
essentially a two-year

552
00:27:55,840 --> 00:28:00,010
budget agreement that, the
hope had been that that

553
00:28:00,011 --> 00:28:02,881
would prevent any
budget drama this year.

554
00:28:02,881 --> 00:28:04,921
We'll see if that
remains to be true.

555
00:28:04,916 --> 00:28:10,126
But the President has
strong views about this

556
00:28:10,121 --> 00:28:12,121
legislations and the
impact that it would

557
00:28:12,123 --> 00:28:14,423
have not just on the
U.S. relationship with

558
00:28:14,426 --> 00:28:16,396
Saudi Arabia, but
with countries

559
00:28:16,394 --> 00:28:17,394
around the world.

560
00:28:17,395 --> 00:28:19,765
It would increase the
risk that is facing our

561
00:28:19,764 --> 00:28:21,764
servicemembers and
our diplomats and our

562
00:28:21,766 --> 00:28:22,766
intelligence professionals.

563
00:28:22,767 --> 00:28:25,507
And that is a view that
President has stated

564
00:28:25,503 --> 00:28:26,503
on a number of occasions.

565
00:28:26,504 --> 00:28:33,474
It is a view that has been
-- it's an argument that was

566
00:28:33,478 --> 00:28:37,648
also made by -- in a
letter -- by President

567
00:28:37,649 --> 00:28:40,149
George W. Bush's attorney
general and his national

568
00:28:40,151 --> 00:28:41,421
security advisor.

569
00:28:41,419 --> 00:28:45,019
They also have significant
concerns about impact that

570
00:28:45,023 --> 00:28:47,723
this bill would have on
our servicemembers

571
00:28:47,725 --> 00:28:49,525
and our diplomats.

572
00:28:49,527 --> 00:28:51,627
And some of America's
closest allies, including

573
00:28:51,629 --> 00:28:55,729
in Europe, have raised
concerns about this bill

574
00:28:55,733 --> 00:28:56,733
entering into law.

575
00:28:56,734 --> 00:28:59,334
So the President feels
strongly about this.

576
00:28:59,337 --> 00:29:01,237
He's also aware of how
challenging the politics

577
00:29:01,239 --> 00:29:04,909
are, and --

578
00:29:04,909 --> 00:29:06,179
The Press: How challenging
the politics are

579
00:29:06,177 --> 00:29:09,247
because some Democrats are
helping to make this happen,

580
00:29:09,247 --> 00:29:12,117
and balking at what
the White House

581
00:29:12,117 --> 00:29:12,747
is asking them to do.

582
00:29:12,750 --> 00:29:16,990
Don't you think there's
something very emotional

583
00:29:16,988 --> 00:29:20,358
on this particular
issue that is getting

584
00:29:20,358 --> 00:29:23,428
Democratic support to
reject what the White House

585
00:29:23,428 --> 00:29:24,498
is asking them to do?

586
00:29:24,496 --> 00:29:27,236
Mr. Earnest: Oh, listen, I
don't deny the political

587
00:29:27,232 --> 00:29:29,032
and emotional power
of these arguments.

588
00:29:29,033 --> 00:29:35,773
But, look, the President
has spoken powerfully on a

589
00:29:35,773 --> 00:29:38,743
number of occasions about
the sacrifice that's been

590
00:29:38,743 --> 00:29:41,683
made by the families of
those in the United States

591
00:29:41,679 --> 00:29:42,819
who lost loved ones on 9/11.

592
00:29:42,814 --> 00:29:47,824
And the resilience that they
have shown has served as a

593
00:29:51,656 --> 00:29:54,496
continuing inspiration to
the President personally.

594
00:29:54,492 --> 00:29:59,802
So I think what's also true
is the politics of this are

595
00:29:59,797 --> 00:30:03,267
tough, but, look, nobody
questions the President's

596
00:30:03,268 --> 00:30:07,408
commitment to protecting
the country and protecting

597
00:30:07,405 --> 00:30:09,845
the interest of
America's 9/11 families,

598
00:30:09,841 --> 00:30:11,841
primarily because he's
the President that

599
00:30:11,843 --> 00:30:13,843
ordered the mission
against Osama Bin Laden.

600
00:30:13,845 --> 00:30:18,015
He's the President who
fought hard to ensure that

601
00:30:18,016 --> 00:30:20,556
9/11 first responders
and the rescue workers at

602
00:30:20,552 --> 00:30:23,852
Ground Zero got the access
to health care that they need

603
00:30:23,855 --> 00:30:28,765
when they risked their
lives to try to save their

604
00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:31,730
fellow Americans but also
to rebuild that site.

605
00:30:31,729 --> 00:30:35,269
So, look, the President is
able to take the political

606
00:30:35,266 --> 00:30:37,966
heat because he's got the
strong track record

607
00:30:37,969 --> 00:30:39,969
on this issue.

608
00:30:43,241 --> 00:30:45,441
But again, I'll let
individual members of

609
00:30:45,443 --> 00:30:47,143
Congress speak
for themselves.

610
00:30:47,145 --> 00:30:49,115
We have heard from
Democrats and Republicans

611
00:30:49,113 --> 00:30:53,153
who have indicated some
openness to the position

612
00:30:53,151 --> 00:30:54,151
that we've articulated.

613
00:30:54,152 --> 00:30:56,352
They've expressed some
concerns about the potential

614
00:30:56,354 --> 00:30:57,724
impact of this bill.

615
00:30:57,722 --> 00:31:00,022
We'll just have to see if
those private concerns

616
00:31:00,024 --> 00:31:02,394
end up in the public
votes that they cast.

617
00:31:02,393 --> 00:31:04,733
The Press: Do you think that
you might have enough votes

618
00:31:04,729 --> 00:31:05,759
to block this
from happening?

619
00:31:05,763 --> 00:31:06,803
Mr. Earnest: I'm not going
to make any predictions

620
00:31:06,798 --> 00:31:09,038
about a congressional
outcome here.

621
00:31:09,033 --> 00:31:12,133
I'm just giving you a
sense of the kind

622
00:31:12,136 --> 00:31:14,906
of argument that the Obama
administration is making

623
00:31:14,906 --> 00:31:16,576
to members of Congress.

624
00:31:16,574 --> 00:31:19,344
This is the same argument
that was included

625
00:31:19,344 --> 00:31:20,774
in the letter from a
bipartisan group

626
00:31:20,778 --> 00:31:22,548
of national security
experts, including

627
00:31:22,547 --> 00:31:24,547
President George W. Bush's
attorney general and his

628
00:31:24,549 --> 00:31:25,549
national security advisor.

629
00:31:25,550 --> 00:31:27,290
This is the argument
that we heard from some

630
00:31:27,285 --> 00:31:28,755
of our closest allies.

631
00:31:28,753 --> 00:31:31,323
This is also, by the way,
consistent with the argument

632
00:31:31,322 --> 00:31:36,832
that we saw in a letter
today from Jeffrey Immelt,

633
00:31:36,828 --> 00:31:41,768
the chief executive at GE,
who raised significant

634
00:31:41,766 --> 00:31:48,006
concerns about the further
erosion of this concept

635
00:31:48,006 --> 00:31:50,006
of sovereign immunity and
the impact it could have

636
00:31:50,008 --> 00:31:51,078
on American businesses.

637
00:31:51,075 --> 00:31:55,915
So there are widespread,
longstanding concerns that

638
00:31:55,913 --> 00:32:01,683
have been articulated, and
the question remains whether

639
00:32:01,686 --> 00:32:06,026
or not members of Congress
will demonstrate the courage

640
00:32:06,024 --> 00:32:09,764
of their convictions and
vote their conscience.

641
00:32:09,761 --> 00:32:12,761
The Press: Two
administrations have now

642
00:32:12,764 --> 00:32:17,464
said that there is no
link between senior

643
00:32:17,468 --> 00:32:19,638
Saudi officials and the
terrorists who carried

644
00:32:19,637 --> 00:32:21,237
out these attacks.

645
00:32:21,239 --> 00:32:26,809
So given that, and you
standing by those findings,

646
00:32:26,811 --> 00:32:29,851
why do you think it is such
a risk that if these cases

647
00:32:29,847 --> 00:32:37,427
make it to court that they
could find otherwise?

648
00:32:37,422 --> 00:32:42,792
Mr. Earnest: Our concern is
not rooted in a prediction

649
00:32:42,794 --> 00:32:45,364
about the outcome of these
individual court cases.

650
00:32:45,363 --> 00:32:48,203
I have no idea what judges
will ultimately conclude,

651
00:32:48,199 --> 00:32:50,739
I haven't reviewed the
evidence that the families

652
00:32:50,735 --> 00:32:52,705
or others may present.

653
00:32:52,704 --> 00:32:57,444
Our concern is rooted
in the erosion of this

654
00:32:57,442 --> 00:32:59,442
foundational principle
of international law.

655
00:33:01,646 --> 00:33:08,186
And the concern is
rooted in the idea that

656
00:33:08,186 --> 00:33:10,856
the United States of America
is more deeply engaged

657
00:33:10,855 --> 00:33:12,855
in more countries around
the world than any

658
00:33:12,857 --> 00:33:14,527
other country in the world.

659
00:33:14,525 --> 00:33:19,495
So carving out additional
exceptions to sovereign

660
00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:26,040
immunity puts the United
States at greater

661
00:33:26,037 --> 00:33:29,677
risk than any other
country in the world.

662
00:33:29,674 --> 00:33:34,944
By virtue of the fact that
we are more engaged around

663
00:33:34,946 --> 00:33:37,286
the globe than any other
country in the world.

664
00:33:37,281 --> 00:33:39,881
That's the concern
that the President has.

665
00:33:39,884 --> 00:33:42,154
And, again, it's not
just the President who's

666
00:33:42,153 --> 00:33:43,153
making this argument.

667
00:33:43,154 --> 00:33:45,394
It is national security
experts in both parties,

668
00:33:45,390 --> 00:33:47,790
leaders in the private
sector, and the leaders

669
00:33:47,792 --> 00:33:49,792
of some of our closest
allies are expressing

670
00:33:49,794 --> 00:33:50,794
the same concerns.

671
00:33:50,795 --> 00:33:52,395
The Press: What do you
say to the families who,

672
00:33:52,397 --> 00:33:54,667
in their view, believe the
White House is standing

673
00:33:54,665 --> 00:33:56,235
in the way of justice?

674
00:33:56,234 --> 00:33:57,134
Mr. Earnest: Listen,
the President is very

675
00:33:57,135 --> 00:34:01,405
sympathetic to the argument
that the 9/11 families make.

676
00:34:01,406 --> 00:34:04,476
And the President is very
interested in making sure

677
00:34:04,475 --> 00:34:06,845
that those families
understand that this

678
00:34:06,844 --> 00:34:09,044
administration
stands with them.

679
00:34:09,046 --> 00:34:14,616
This is an administration
that sought justice for

680
00:34:14,619 --> 00:34:15,619
their loved ones.

681
00:34:15,620 --> 00:34:18,290
This is the administration
that fought to ensure that

682
00:34:18,289 --> 00:34:21,259
our rescue workers got
the health care that

683
00:34:21,259 --> 00:34:22,259
they deserve.

684
00:34:22,260 --> 00:34:27,270
And this is the President
who, every year, has paid

685
00:34:27,265 --> 00:34:30,065
tribute to those who
were lost on 9/11.

686
00:34:30,067 --> 00:34:35,237
So the President
understands the passion

687
00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:37,239
that's on both sides
of this issue.

688
00:34:37,241 --> 00:34:41,011
It's the President's
responsibility to consider

689
00:34:41,012 --> 00:34:43,552
the broader impact that this
bill, as it's currently

690
00:34:43,548 --> 00:34:47,288
written, would have on our
national security, and our

691
00:34:47,285 --> 00:34:50,555
standing around the world,
and on our diplomats

692
00:34:50,555 --> 00:34:52,555
and our servicemembers
who represent

693
00:34:52,557 --> 00:34:54,557
the United States
around the world.

694
00:34:54,559 --> 00:34:55,689
The Press: One
final question,

695
00:34:55,693 --> 00:34:56,893
different topic -- Syria.

696
00:34:56,894 --> 00:34:59,464
Any update on any National
Security Council meetings,

697
00:34:59,464 --> 00:35:02,504
White House meetings about
the siege underway in Aleppo

698
00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:06,140
and whether there's going
to be any intervention?

699
00:35:06,137 --> 00:35:06,907
Mr. Earnest: I don't
have any update

700
00:35:06,904 --> 00:35:08,704
on any discussions.

701
00:35:08,706 --> 00:35:11,976
But, obviously, this is a
situation that continues to

702
00:35:11,976 --> 00:35:13,846
be of deep concern by the
President and his national

703
00:35:13,845 --> 00:35:16,415
security team and it's
something that we're

704
00:35:16,414 --> 00:35:18,654
going to continue
to closely monitor.

705
00:35:18,649 --> 00:35:19,379
James.

706
00:35:19,383 --> 00:35:20,053
The Press: Josh, thank you.

707
00:35:20,051 --> 00:35:21,381
I have three issues I think
we can knock out fairly

708
00:35:21,385 --> 00:35:24,725
quickly before we return to
a fourth that may take a bit

709
00:35:24,722 --> 00:35:26,122
longer, being the debate.

710
00:35:26,123 --> 00:35:29,423
First, just on JASTA, my
understanding is that the

711
00:35:29,427 --> 00:35:32,767
Senate Republican leadership
has indicated that action

712
00:35:32,763 --> 00:35:35,903
in that chamber on this
measure will begin

713
00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:38,100
tomorrow or thereabouts.

714
00:35:38,102 --> 00:35:39,302
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

715
00:35:39,303 --> 00:35:40,573
The Press: If that is your
understanding as well, is

716
00:35:40,571 --> 00:35:42,671
that occasioning any
intensification of the

717
00:35:42,673 --> 00:35:44,273
lobbying effort by the
White House and/or

718
00:35:44,275 --> 00:35:45,645
by the President?

719
00:35:45,643 --> 00:35:47,983
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
don't have any specific

720
00:35:47,979 --> 00:35:50,319
presidential conversations
to talk about at this point,

721
00:35:50,314 --> 00:35:55,124
but the administration and
the White House remain

722
00:35:55,119 --> 00:35:57,889
engaged in making our case
to members of Congress

723
00:35:57,889 --> 00:36:00,159
and will continue to do
that as long as we have

724
00:36:00,157 --> 00:36:01,157
the option to do so.

725
00:36:01,158 --> 00:36:05,368
The Press: On the event
today, concerning outreach

726
00:36:05,363 --> 00:36:10,803
to millennials, if one
studied the attendee list,

727
00:36:10,801 --> 00:36:14,571
one saw that among those in
attendance is an executive

728
00:36:14,572 --> 00:36:17,542
associated with the
program Funny or Die.

729
00:36:17,542 --> 00:36:19,482
And I just wonder if you
could provide for us

730
00:36:19,477 --> 00:36:21,277
a bit of the strategic
communications thinking

731
00:36:21,279 --> 00:36:25,879
that goes into the invitation
to a White House summit

732
00:36:25,883 --> 00:36:27,653
of somebody associated
with a program whose name

733
00:36:27,652 --> 00:36:29,722
is Funny or Die?

734
00:36:29,720 --> 00:36:31,620
Mr. Earnest: This is an
outlet that has had a lot

735
00:36:31,622 --> 00:36:36,062
of success in building
a large audience among

736
00:36:36,060 --> 00:36:38,060
young people.

737
00:36:39,163 --> 00:36:42,803
And the President has gone
to places like Buzzfeed and

738
00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:46,340
even Between Two Ferns to
make a persuasive case the

739
00:36:46,337 --> 00:36:49,677
young people should consider
signing up for health care

740
00:36:49,674 --> 00:36:53,644
through the marketplaces,
so it makes sense to engage

741
00:36:53,644 --> 00:36:57,614
as many organizations
as we can who have that

742
00:36:57,615 --> 00:36:58,615
kind of audience.

743
00:36:58,616 --> 00:37:00,616
And we certainly welcomed
the constructive

744
00:37:00,618 --> 00:37:03,358
engagement that we got
from Funny or Die.

745
00:37:03,354 --> 00:37:05,954
The Press: Besides the
simple practicality of

746
00:37:05,957 --> 00:37:08,857
seeking out such individuals
and venues for outreach to

747
00:37:08,859 --> 00:37:13,469
millennials, does it say
anything about the state of

748
00:37:13,464 --> 00:37:16,504
this younger generation that
they may be getting their

749
00:37:16,500 --> 00:37:19,000
news through a place like
Funny or Die or Between Two

750
00:37:19,003 --> 00:37:21,943
Ferns and so forth, and that
an institution like the

751
00:37:21,939 --> 00:37:25,509
White House has to seek out
the help of -- if you've

752
00:37:25,509 --> 00:37:27,179
been around a long time or
if you have any sense of

753
00:37:27,178 --> 00:37:29,948
history, you would see the
sort of -- it would jump out

754
00:37:29,947 --> 00:37:31,487
at you that somebody
associated with a program

755
00:37:31,482 --> 00:37:34,782
like Funny Or Die as White
House summit attendee, and

756
00:37:34,785 --> 00:37:36,285
what does it say about --

757
00:37:36,287 --> 00:37:36,887
Mr. Earnest:
Listen, I think

758
00:37:36,887 --> 00:37:39,527
it's a commentary on the
increasingly fragmented

759
00:37:39,523 --> 00:37:43,393
nature of our media
environment, that people

760
00:37:43,394 --> 00:37:46,464
have an opportunity to
get their news and to be

761
00:37:46,464 --> 00:37:50,564
informed based on the
way they consume

762
00:37:50,568 --> 00:37:52,568
information from a wide
variety of sources.

763
00:37:52,570 --> 00:37:58,410
And, look, the President is
still interested in engaging

764
00:37:58,409 --> 00:38:01,179
with outlets like all of you
to talk about the Affordable

765
00:38:01,178 --> 00:38:04,048
Care Act, and I'm confident
that he'll do that in the

766
00:38:04,048 --> 00:38:06,048
four months that are
remaining here while

767
00:38:06,050 --> 00:38:07,050
he's in office.

768
00:38:07,051 --> 00:38:10,891
But we would be remiss -- I
guess to use another legal

769
00:38:10,888 --> 00:38:13,528
term, it would be
malpractice to fail to

770
00:38:13,524 --> 00:38:16,724
engage those kinds of
outlets that we also know

771
00:38:16,727 --> 00:38:20,427
have a substantial audience
that we're trying to reach.

772
00:38:20,431 --> 00:38:22,431
So that's part of what
we're doing today.

773
00:38:22,433 --> 00:38:24,833
The Press: "Malpractice"
is also a medical term,

774
00:38:24,835 --> 00:38:25,775
so it's very --

775
00:38:25,770 --> 00:38:26,570
Mr. Earnest: Well,
that's what I was referring

776
00:38:26,570 --> 00:38:27,610
to there, rather clumsily.

777
00:38:27,605 --> 00:38:31,005
The Press: Finally, before
we tackle the debate again,

778
00:38:31,008 --> 00:38:36,948
DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson
spoke today about the many

779
00:38:36,947 --> 00:38:40,387
resources that his agency is
making available to state

780
00:38:40,384 --> 00:38:45,754
election officials and
offices to protect the

781
00:38:45,756 --> 00:38:49,226
integrity of the elections
at the state level

782
00:38:49,226 --> 00:38:51,826
in terms of cybersecurity
and so forth.

783
00:38:51,829 --> 00:38:56,229
How confident is the
administration about the

784
00:38:56,233 --> 00:39:00,233
integrity of the electoral
process in this season of

785
00:39:00,237 --> 00:39:01,577
cyberattacks and so on?

786
00:39:01,572 --> 00:39:02,712
Mr. Earnest: James, we
continue to be very

787
00:39:02,707 --> 00:39:07,107
confident for a
variety of reasons.

788
00:39:07,111 --> 00:39:09,581
I think one of the most
important reasons is that

789
00:39:09,580 --> 00:39:13,680
many of -- because state
elections -- because

790
00:39:13,684 --> 00:39:15,924
elections are controlled at
the state and local level,

791
00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:20,220
and they're administered by
state and local officials,

792
00:39:20,224 --> 00:39:22,664
there's not one central
repository that lends

793
00:39:22,660 --> 00:39:27,670
itself to easily
corrupting or influencing

794
00:39:31,102 --> 00:39:34,372
a national election.

795
00:39:34,371 --> 00:39:36,371
So the fact that you
essentially have

796
00:39:36,373 --> 00:39:38,043
administrators using a
variety of systems in 50

797
00:39:38,042 --> 00:39:41,112
different states and
thousands of localities

798
00:39:41,112 --> 00:39:43,712
means that that poses a
pretty unique challenge

799
00:39:43,714 --> 00:39:44,714
to hackers.

800
00:39:44,715 --> 00:39:46,915
Now, it also poses a
pretty unique challenge to

801
00:39:46,917 --> 00:39:48,917
individuals who are
interested in reforming and

802
00:39:48,919 --> 00:39:53,189
making the system more
efficient, but it does come

803
00:39:53,190 --> 00:39:56,690
in handy when you consider
potential vulnerabilities

804
00:39:56,694 --> 00:39:57,994
in cyberspace.

805
00:39:57,995 --> 00:40:04,135
The second thing that I
would note is that the

806
00:40:04,135 --> 00:40:06,235
Department of Homeland
Security however does

807
00:40:06,237 --> 00:40:11,607
maintain significant
resources and expertise that

808
00:40:11,609 --> 00:40:15,279
can be made available to
state and local elections

809
00:40:15,279 --> 00:40:18,579
administrators who want to
do everything they can to

810
00:40:18,582 --> 00:40:20,922
protect their systems.

811
00:40:20,918 --> 00:40:23,958
And we certainly would
encourage them to consider

812
00:40:23,954 --> 00:40:26,394
availing themselves
of those resources.

813
00:40:26,390 --> 00:40:30,630
And I know that Secretary
Johnson has put together

814
00:40:30,628 --> 00:40:33,898
essentially a working group
that includes people from

815
00:40:33,898 --> 00:40:36,738
all across the country that
do have an expertise in this

816
00:40:36,734 --> 00:40:39,804
that can be helpful in
trying to facilitate that

817
00:40:39,804 --> 00:40:42,804
delivery of that expertise
and of those resources

818
00:40:42,807 --> 00:40:44,977
to administrators
across the country.

819
00:40:44,975 --> 00:40:49,815
But overall, the
administration continues

820
00:40:49,814 --> 00:40:54,154
to have a high degree of
confidence in the ability

821
00:40:54,151 --> 00:40:57,191
of election administrators
all across the country to

822
00:40:57,188 --> 00:41:00,088
conduct a free and fair
election consistent with

823
00:41:00,090 --> 00:41:02,090
the expectations of the
American people.

824
00:41:02,092 --> 00:41:04,092
And I think the
American people share

825
00:41:04,094 --> 00:41:05,094
that confidence.

826
00:41:05,095 --> 00:41:06,065
The Press: All right.

827
00:41:06,063 --> 00:41:09,703
So the debate -- again,
two separate topics here.

828
00:41:09,700 --> 00:41:12,370
At the beginning of the
briefing, you commended

829
00:41:12,369 --> 00:41:16,239
Secretary Clinton for the
case she made on behalf of

830
00:41:16,240 --> 00:41:18,280
the President's economic
stewardship and how she

831
00:41:18,275 --> 00:41:22,145
would bring that forward
in various respects.

832
00:41:22,146 --> 00:41:24,886
In explaining why she would
seek to raise taxes on the

833
00:41:24,882 --> 00:41:29,482
wealthy, Mrs. Clinton said
that the wealthy "have made

834
00:41:29,486 --> 00:41:31,286
all the gains
in the economy."

835
00:41:31,288 --> 00:41:35,388
Was that an accurate
depiction of the economy

836
00:41:35,392 --> 00:41:37,532
that the President has
stewarded in this recovery,

837
00:41:37,528 --> 00:41:39,828
where the wealthy have
made all the gains?

838
00:41:39,830 --> 00:41:41,570
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the latest Census report

839
00:41:41,565 --> 00:41:44,605
indicates that we have
actually seen income growth

840
00:41:44,602 --> 00:41:47,002
all across the income scale,
but there's actually been

841
00:41:47,004 --> 00:41:50,244
more income growth among
lower and middle-income

842
00:41:50,241 --> 00:41:53,641
families than there has been
among families at the top of

843
00:41:53,644 --> 00:41:57,114
the income scale, at
least in the year 2015.

844
00:41:57,114 --> 00:41:59,514
That is a reflection of the
priority that the President

845
00:41:59,516 --> 00:42:04,056
has placed on focusing
our strategy to support

846
00:42:04,054 --> 00:42:06,194
middle-class families and
those families that are

847
00:42:06,190 --> 00:42:07,660
working hard to get
into the middle class.

848
00:42:07,658 --> 00:42:08,788
The Press: So her
description was inaccurate;

849
00:42:08,792 --> 00:42:11,062
it's not the wealthy that
made all the gains in the

850
00:42:11,061 --> 00:42:12,161
economy, correct?

851
00:42:12,162 --> 00:42:14,232
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen, I
think the latest Census data

852
00:42:14,231 --> 00:42:18,031
indicates that there has
been important gains enjoyed

853
00:42:18,035 --> 00:42:23,045
by families at the low and
middle-income level in 2015,

854
00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:25,040
and that's a -- The Press:
That's not an accurate

855
00:42:25,042 --> 00:42:25,942
statement, correct?

856
00:42:25,943 --> 00:42:28,013
Mr. Earnest: Listen, I
didn't see the direct quote,

857
00:42:28,012 --> 00:42:29,382
so we'll take a look at it.

858
00:42:29,380 --> 00:42:32,420
But what I can tell you is
that the numbers indicate

859
00:42:32,416 --> 00:42:37,926
that we've made important
progress in helping families

860
00:42:37,922 --> 00:42:40,462
in the middle grow their
incomes in a way that is

861
00:42:40,457 --> 00:42:43,427
consistent with a smart
approach to growing our

862
00:42:43,427 --> 00:42:44,427
overall economy.

863
00:42:44,428 --> 00:42:46,428
And I know that's an
approach that Secretary

864
00:42:46,430 --> 00:42:48,730
Clinton shares and is
promising to build on.

865
00:42:48,732 --> 00:42:51,232
The Press: Before we proceed
to the final subject of the

866
00:42:51,235 --> 00:42:55,575
debate I want to pursue with
you, again, one is compelled

867
00:42:55,572 --> 00:43:00,442
to ask you if the recovery
has been so successful and

868
00:43:00,444 --> 00:43:03,314
if the stewardship of the
economy has benefited so

869
00:43:03,314 --> 00:43:05,384
many different sectors of
the economy and so many

870
00:43:05,382 --> 00:43:07,552
different classes in the
economy, and all the various

871
00:43:07,551 --> 00:43:12,321
points you made, why is it
that public opinion surveys

872
00:43:12,323 --> 00:43:16,063
-- not just one snapshot,
but over time and

873
00:43:16,060 --> 00:43:18,960
repeatedly, and no matter
who is doing the polling --

874
00:43:18,963 --> 00:43:22,103
show that large majorities
of the electorate regard

875
00:43:22,099 --> 00:43:24,439
the country as being
on the wrong track?

876
00:43:24,435 --> 00:43:26,475
There's only two
possibilities, Josh.

877
00:43:26,470 --> 00:43:29,710
Either they have it right --
the country is headed down

878
00:43:29,707 --> 00:43:31,037
the wrong track.

879
00:43:31,041 --> 00:43:33,281
Or they don't, and they're
just misinformed or laboring

880
00:43:33,277 --> 00:43:35,147
under some misapprehension
about the economy

881
00:43:35,145 --> 00:43:36,515
that's so wonderful.

882
00:43:36,513 --> 00:43:39,113
Why does three-quarters of
the electorate regard

883
00:43:39,116 --> 00:43:40,816
the country as being
on the wrong track?

884
00:43:40,818 --> 00:43:42,118
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think people are quite

885
00:43:42,119 --> 00:43:43,819
dissatisfied with the
dysfunction they see in

886
00:43:43,821 --> 00:43:46,921
Congress and the fact that
we are once again, three or

887
00:43:46,924 --> 00:43:49,394
four days before a deadline,
and Congress has not acted

888
00:43:49,393 --> 00:43:51,793
to keep the government open
and fulfill their basic

889
00:43:51,795 --> 00:43:54,165
functions might leave
people more than a little

890
00:43:54,164 --> 00:43:56,164
dissatisfied with their
representation in

891
00:43:56,166 --> 00:43:57,166
Washington, D.C. right now.

892
00:43:57,167 --> 00:43:59,907
I think the second thing is
there has been a concerted

893
00:43:59,903 --> 00:44:02,973
effort on the part of
Republicans -- not just one

894
00:44:02,973 --> 00:44:05,613
presidential candidate, but
several of them -- to spend

895
00:44:05,609 --> 00:44:08,179
a lot of money and a lot of
time on the stump tearing

896
00:44:08,178 --> 00:44:10,218
down the economy and
tearing down the country

897
00:44:10,214 --> 00:44:12,414
and being sharply
critical of the country.

898
00:44:12,416 --> 00:44:15,786
And that's unfortunate, but
that's going to have impact

899
00:44:15,786 --> 00:44:17,756
and that's going
to take a toll.

900
00:44:17,755 --> 00:44:20,955
I think the third thing is,
what we did see is that

901
00:44:20,958 --> 00:44:24,498
the memory of the worst
economic downturn since

902
00:44:24,495 --> 00:44:29,935
the Great Depression is still
very present in the minds

903
00:44:29,933 --> 00:44:33,573
of many people across the
country, and while they

904
00:44:33,570 --> 00:44:35,570
have certainly benefited
from the kinds of gains

905
00:44:35,572 --> 00:44:37,712
that I've described, I
think people understand

906
00:44:37,708 --> 00:44:39,848
that those gains are fragile.

907
00:44:39,843 --> 00:44:41,143
And they're right.

908
00:44:41,145 --> 00:44:44,045
There is the prospect
that our economy would

909
00:44:44,048 --> 00:44:47,388
be significantly weakened
and undermined if we were

910
00:44:47,384 --> 00:44:51,054
to revert back to the
kinds of policies that got

911
00:44:51,055 --> 00:44:53,055
us into this mess in
the first place.

912
00:44:53,057 --> 00:44:55,327
And that's why the President
has regularly made the case

913
00:44:55,325 --> 00:44:57,725
that the stakes in this
election are rather high,

914
00:44:57,728 --> 00:44:59,298
the gains are fragile.

915
00:44:59,296 --> 00:45:02,536
And that's why he's so
forcefully supporting a

916
00:45:02,533 --> 00:45:04,533
candidate who is vowing to
build on the progress

917
00:45:04,535 --> 00:45:06,535
we've made as opposed
to tearing it down.

918
00:45:06,537 --> 00:45:09,237
The Press: Lastly, you said
earlier in the briefing --

919
00:45:09,239 --> 00:45:12,809
you described earlier in the
briefing President Obama's

920
00:45:12,810 --> 00:45:15,980
reaction to watching the
debate and I think provided

921
00:45:15,979 --> 00:45:20,449
some of your own sentiments
about the debate as well.

922
00:45:20,451 --> 00:45:22,621
Your comments were focused
on the two participants in

923
00:45:22,619 --> 00:45:25,389
the debate, but I wonder if
either you or the President

924
00:45:25,389 --> 00:45:28,389
have any view of Lester
Holt as the moderator

925
00:45:28,392 --> 00:45:29,662
and his performance.

926
00:45:29,660 --> 00:45:32,000
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
I think -- I've heard the

927
00:45:31,995 --> 00:45:36,035
analogy to the moderators
to either umpires in

928
00:45:36,033 --> 00:45:38,273
a baseball game or referees
in a basketball game.

929
00:45:38,268 --> 00:45:43,338
And if you're in a situation
where in the immediate

930
00:45:43,340 --> 00:45:48,280
aftermath of a contest
you're talking about the

931
00:45:48,278 --> 00:45:50,278
officiating, that usually
means one of two things --

932
00:45:50,280 --> 00:45:53,050
that the officials did a bad
job or that you're on the

933
00:45:53,050 --> 00:45:55,720
losing end of the contest.

934
00:45:55,719 --> 00:45:59,059
So the fact that we've gone
through a good 40 minutes

935
00:45:59,056 --> 00:46:01,056
or so of the briefing
without mentioning

936
00:46:01,058 --> 00:46:03,658
Mr. Holt's name I think is
a pretty good endorsement

937
00:46:03,660 --> 00:46:04,660
of his performance.

938
00:46:04,661 --> 00:46:07,501
The Press: So it eluded the
President's attention that

939
00:46:07,498 --> 00:46:09,738
Mr. Holt, who enjoys the
respect of everyone in this

940
00:46:09,733 --> 00:46:12,673
room, this questioner
included, nonetheless, last

941
00:46:12,669 --> 00:46:16,939
night, pressed Mr. Trump
pointedly on just about

942
00:46:16,940 --> 00:46:19,240
every perceived area of
vulnerability for him,

943
00:46:19,243 --> 00:46:21,583
including his early
statements about the Iraq

944
00:46:21,578 --> 00:46:24,578
war, his refusal to release
his tax returns, his role

945
00:46:24,581 --> 00:46:26,381
in the birther issue,
his endorsement of

946
00:46:26,383 --> 00:46:28,483
stop-and-frisk, and his
comments about whether or

947
00:46:28,485 --> 00:46:30,755
not Mrs. Clinton has a
presidential look, but

948
00:46:30,754 --> 00:46:33,554
somehow failed to press
Mrs. Clinton even a single

949
00:46:33,557 --> 00:46:36,697
time on any of her perceived
points of vulnerability such

950
00:46:36,693 --> 00:46:39,893
as her conduct with her
emails, the role of the

951
00:46:39,897 --> 00:46:42,297
Clinton Foundation in the
Clinton State Department,

952
00:46:42,299 --> 00:46:45,499
her refusal to release her
Goldman Sachs speeches,

953
00:46:45,502 --> 00:46:48,542
her deep trustworthy
deficit with the American

954
00:46:48,539 --> 00:46:50,979
electorate, her role in the
destruction of Libya

955
00:46:50,974 --> 00:46:52,244
or the Benghazi attacks.

956
00:46:52,242 --> 00:46:54,212
None of those things were
pressed by Mr. Holt.

957
00:46:54,211 --> 00:46:56,211
Did that elude the
President's attention, that

958
00:46:56,213 --> 00:46:59,053
sort of seeming imbalance
in the questioning?

959
00:46:59,049 --> 00:47:02,489
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
think it's accurate to say

960
00:47:02,486 --> 00:47:04,086
that all of Mr. Trump's
vulnerabilities

961
00:47:04,087 --> 00:47:05,327
were covered.

962
00:47:05,322 --> 00:47:08,322
I'll let other people
be the judge of that.

963
00:47:08,325 --> 00:47:10,695
But I think what is true is
that the debate lasted 90

964
00:47:10,694 --> 00:47:13,434
minutes, and there's a
reason that the Commission

965
00:47:13,430 --> 00:47:15,430
on Presidential Debate
doesn't just schedule one --

966
00:47:15,432 --> 00:47:16,702
they schedule three.

967
00:47:16,700 --> 00:47:18,740
And certainly in the two
subsequent debates I would

968
00:47:18,735 --> 00:47:20,105
anticipate that there
will be additional

969
00:47:20,103 --> 00:47:22,073
topics covered.

970
00:47:22,072 --> 00:47:22,872
Ron.

971
00:47:22,873 --> 00:47:25,213
The Press: Just one more
thing about the debate and

972
00:47:25,209 --> 00:47:27,909
this trade -- the
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

973
00:47:27,911 --> 00:47:31,051
How did the President feel
about watching his former

974
00:47:31,048 --> 00:47:35,488
Secretary of State
essentially trash this deal

975
00:47:35,485 --> 00:47:38,385
that is so important to his
legacy while literally

976
00:47:38,388 --> 00:47:40,388
tens of millions of
Americans are watching?

977
00:47:40,390 --> 00:47:42,990
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
the view that was expressed

978
00:47:42,993 --> 00:47:45,093
by both presidential
candidates with regard

979
00:47:45,095 --> 00:47:47,595
to the Trans-Pacific
Partnership is different

980
00:47:47,598 --> 00:47:49,638
than the view that's been
advocated by the President.

981
00:47:49,633 --> 00:47:53,503
And that's why -- I mean,
look, Ron, if anything, it

982
00:47:53,503 --> 00:47:55,873
strengthens the case that we
make to Congress that this

983
00:47:55,872 --> 00:47:57,872
is something they need to
act on before the end of the

984
00:47:57,874 --> 00:48:00,574
year, because either way, it
is now crystal-clear that

985
00:48:00,577 --> 00:48:03,517
whoever is elected President
is not going to be somebody

986
00:48:03,513 --> 00:48:06,883
who is enthusiastic about
the kind of approach that

987
00:48:06,883 --> 00:48:07,983
President Obama has pursued.

988
00:48:07,985 --> 00:48:09,985
And look, when it comes
to the Trans-Pacific

989
00:48:09,987 --> 00:48:13,127
Partnership, President Obama
negotiated a good deal.

990
00:48:13,123 --> 00:48:15,123
This is a deal that will
level the playing field

991
00:48:15,125 --> 00:48:16,125
for American workers.

992
00:48:16,126 --> 00:48:18,296
It will cut 18,000 taxes
that other countries

993
00:48:18,295 --> 00:48:19,495
impose on
American goods.

994
00:48:19,496 --> 00:48:21,796
And this is a deal that's
been endorsed by the Chamber

995
00:48:21,798 --> 00:48:24,168
of Commerce, the American
Farm Bureau, the Business

996
00:48:24,167 --> 00:48:26,167
Roundtable and the
National Association

997
00:48:26,169 --> 00:48:27,169
of Manufacturers.

998
00:48:27,170 --> 00:48:29,170
Those are four organizations
that are not typically

999
00:48:29,172 --> 00:48:31,912
strong advocates of policies
put forward by the Obama

1000
00:48:31,908 --> 00:48:34,508
administration, but in this
case, they have strongly

1001
00:48:34,511 --> 00:48:36,511
endorsed the Trans-Pacific
Partnership and are

1002
00:48:36,513 --> 00:48:38,713
encouraging Republicans in
the United States Congress

1003
00:48:38,715 --> 00:48:39,715
to support it.

1004
00:48:39,716 --> 00:48:44,026
So I think that it speaks
well of the President's

1005
00:48:44,021 --> 00:48:46,321
approach to this issue, but
I also thinks it speaks to

1006
00:48:46,323 --> 00:48:48,663
the urgency that members of
Congress are going to need

1007
00:48:48,659 --> 00:48:51,159
to feel if this kind of
approach to protecting

1008
00:48:51,161 --> 00:48:53,301
America's interest around
the world is one they share.

1009
00:48:53,297 --> 00:48:54,927
The Press: Has the President
ever spoken -- recently

1010
00:48:54,931 --> 00:48:57,801
spoken to the Secretary
about this particular thing?

1011
00:48:57,801 --> 00:49:00,101
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not
going to read out all the

1012
00:49:00,103 --> 00:49:01,043
details of their
conversations.

1013
00:49:01,038 --> 00:49:03,078
They had an opportunity to
see each other a couple of

1014
00:49:03,073 --> 00:49:05,843
times when she was in D.C.
a week and a half ago.

1015
00:49:05,842 --> 00:49:08,082
The Press: And how is he
going to campaign on this

1016
00:49:08,078 --> 00:49:12,278
issue out there in the world
in the coming weeks -- not

1017
00:49:12,282 --> 00:49:16,482
months, but weeks -- when he
clearly feels so strongly

1018
00:49:16,486 --> 00:49:18,926
about this and she clearly
feels so negatively

1019
00:49:18,922 --> 00:49:19,592
about it?

1020
00:49:19,589 --> 00:49:20,729
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
the President has not

1021
00:49:20,724 --> 00:49:23,324
hesitated to put forward a
persuasive case about why he

1022
00:49:23,327 --> 00:49:25,597
believes the Trans-Pacific
Partnership is something

1023
00:49:25,595 --> 00:49:27,835
that Congress needs to
ratify before the end

1024
00:49:27,831 --> 00:49:28,931
of the year.

1025
00:49:28,932 --> 00:49:30,932
And he's going to continue
to make that forceful case.

1026
00:49:30,934 --> 00:49:32,974
He believes it's in the
clear national interest of

1027
00:49:32,969 --> 00:49:36,309
the country when it comes to
considering the strategic

1028
00:49:36,306 --> 00:49:38,006
situation in Asia.

1029
00:49:38,008 --> 00:49:40,078
He also believes it's
important when you consider

1030
00:49:40,077 --> 00:49:45,687
the impact that this policy
would have on working people

1031
00:49:45,682 --> 00:49:48,822
all across the country --
that there are communities

1032
00:49:48,819 --> 00:49:50,819
across the country that are
facing a challenge from

1033
00:49:50,821 --> 00:49:52,821
globalization, and the
question really is, what are

1034
00:49:52,823 --> 00:49:53,823
we going to do about it?

1035
00:49:53,824 --> 00:49:55,824
And President Obama has
implemented a strategy

1036
00:49:55,826 --> 00:49:58,566
that will confront those forces
of globalization, level the

1037
00:49:58,562 --> 00:50:01,402
playing field in some of
those economies that have

1038
00:50:01,398 --> 00:50:03,398
some of the fastest-growing
economies in the world,

1039
00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:06,970
and that ultimately is going
to be good for our economy,

1040
00:50:06,970 --> 00:50:08,970
good for America's
businesses, and good

1041
00:50:08,972 --> 00:50:09,972
for America's workers.

1042
00:50:09,973 --> 00:50:11,043
The President is not
going to hesitate to make

1043
00:50:11,041 --> 00:50:11,811
that argument.

1044
00:50:11,808 --> 00:50:13,878
But when he's on the
campaign trail encouraging

1045
00:50:13,877 --> 00:50:16,617
people to support Secretary
Clinton, he, I think

1046
00:50:16,613 --> 00:50:20,783
understandably, is going to
be quite focused on the --

1047
00:50:20,784 --> 00:50:21,654
The Press: Something else.

1048
00:50:21,651 --> 00:50:23,891
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess I
would say on the many, many

1049
00:50:23,887 --> 00:50:26,087
things that they
have in common.

1050
00:50:26,089 --> 00:50:32,399
On the many, many
priorities that they share.

1051
00:50:32,396 --> 00:50:35,366
The Press: It just seems
like such a contradiction on

1052
00:50:35,365 --> 00:50:37,805
such a huge issue that he
feels so strongly about.

1053
00:50:37,801 --> 00:50:42,441
And let's assume for a
moment that somehow this

1054
00:50:42,439 --> 00:50:43,539
does get passed.

1055
00:50:43,540 --> 00:50:46,310
Then clearly the next
President is opposed

1056
00:50:46,309 --> 00:50:46,909
to this.

1057
00:50:46,910 --> 00:50:47,940
What does that
say to our allies?

1058
00:50:47,944 --> 00:50:52,684
What does it say to -- I
mean, how is this thing ever

1059
00:50:52,682 --> 00:50:56,152
going to become -- take
root and actually become

1060
00:50:56,153 --> 00:51:00,693
a significant part of our
country's policy if both

1061
00:51:00,690 --> 00:51:04,190
future Presidents
are against it?

1062
00:51:04,194 --> 00:51:05,694
Mr. Earnest: Well, first of
all, I don't think it's

1063
00:51:05,695 --> 00:51:07,695
a contradiction, I think
it's just a difference

1064
00:51:07,697 --> 00:51:08,697
of opinion.

1065
00:51:08,698 --> 00:51:13,038
The Press: So at some point
does he expect Secretary

1066
00:51:13,036 --> 00:51:14,506
Clinton to just
flip on this?

1067
00:51:14,504 --> 00:51:17,804
Mr. Earnest: No, I take her
at her word, so I'll let her

1068
00:51:17,808 --> 00:51:22,148
describe her opinion and
her position on this issue.

1069
00:51:22,145 --> 00:51:27,155
With regard to the policy,
the other 11 countries that

1070
00:51:30,086 --> 00:51:32,556
are party to this agreement
are counting on the United

1071
00:51:32,556 --> 00:51:34,556
States to be
true to our word.

1072
00:51:36,593 --> 00:51:39,793
Some of them have already
started implementing the

1073
00:51:39,796 --> 00:51:44,506
kinds of reforms that
benefit the United States,

1074
00:51:44,501 --> 00:51:48,801
but those reforms are
contingent on the completion

1075
00:51:48,805 --> 00:51:50,805
of the Trans-Pacific
Partnership -- that our

1076
00:51:50,807 --> 00:51:55,107
ability to raise labor
standards, to raise human

1077
00:51:55,111 --> 00:51:58,081
rights standards, to improve
intellectual property

1078
00:51:58,081 --> 00:52:00,181
protections, to raise
environmental standards in

1079
00:52:00,183 --> 00:52:05,153
these countries in the Asia
Pacific -- those are all

1080
00:52:05,155 --> 00:52:07,555
policies that benefit the
United States, both in terms

1081
00:52:07,557 --> 00:52:10,997
of being consistent with our
values, but also in terms of

1082
00:52:10,994 --> 00:52:12,994
leveling the playing field
so that American workers

1083
00:52:12,996 --> 00:52:16,766
and American businesses
will have an opportunity

1084
00:52:16,766 --> 00:52:17,806
to fairly compete.

1085
00:52:17,801 --> 00:52:23,111
And other countries are
interested in the United

1086
00:52:23,106 --> 00:52:25,076
States following through
on our commitment and

1087
00:52:25,075 --> 00:52:26,075
implementing the agreement.

1088
00:52:26,076 --> 00:52:28,076
And the President heard a
whole lot about this when

1089
00:52:28,078 --> 00:52:30,078
he was traveling in Asia
earlier this month.

1090
00:52:30,080 --> 00:52:33,250
And so this is something
that the President sees

1091
00:52:33,250 --> 00:52:34,380
as a priority.

1092
00:52:34,384 --> 00:52:38,824
And we know that
the U.S. business

1093
00:52:38,822 --> 00:52:41,322
community that, as I
mentioned, is typically

1094
00:52:41,324 --> 00:52:45,294
aligned with the Republican
Party, is typically not so

1095
00:52:45,295 --> 00:52:48,365
supportive of an Obama
administration policy, but

1096
00:52:48,365 --> 00:52:51,305
in this instance, they are
advocating to Democrats and

1097
00:52:51,301 --> 00:52:53,941
Republicans on Capitol Hill
that this is something that

1098
00:52:53,937 --> 00:52:56,077
we need to get done.

1099
00:52:56,072 --> 00:52:56,802
The Press:
Question on Syria.

1100
00:52:56,806 --> 00:53:00,406
When you were talking about
the national security

1101
00:53:00,410 --> 00:53:02,750
meetings that the President
has, you were very specific

1102
00:53:02,746 --> 00:53:05,216
in saying that there's a lot
of discussion about ISIS --

1103
00:53:05,215 --> 00:53:08,085
the counter-ISIS campaign,
and so on and so forth.

1104
00:53:08,084 --> 00:53:11,754
Is there discussion
specifically about the

1105
00:53:11,755 --> 00:53:18,065
Syrian regime and the civil
war as well by that group?

1106
00:53:18,061 --> 00:53:22,061
And have they gotten to the
point where they have -- I

1107
00:53:22,065 --> 00:53:26,205
think Mark kind of asked you
this earlier -- where they

1108
00:53:26,202 --> 00:53:28,372
have ruled out
everything essentially?

1109
00:53:28,371 --> 00:53:30,071
Mr. Earnest: No, they have
not ruled out everything.

1110
00:53:30,073 --> 00:53:32,873
What they have -- what's
important for you to

1111
00:53:32,876 --> 00:53:35,246
understand about these
conversations is that there

1112
00:53:35,245 --> 00:53:41,885
is broad recognition that
the failed leadership of

1113
00:53:41,885 --> 00:53:45,285
Bashar al-Assad has created
the conditions on the ground

1114
00:53:45,288 --> 00:53:48,728
inside of Syria that have
allowed extremism to take

1115
00:53:48,725 --> 00:53:49,825
root.

1116
00:53:49,826 --> 00:53:53,626
His failure to lead that
country, in fact his

1117
00:53:53,630 --> 00:53:56,330
willingness to divide that
country, by waging war

1118
00:53:56,333 --> 00:54:00,273
against his own citizens
have fueled extremism, and

1119
00:54:00,270 --> 00:54:04,140
it's created enough chaos
that organizations like ISIL

1120
00:54:04,140 --> 00:54:07,180
and even al Qaeda have
sought to establish a safe

1121
00:54:07,177 --> 00:54:09,917
haven or a toe hold inside
of Syria and use that as a

1122
00:54:09,913 --> 00:54:12,483
base of operations to
threaten the United States

1123
00:54:12,482 --> 00:54:14,482
and our allies
around the world.

1124
00:54:14,484 --> 00:54:17,954
So, yes, the administration
and the President

1125
00:54:17,954 --> 00:54:21,824
has implemented a policy to
degrade and ultimately

1126
00:54:21,825 --> 00:54:22,825
destroy ISIL.

1127
00:54:22,826 --> 00:54:26,196
But we also have been very
focused on trying the

1128
00:54:26,196 --> 00:54:29,166
address the root causes of
this conflict that have

1129
00:54:29,165 --> 00:54:31,165
allowed ISIL to flourish.

1130
00:54:31,167 --> 00:54:33,207
And that is the failed
leadership of Bashar

1131
00:54:33,203 --> 00:54:34,203
al-Assad.

1132
00:54:34,204 --> 00:54:38,444
That's why Secretary
Kerry has devoted so many

1133
00:54:38,441 --> 00:54:43,611
sleepless days and nights to
trying to negotiate with the

1134
00:54:43,613 --> 00:54:47,753
Russians and to try to
advance political talks so

1135
00:54:47,751 --> 00:54:49,791
that we can bring about the
kind of political transition

1136
00:54:49,786 --> 00:54:51,786
inside Syria that even
the Russians acknowledge

1137
00:54:51,788 --> 00:54:52,958
is necessary.

1138
00:54:52,956 --> 00:54:55,356
The Press: Is there any --
given what's happening in

1139
00:54:55,358 --> 00:54:58,128
Aleppo in the last days
since the ceasefires fell

1140
00:54:58,128 --> 00:55:03,098
apart, is there any
rethinking of what America

1141
00:55:03,099 --> 00:55:05,639
perceives as its only --
as its national security

1142
00:55:05,635 --> 00:55:09,205
interest in that theater,
in that context, given what

1143
00:55:09,205 --> 00:55:13,815
seems to be an impending
humanitarian disaster there

1144
00:55:13,810 --> 00:55:15,950
-- worse than what we've
seen during the past --

1145
00:55:15,945 --> 00:55:21,555
or I mean, it's a very
common-sense -- is the

1146
00:55:21,551 --> 00:55:25,921
situation there so terrible
that the President is

1147
00:55:25,922 --> 00:55:27,162
rethinking what he
might want to do there?

1148
00:55:27,157 --> 00:55:28,927
Is he even considering it?

1149
00:55:28,925 --> 00:55:30,565
Mr. Earnest: What I'd
say about this, Ron,

1150
00:55:30,560 --> 00:55:31,900
is a couple things.

1151
00:55:31,895 --> 00:55:35,165
The situation in Syria has
been terrible for years now,

1152
00:55:35,165 --> 00:55:38,535
unfortunately, and there are
too many countless innocent

1153
00:55:38,535 --> 00:55:41,205
lives that have been lost,
and millions of other lives

1154
00:55:41,204 --> 00:55:46,144
that have been changed for
the worse as a result of the

1155
00:55:46,142 --> 00:55:48,442
chaos and violence that
we've seen in that country.

1156
00:55:48,445 --> 00:55:50,445
But, look, I would also
acknowledge the situation

1157
00:55:50,447 --> 00:55:52,487
there has gotten worse
in recent days, that the

1158
00:55:52,482 --> 00:55:55,582
bombing has been more
intense, that the pace of

1159
00:55:55,585 --> 00:55:58,025
the military attacks against
innocent civilians has only

1160
00:55:58,021 --> 00:56:00,161
increased, that the
willingness on the part of

1161
00:56:00,156 --> 00:56:04,466
the Assad regime, oftentimes
with the support of the

1162
00:56:04,461 --> 00:56:09,731
Russians, has been more
egregious in terms of

1163
00:56:09,733 --> 00:56:14,403
targeting civilians and
civilian facilities.

1164
00:56:14,404 --> 00:56:18,844
We've seen that the Syrian
regime has been willing to

1165
00:56:18,842 --> 00:56:22,012
target first responders --
so-called White Helmets.

1166
00:56:22,011 --> 00:56:24,011
We know that there was a
military strike that was

1167
00:56:24,013 --> 00:56:27,113
focused on the supply of
drinking water that was

1168
00:56:27,117 --> 00:56:31,217
available to the citizens
of -- or the civilians

1169
00:56:31,221 --> 00:56:32,891
in eastern Aleppo.

1170
00:56:32,889 --> 00:56:35,989
So I would acknowledge that
the situation in Aleppo

1171
00:56:35,992 --> 00:56:38,562
has gotten worse.

1172
00:56:38,561 --> 00:56:41,161
But what's also true is that
the President and his team

1173
00:56:41,164 --> 00:56:43,404
are always looking
carefully at the situation

1174
00:56:43,399 --> 00:56:46,269
to determine if there's
something different that we

1175
00:56:46,269 --> 00:56:48,969
can do, if there's more that
the United States should do

1176
00:56:48,972 --> 00:56:51,972
to protect our interests in
that region of the world.

1177
00:56:51,975 --> 00:56:52,905
The Press: And the
disappointing answer

1178
00:56:52,909 --> 00:56:54,249
to that question is no.

1179
00:56:54,244 --> 00:56:57,814
Mr. Earnest: No, at this
point, the approach is we're

1180
00:56:57,814 --> 00:57:01,454
going to be squarely focused
on ISIL and other extremists

1181
00:57:01,451 --> 00:57:03,791
in Syria and Iraq that could
pose a threat to the United

1182
00:57:03,787 --> 00:57:07,357
States, and we're making
important progress in

1183
00:57:07,357 --> 00:57:09,997
backing opposition forces
on the ground, carrying out

1184
00:57:09,993 --> 00:57:12,733
airstrikes, and working
closely with the Iraqi

1185
00:57:12,729 --> 00:57:15,899
government to apply pressure
both to ISIL leadership

1186
00:57:15,899 --> 00:57:19,269
but also to retake
territory that ISIL

1187
00:57:19,269 --> 00:57:20,909
had previously held.

1188
00:57:20,904 --> 00:57:24,174
We continue to be focused
on trying to work

1189
00:57:24,174 --> 00:57:26,374
closely with the U.N.
to facilitate some kind

1190
00:57:26,376 --> 00:57:29,546
of transition
inside of Syria

1191
00:57:29,546 --> 00:57:32,416
that would address the root
causes of all of this chaos.

1192
00:57:32,415 --> 00:57:33,985
That work continues.

1193
00:57:33,983 --> 00:57:36,023
There continues to be
important work that's being

1194
00:57:36,019 --> 00:57:39,919
done on the homeland
security front to try to

1195
00:57:39,923 --> 00:57:43,493
prevent ISIL from
radicalizing or inspiring

1196
00:57:43,493 --> 00:57:46,263
others to carry out acts
of violence in their name.

1197
00:57:46,262 --> 00:57:48,262
We're working all across the
international community to

1198
00:57:48,264 --> 00:57:50,404
try to shut down the
flow of foreign fighters.

1199
00:57:50,400 --> 00:57:52,470
I know that Director Comey
had some comments earlier

1200
00:57:52,468 --> 00:57:54,538
today that indicated that
the flow of foreign fighters

1201
00:57:54,537 --> 00:57:59,577
from the United States
to Iraq and Syria has

1202
00:57:59,576 --> 00:58:00,676
slowed significantly.

1203
00:58:00,677 --> 00:58:03,477
That obviously is a welcome
development and is an

1204
00:58:03,479 --> 00:58:08,449
indication both that our
efforts are bearing fruit,

1205
00:58:08,451 --> 00:58:12,921
but also that ISIL is having
a tougher time recruiting

1206
00:58:12,922 --> 00:58:13,922
people to their cause.

1207
00:58:13,923 --> 00:58:16,123
So all of this is progress.

1208
00:58:16,125 --> 00:58:18,165
All of this enhances the
safety and security

1209
00:58:18,161 --> 00:58:19,161
of the American people.

1210
00:58:19,162 --> 00:58:23,932
But there is no
downplaying the awfulness

1211
00:58:23,933 --> 00:58:27,273
of the situation in
Syria right now.

1212
00:58:27,270 --> 00:58:28,770
Michelle.

1213
00:58:28,771 --> 00:58:31,271
The Press: Earlier in the
briefing you talked about

1214
00:58:31,274 --> 00:58:34,574
the powerful case that you
thought Secretary Clinton

1215
00:58:34,577 --> 00:58:35,277
made last night.

1216
00:58:35,278 --> 00:58:37,348
You also called it
a persuasive case.

1217
00:58:37,347 --> 00:58:38,717
That's a case that we've
also heard the President

1218
00:58:38,715 --> 00:58:40,715
and others in the
administration make over

1219
00:58:40,717 --> 00:58:41,887
the last couple of months.

1220
00:58:41,885 --> 00:58:45,355
A lot of strong words used
to describe what is believed

1221
00:58:45,355 --> 00:58:50,095
to be the reason why Donald
Trump is not qualified

1222
00:58:50,093 --> 00:58:50,723
to be President.

1223
00:58:50,727 --> 00:58:53,897
We've heard the President
say that a lot of times.

1224
00:58:53,897 --> 00:58:55,937
But the fact is the poll
numbers between these two

1225
00:58:55,932 --> 00:58:59,472
candidates have only gotten
closer and have not moved in

1226
00:58:59,469 --> 00:59:00,639
the other direction.

1227
00:59:00,637 --> 00:59:03,437
So is that an indication to
you that the case that is

1228
00:59:03,439 --> 00:59:07,239
being made is either not
working, or needs to be made

1229
00:59:07,243 --> 00:59:08,283
in some different way?

1230
00:59:08,278 --> 00:59:10,978
Because when you say -- you
use words like "powerful"

1231
00:59:10,980 --> 00:59:12,080
and "persuasive."

1232
00:59:12,081 --> 00:59:13,721
I mean, maybe that's
in the words chosen,

1233
00:59:13,716 --> 00:59:15,986
but that's not clearly in the
effect that it's having

1234
00:59:15,985 --> 00:59:18,155
on the electorate.

1235
00:59:18,154 --> 00:59:22,594
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
the case that the President

1236
00:59:22,592 --> 00:59:28,162
is making is one that is
focused on turning people

1237
00:59:28,164 --> 00:59:30,364
out on Election Day.

1238
00:59:30,366 --> 00:59:32,166
And this is a case that
we'll build through the

1239
00:59:32,168 --> 00:59:36,538
month of October in support
of the candidate that he

1240
00:59:36,539 --> 00:59:38,679
believes so strongly in.

1241
00:59:38,675 --> 00:59:42,345
So I think we'll all
evaluate the effectiveness

1242
00:59:42,345 --> 00:59:44,785
of the President's
case on Election Day.

1243
00:59:44,781 --> 00:59:47,251
The Press: What do you
think it says that there's

1244
00:59:47,250 --> 00:59:49,850
arguments that are made,
arguments that you feel are

1245
00:59:49,852 --> 00:59:53,652
powerful are not changing
people's minds, at least not

1246
00:59:53,656 --> 00:59:55,696
as reflected in the polls?

1247
00:59:55,692 --> 00:59:57,462
Mr. Earnest: Look, there are
plenty of people out there

1248
00:59:57,460 --> 01:00:00,060
who can comment on the polls
and offer up their own

1249
01:00:00,063 --> 01:00:02,803
analysis, so I'll
let them do that.

1250
01:00:02,799 --> 01:00:04,799
But the President is going
to be focused on an argument

1251
01:00:04,801 --> 01:00:07,601
that he believes is most
important, and hopefully

1252
01:00:07,603 --> 01:00:09,973
people will hear it
and be convinced by it.

1253
01:00:09,973 --> 01:00:11,843
The Press: So when are we
going to see him out

1254
01:00:11,841 --> 01:00:13,741
on the trail much more?

1255
01:00:14,143 --> 01:00:15,413
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think through October

1256
01:00:15,411 --> 01:00:19,151
the President will be
increasing his involvement

1257
01:00:19,148 --> 01:00:20,218
in this race.

1258
01:00:20,216 --> 01:00:23,586
And that doesn't just
mean through travel.

1259
01:00:23,586 --> 01:00:26,986
That also means that the
President will be more

1260
01:00:26,990 --> 01:00:31,060
engaged in -- or I guess
I would say feature more

1261
01:00:31,060 --> 01:00:33,830
prominently in some of the
advertising efforts of

1262
01:00:33,830 --> 01:00:35,830
Secretary Clinton and
other Democrats across

1263
01:00:35,832 --> 01:00:37,262
the country.

1264
01:00:37,266 --> 01:00:41,876
But the President has made
clear that he wants to do as

1265
01:00:41,871 --> 01:00:44,241
much as he can to support
Secretary Clinton and her

1266
01:00:44,240 --> 01:00:46,240
campaign, and that's
what we'll do.

1267
01:00:46,242 --> 01:00:49,812
But largely, our cues for
how to do that will be

1268
01:00:49,812 --> 01:00:52,052
taken from the campaign
and Secretary Clinton's

1269
01:00:52,048 --> 01:00:54,048
advisors who are
formulating a strategy.

1270
01:00:54,050 --> 01:00:56,190
The Press: Yeah, he's used
the phrase, you have to be

1271
01:00:56,185 --> 01:00:59,625
running scared when you're
looking at this election in

1272
01:00:59,622 --> 01:01:00,862
particular and
those numbers.

1273
01:01:00,857 --> 01:01:03,727
So when he sees those
numbers only getting closer

1274
01:01:03,726 --> 01:01:05,426
-- and it remains to be
seen, of course, what

1275
01:01:05,428 --> 01:01:08,628
happens after this debate in
the next couple of days --

1276
01:01:08,631 --> 01:01:10,871
but when he sees those
numbers, does he feel like

1277
01:01:10,867 --> 01:01:14,767
the message needs to change
or that he needs to do

1278
01:01:14,771 --> 01:01:16,771
something that, I don't
know, gets people's

1279
01:01:16,773 --> 01:01:20,143
attention more or
makes his case better?

1280
01:01:20,143 --> 01:01:22,283
Mr. Earnest: I think you're
going to hear the President

1281
01:01:22,278 --> 01:01:24,278
continue to warn
against complacency.

1282
01:01:24,280 --> 01:01:27,880
And the President's remarks
to the Congressional Black

1283
01:01:27,884 --> 01:01:32,024
Caucus 10 days or so ago I
think is a good example

1284
01:01:32,021 --> 01:01:34,021
of that kind of message.

1285
01:01:34,023 --> 01:01:36,023
I also think you're going to
hear the President deliver

1286
01:01:36,025 --> 01:01:39,565
a message similar to the one
that he delivered on Ryan

1287
01:01:39,562 --> 01:01:42,832
Seacrest's radio program
earlier today in which he

1288
01:01:42,832 --> 01:01:45,972
made a case to the American
people that it's important

1289
01:01:45,968 --> 01:01:48,738
to get involved in our
democracy and that our

1290
01:01:48,738 --> 01:01:51,438
democracy benefits from
that regardless of who you

1291
01:01:51,441 --> 01:01:52,441
choose to support.

1292
01:01:52,442 --> 01:01:54,842
Now, the President has
obviously got his own very

1293
01:01:54,844 --> 01:01:56,844
strong view about who he
believes people should

1294
01:01:56,846 --> 01:01:58,846
support, and he'll make
his case accordingly.

1295
01:01:58,848 --> 01:02:00,848
But he believes that our
democracy is improved when

1296
01:02:00,850 --> 01:02:01,850
more people are engaged.

1297
01:02:01,851 --> 01:02:04,791
And he'll continue to
make that case as well.

1298
01:02:04,787 --> 01:02:06,787
The President will have
ample opportunity to make

1299
01:02:06,789 --> 01:02:09,259
that case, and I think the
President feels good about

1300
01:02:09,258 --> 01:02:11,958
the current trajectory
of the race.

1301
01:02:11,961 --> 01:02:12,961
JC.

1302
01:02:12,962 --> 01:02:16,402
The Press: Putting your
political hat back on, Josh,

1303
01:02:16,399 --> 01:02:18,099
reflecting a couple of years
ago when you were very much

1304
01:02:18,101 --> 01:02:20,601
involved in the Obama
campaign in the early

1305
01:02:20,603 --> 01:02:25,273
stages, and addressing those
people who are not quite

1306
01:02:25,274 --> 01:02:29,314
committed, including the
millennials, do you think

1307
01:02:29,312 --> 01:02:31,952
after last night's debate --
and if you watched it --

1308
01:02:31,948 --> 01:02:35,318
do you think the folks are
more interested or less

1309
01:02:35,318 --> 01:02:37,558
interested in watching
the second debate?

1310
01:02:37,553 --> 01:02:39,793
Mr. Earnest: I think
it's hard to generalize.

1311
01:02:39,789 --> 01:02:42,429
I think there are probably
some people who had the

1312
01:02:42,425 --> 01:02:44,425
opportunity to watch the
debate, and as James

1313
01:02:44,427 --> 01:02:46,597
alluded, that there are some
other issues that they'd

1314
01:02:46,596 --> 01:02:48,796
like to see be discussed.

1315
01:02:48,798 --> 01:02:50,968
So maybe that means some
more people will tune in.

1316
01:02:50,967 --> 01:02:53,137
I think there are some other
people who watched the first

1317
01:02:53,136 --> 01:02:55,136
debate and learned
everything they need to know

1318
01:02:55,138 --> 01:02:57,138
about the two candidates
and what they stand for.

1319
01:02:57,140 --> 01:03:00,710
And hopefully they'll turn
out to vote and choose

1320
01:03:00,710 --> 01:03:03,550
to be engaged in our
democratic process.

1321
01:03:03,546 --> 01:03:04,546
Kenneth.

1322
01:03:04,547 --> 01:03:06,447
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

1323
01:03:06,449 --> 01:03:07,849
Back to last night.

1324
01:03:07,850 --> 01:03:10,420
Did President Obama call
Hillary Clinton before to

1325
01:03:10,419 --> 01:03:12,789
give her a pep talk, or did
he speak with her afterwards

1326
01:03:12,788 --> 01:03:15,358
to say what he thought
of her performance?

1327
01:03:15,358 --> 01:03:16,958
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
that the President has

1328
01:03:16,959 --> 01:03:21,129
spoken to Secretary Clinton
in the last 24 hours or so.

1329
01:03:21,130 --> 01:03:23,130
But they have the
opportunity to speak

1330
01:03:23,132 --> 01:03:25,132
frequently, and sometimes
we tell you about it and

1331
01:03:25,134 --> 01:03:27,504
sometimes we don't.

1332
01:03:27,503 --> 01:03:31,503
The Press: You mentioned the
President is going to be, in

1333
01:03:31,507 --> 01:03:33,347
October, he's really going
to ratchet up being on the

1334
01:03:33,342 --> 01:03:34,942
campaign trail or
helping Hillary Clinton.

1335
01:03:34,944 --> 01:03:37,384
So the question is, how
aggressive will it be?

1336
01:03:37,380 --> 01:03:39,280
One a week, two a week?

1337
01:03:39,282 --> 01:03:41,682
I know there will be some
behind-the-scenes things.

1338
01:03:41,684 --> 01:03:44,554
But as far as jumping on Air
Force One and going to the

1339
01:03:44,554 --> 01:03:47,154
battleground states, will we
see an aggressive approach

1340
01:03:47,156 --> 01:03:48,456
from the President on that?

1341
01:03:48,457 --> 01:03:50,527
Mr. Earnest: I think the
President will be making a

1342
01:03:50,526 --> 01:03:51,526
very forceful case.

1343
01:03:51,527 --> 01:03:53,627
I think that he'll be
looking to maximize the time

1344
01:03:53,629 --> 01:03:57,899
that he is able to make
available to support

1345
01:03:57,900 --> 01:04:00,400
Secretary Clinton, and
looking to make the most of

1346
01:04:00,403 --> 01:04:02,643
those opportunities
that he has.

1347
01:04:02,638 --> 01:04:04,738
Look, I think in early
October the President will

1348
01:04:04,740 --> 01:04:10,650
be spending one or two days
per week on the road in

1349
01:04:10,646 --> 01:04:11,886
support of her campaign.

1350
01:04:11,881 --> 01:04:13,881
And as the election gets
closer, he may look

1351
01:04:13,883 --> 01:04:14,883
for more opportunities.

1352
01:04:14,884 --> 01:04:18,454
But I would caution
against you evaluating the

1353
01:04:18,454 --> 01:04:22,624
President's engagement
solely based on how often

1354
01:04:22,625 --> 01:04:24,625
the President travels
outside of Washington,

1355
01:04:24,627 --> 01:04:25,627
D.C. to make a case for her.

1356
01:04:25,628 --> 01:04:27,628
There are a variety of other
ways for the President to

1357
01:04:27,630 --> 01:04:28,630
get engaged.

1358
01:04:28,631 --> 01:04:32,031
And certainly we would
expect that the case that

1359
01:04:32,034 --> 01:04:34,034
the President had the
opportunity to make in the

1360
01:04:34,036 --> 01:04:36,036
context of radio interviews
would be something that

1361
01:04:36,038 --> 01:04:37,278
would benefit her campaign.

1362
01:04:37,273 --> 01:04:40,613
I would anticipate that the
President will appear in

1363
01:04:40,610 --> 01:04:46,680
television and online ads
in support of her campaign.

1364
01:04:46,682 --> 01:04:49,982
So I think the President
will be visible, but that

1365
01:04:49,986 --> 01:04:53,026
doesn't always include
headlining a rally.

1366
01:04:53,022 --> 01:04:56,022
The Press: And finally,
after watching last night's

1367
01:04:56,025 --> 01:04:58,825
debate, is there one top
rebuttal from the Obama

1368
01:04:58,828 --> 01:05:01,068
administration around the
White House that you want

1369
01:05:01,063 --> 01:05:03,433
to get out there that
Donald Trump put out?

1370
01:05:03,432 --> 01:05:07,602
For instance, on the DNC
hack, he says, "We don't

1371
01:05:07,603 --> 01:05:08,603
know who did it.

1372
01:05:08,604 --> 01:05:11,774
We have no clue who was
behind it." So does the

1373
01:05:11,774 --> 01:05:14,474
White House have any clue
who's behind it, even if you

1374
01:05:14,477 --> 01:05:15,477
don't want to say?

1375
01:05:15,478 --> 01:05:17,278
Is there an actor you
believe is behind

1376
01:05:17,280 --> 01:05:18,280
the DNC hack?

1377
01:05:18,281 --> 01:05:20,481
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kenneth,
of all the rebuttals that's

1378
01:05:20,483 --> 01:05:22,483
probably not the
one I would choose.

1379
01:05:22,485 --> 01:05:24,485
But since you raise it,
you deserve an answer.

1380
01:05:24,487 --> 01:05:27,127
What we have said about this
particularly situation is

1381
01:05:27,123 --> 01:05:33,533
that the FBI and other
experts within the national

1382
01:05:33,529 --> 01:05:36,269
security apparatus of
the United States are

1383
01:05:36,265 --> 01:05:38,265
investigating that
particular situation.

1384
01:05:38,267 --> 01:05:41,437
I know that there are some
private sector experts who

1385
01:05:41,437 --> 01:05:45,237
have released reports based
on their examination of the

1386
01:05:45,241 --> 01:05:49,281
evidence that implicates
the Russians in that hack.

1387
01:05:49,278 --> 01:05:51,278
Government experts are
still looking at it.

1388
01:05:51,280 --> 01:05:57,190
And a decision has not been
made to go public at this

1389
01:05:57,186 --> 01:06:01,426
point with saying who may
be responsible for this

1390
01:06:01,424 --> 01:06:02,424
particular incident.

1391
01:06:02,425 --> 01:06:07,435
But because of the focus
that the President has had

1392
01:06:07,430 --> 01:06:11,370
on this issue, there are a
number of tools available

1393
01:06:11,367 --> 01:06:12,767
to respond to it.

1394
01:06:12,768 --> 01:06:18,638
And those responses may not
necessarily be something

1395
01:06:18,641 --> 01:06:20,641
that we announce in advance.

1396
01:06:20,643 --> 01:06:22,443
Those responses may not
be something that we ever

1397
01:06:22,445 --> 01:06:24,645
announce or acknowledge.

1398
01:06:24,647 --> 01:06:26,717
But the United States
maintains significant

1399
01:06:26,716 --> 01:06:29,586
capabilities and is
prepared to use them

1400
01:06:29,585 --> 01:06:31,585
to ensure the safety
and security

1401
01:06:31,587 --> 01:06:33,587
of the American
people in cyberspace.

1402
01:06:33,589 --> 01:06:35,589
The Press: So if that
one is not at the top

1403
01:06:35,591 --> 01:06:36,591
of your list,
which one is?

1404
01:06:36,592 --> 01:06:37,562
Mr. Earnest: I guess
I walked right into

1405
01:06:37,560 --> 01:06:38,260
that one, huh?

1406
01:06:38,260 --> 01:06:38,630
The Press: Yeah.

1407
01:06:38,627 --> 01:06:39,397
Which one is at the top?

1408
01:06:39,395 --> 01:06:44,105
Mr. Earnest: Listen, I think
what I would do is I would

1409
01:06:44,100 --> 01:06:46,270
say it this way, which is
that there was a rather

1410
01:06:46,268 --> 01:06:48,908
stark difference in the
approach that's being

1411
01:06:48,904 --> 01:06:49,574
advocated by the two
candidates, and I think

1412
01:06:49,572 --> 01:06:51,572
it's hard to minimize
the significance

1413
01:06:51,574 --> 01:06:53,574
of those differences.

1414
01:07:00,716 --> 01:07:02,816
The stakes in this
election are really high.

1415
01:07:02,818 --> 01:07:05,758
So it's not just that the
differences are stark;

1416
01:07:05,755 --> 01:07:09,225
the consequences for the
different approaches that

1417
01:07:09,225 --> 01:07:12,025
are being advocated by
the two candidates

1418
01:07:12,027 --> 01:07:13,627
are also stark.

1419
01:07:13,629 --> 01:07:15,829
There are long-term
consequences for this

1420
01:07:15,831 --> 01:07:17,831
decision that the American
people have to make.

1421
01:07:17,833 --> 01:07:21,303
And I think that's why,
just to go back to your
first

1422
01:07:21,303 --> 01:07:23,303
question, I think that's
why the President

1423
01:07:23,305 --> 01:07:26,245
will be so engaged in
this election, because

1424
01:07:26,242 --> 01:07:28,242
he understands that the
stakes are rather high.

1425
01:07:28,244 --> 01:07:33,384
And, look, if the polls
indicate that the race may

1426
01:07:33,382 --> 01:07:36,052
be close maybe that has
the effect of getting more

1427
01:07:36,051 --> 01:07:39,721
people engaged and more
prompting more people to pay

1428
01:07:39,722 --> 01:07:42,622
attention in the race and
the potential outcome.

1429
01:07:42,625 --> 01:07:45,695
And if there are more people
that are open to the case

1430
01:07:45,694 --> 01:07:49,364
that President Obama has to
make about who they should

1431
01:07:49,365 --> 01:07:51,365
choose in the presidential
election, then we would

1432
01:07:51,367 --> 01:07:54,237
certainly welcome
that opportunity.

1433
01:07:54,236 --> 01:07:55,176
Toluse.

1434
01:07:55,171 --> 01:07:55,971
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1435
01:07:55,971 --> 01:07:59,611
Continuing on the theme of
rebuttals from the debate.

1436
01:07:59,608 --> 01:08:02,048
Donald Trump talked about
Janet Yellen for a bit

1437
01:08:02,044 --> 01:08:03,314
during the debate yesterday.

1438
01:08:03,312 --> 01:08:08,052
He basically implicated --
or indicated that she was

1439
01:08:08,050 --> 01:08:11,090
involved in sort of I guess
rigging the Fed on behalf of

1440
01:08:11,086 --> 01:08:14,356
the President, being very
political, and sort of

1441
01:08:14,356 --> 01:08:16,556
managing the Fed
in a political way.

1442
01:08:16,559 --> 01:08:18,029
What's your response
to that charge?

1443
01:08:18,027 --> 01:08:19,027
Mr. Earnest: I will
acknowledge I chuckled

1444
01:08:19,028 --> 01:08:20,228
when he said that she
was more political

1445
01:08:20,229 --> 01:08:21,729
than Hillary Clinton.

1446
01:08:21,730 --> 01:08:23,730
I'm not really even
sure what that means.

1447
01:08:23,732 --> 01:08:25,972
But I thought it was funny.

1448
01:08:27,269 --> 01:08:28,969
The charge, of course,
is preposterous.

1449
01:08:28,971 --> 01:08:32,441
It is baseless, and
there's been no evidence

1450
01:08:32,441 --> 01:08:36,111
to marshal to support it.

1451
01:08:36,111 --> 01:08:40,951
The President I think time
and time again, in words and

1452
01:08:40,950 --> 01:08:45,960
in deeds, has demonstrated
his commitment to protecting

1453
01:08:48,290 --> 01:08:52,090
the independence of the Fed.

1454
01:08:52,094 --> 01:08:55,194
That's a principle that
benefits our economy.

1455
01:08:55,197 --> 01:08:57,637
It's a principle that is the
bedrock of our financial

1456
01:08:57,633 --> 01:08:59,633
relationship with countries
all around the world.

1457
01:08:59,635 --> 01:09:04,605
So I guess that's the reason
that I would wade in and

1458
01:09:11,013 --> 01:09:14,583
respond to a situation that
I guess I might otherwise

1459
01:09:14,583 --> 01:09:17,883
not choose to engage.

1460
01:09:17,887 --> 01:09:22,687
The Press: In another moment
in the debate, Donald Trump

1461
01:09:22,691 --> 01:09:25,361
referred to the President
as "your President,"

1462
01:09:25,361 --> 01:09:26,661
when he was speaking
to Hillary Clinton.

1463
01:09:26,662 --> 01:09:30,102
Did the President or the
White House notice that?

1464
01:09:30,099 --> 01:09:33,569
Is there any response
to that labeling?

1465
01:09:33,569 --> 01:09:36,039
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
if there was any offense

1466
01:09:36,038 --> 01:09:39,008
intended in that
remark or not.

1467
01:09:39,008 --> 01:09:41,148
But I'll leave it to the
candidate to explain what

1468
01:09:41,143 --> 01:09:42,143
he might have meant.

1469
01:09:42,144 --> 01:09:44,944
The Press: And just one
more, on the Department

1470
01:09:44,947 --> 01:09:48,887
of Justice announcing some
sanctions on some Chinese

1471
01:09:48,884 --> 01:09:53,724
individuals and companies
for more or less not

1472
01:09:53,722 --> 01:09:56,392
abiding by the North
Korean sanctions.

1473
01:09:56,392 --> 01:09:59,932
I'm wondering sort of what
the White House statement is

1474
01:09:59,929 --> 01:10:03,869
on that, and whether or not
that should portend future

1475
01:10:03,866 --> 01:10:09,476
actions, stepping up of
regulating these sanctions

1476
01:10:09,471 --> 01:10:12,311
and making sure that the
Chinese abide by them.

1477
01:10:12,308 --> 01:10:13,678
Mr. Earnest: Look, there
are a couple of things

1478
01:10:13,676 --> 01:10:14,206
at play here.

1479
01:10:14,209 --> 01:10:17,149
The first is, with regard
to any sort of criminal

1480
01:10:17,146 --> 01:10:19,616
investigation that is being
conducted by the Department

1481
01:10:19,615 --> 01:10:23,685
of Justice, I'll defer to
my colleagues there for

1482
01:10:23,686 --> 01:10:27,056
discussion about why those
charges were brought.

1483
01:10:27,056 --> 01:10:29,026
They can describe what
evidence they have access

1484
01:10:29,024 --> 01:10:33,334
to and the prosecutorial
decisions that they've made

1485
01:10:33,329 --> 01:10:35,069
in the context of this case.

1486
01:10:35,064 --> 01:10:37,704
With regard to sanctions, I
think this is an indication

1487
01:10:37,700 --> 01:10:42,570
of the President's
commitment to further

1488
01:10:42,571 --> 01:10:46,671
isolate the North Korean
regime and to apply pressure

1489
01:10:46,675 --> 01:10:50,375
to those entities
and individuals and

1490
01:10:50,379 --> 01:10:53,619
organizations that
try to support them.

1491
01:10:53,616 --> 01:10:56,256
This is something that
the President takes

1492
01:10:56,251 --> 01:10:58,421
quite seriously.

1493
01:10:58,420 --> 01:11:04,190
And we certainly value the
kind of cooperative working

1494
01:11:04,193 --> 01:11:06,193
relationship that we've
enjoyed not just with our

1495
01:11:06,195 --> 01:11:08,165
allies in the region, but
with our partners in the

1496
01:11:08,163 --> 01:11:10,603
region that don't work
with us on every issue.

1497
01:11:10,599 --> 01:11:15,669
But I think that is an
indication of how unified

1498
01:11:15,671 --> 01:11:18,611
the international community
is about confronting

1499
01:11:18,607 --> 01:11:21,477
North Korea and their
repeated violations

1500
01:11:21,477 --> 01:11:25,547
of U.N. Security
Council resolutions.

1501
01:11:25,547 --> 01:11:26,817
Andrew.

1502
01:11:26,815 --> 01:11:27,415
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1503
01:11:27,416 --> 01:11:28,586
I wanted to go
back to Syria.

1504
01:11:28,584 --> 01:11:31,584
A number of times from the
podium you've remarked on

1505
01:11:31,587 --> 01:11:33,687
the kind of (inaudible )
good options with regard

1506
01:11:33,689 --> 01:11:35,859
to the Syria civil war.

1507
01:11:35,858 --> 01:11:37,258
I don't think anybody
would disagree with that.

1508
01:11:37,259 --> 01:11:40,899
But I wanted to go through a
couple of suggestions and to

1509
01:11:40,896 --> 01:11:42,996
get an idea of why the
White House thinks they

1510
01:11:42,998 --> 01:11:44,768
wouldn't work.

1511
01:11:44,767 --> 01:11:46,337
Mr. Earnest: I should
take out my pen.

1512
01:11:46,335 --> 01:11:47,335
The Press: Do we need
clearance for --

1513
01:11:47,336 --> 01:11:48,136
The Press: Not from me.

1514
01:11:48,137 --> 01:11:49,977
(laughter)

1515
01:11:49,972 --> 01:11:52,912
Airdropping aid
to the residents of Aleppo.

1516
01:11:52,908 --> 01:11:56,948
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
has been a -- you'll recall

1517
01:11:56,945 --> 01:12:04,525
that our discussions with
the Russians have been

1518
01:12:04,520 --> 01:12:06,520
predicated on two
things recently.

1519
01:12:06,522 --> 01:12:08,492
The first is a
reduction in violence.

1520
01:12:08,490 --> 01:12:10,490
And while that is a worthy
goal in and of itself,

1521
01:12:10,492 --> 01:12:13,292
it is also a
means to an end.

1522
01:12:13,295 --> 01:12:16,895
Currently, the violence and
the fighting is so intense

1523
01:12:16,899 --> 01:12:19,869
that it's not possible for
humanitarian aid workers

1524
01:12:19,868 --> 01:12:24,438
to safely access those
communities and provide

1525
01:12:24,440 --> 01:12:26,440
humanitarian relief
that's badly needed.

1526
01:12:29,611 --> 01:12:31,951
So the United States has
been strongly supportive

1527
01:12:31,947 --> 01:12:35,547
of a variety of ideas for
expediting the flow of

1528
01:12:35,551 --> 01:12:38,051
humanitarian assistance to
these communities that are

1529
01:12:38,053 --> 01:12:40,223
plagued by violence and
where there are so many

1530
01:12:40,222 --> 01:12:43,022
innocent people that are
caught in the crossfire.

1531
01:12:43,025 --> 01:12:48,035
Unfortunately, just last
week we got a vivid

1532
01:12:48,030 --> 01:12:50,970
illustration of how
dangerous it can be to try

1533
01:12:50,966 --> 01:12:52,936
to provide humanitarian
assistance to the people

1534
01:12:52,935 --> 01:12:55,135
in need in Syria, and there
were humanitarian aid

1535
01:12:55,137 --> 01:12:58,007
workers that were victims
of a military strike

1536
01:12:58,006 --> 01:12:59,006
inside of Syria.

1537
01:12:59,007 --> 01:13:01,477
That's a strike for which
we hold Russia responsible,

1538
01:13:01,477 --> 01:13:03,477
because it was either a
strike that was carried out

1539
01:13:03,479 --> 01:13:09,219
by Russian military forces
or by Syrian military forces

1540
01:13:09,218 --> 01:13:14,228
that Russia has agreed
to use their influence

1541
01:13:16,458 --> 01:13:19,198
to limit.

1542
01:13:19,194 --> 01:13:22,664
So the United States is very
interested in looking for

1543
01:13:22,664 --> 01:13:25,964
creative ways that we can
expedite the delivery of

1544
01:13:25,968 --> 01:13:29,008
humanitarian assistance to
communities in Syria that

1545
01:13:29,004 --> 01:13:30,404
need it the most.

1546
01:13:30,405 --> 01:13:34,005
And, in fact, that is the
prominent goal of so many of

1547
01:13:34,009 --> 01:13:36,009
our diplomatic efforts
there right now.

1548
01:13:36,011 --> 01:13:38,711
The Press: The second
suggestion is supplying the

1549
01:13:38,714 --> 01:13:42,384
people of Aleppo with a
means to defend themselves.

1550
01:13:42,384 --> 01:13:46,154
Mr. Earnest: Well, with
regard to this situation,

1551
01:13:46,155 --> 01:13:50,225
there are obviously forces
on the ground, inside of

1552
01:13:50,225 --> 01:13:57,195
Syria, that benefit from the
support of the United States

1553
01:13:57,199 --> 01:14:00,299
and our coalition partners
because they are focused

1554
01:14:00,302 --> 01:14:02,972
on going after ISIL.

1555
01:14:02,971 --> 01:14:05,211
And there are a variety of
ways in which we've offered

1556
01:14:05,207 --> 01:14:08,647
assistance to those
opposition groups.

1557
01:14:08,644 --> 01:14:10,744
And they have proved, in
many cases, to be a pretty

1558
01:14:10,746 --> 01:14:12,886
effective fighting force
against ISIL forces

1559
01:14:12,881 --> 01:14:13,881
on the ground.

1560
01:14:13,882 --> 01:14:16,222
And there's more than 20
percent of the territory

1561
01:14:16,218 --> 01:14:18,458
that ISIL previously
controlled in Syria that's

1562
01:14:18,453 --> 01:14:21,223
been taken back because of
the efforts of these forces.

1563
01:14:21,223 --> 01:14:26,133
These forces have also
succeeded in reducing, if

1564
01:14:26,128 --> 01:14:31,468
not outright eliminating,
access that ISIL has to the

1565
01:14:31,466 --> 01:14:33,006
Turkey-Syria border.

1566
01:14:33,001 --> 01:14:36,041
That's significant because
we know that ISIL was using

1567
01:14:36,038 --> 01:14:39,938
their access to that border
to get access to cash

1568
01:14:39,942 --> 01:14:44,512
and other supplies, and
even foreign fighters.

1569
01:14:44,513 --> 01:14:46,513
That's much more difficult
for them now than it was

1570
01:14:46,515 --> 01:14:49,615
before, in part because
of the effectiveness

1571
01:14:49,618 --> 01:14:52,558
of the fighting
force on the ground.

1572
01:14:52,554 --> 01:14:57,864
But what we have indicated
is that our counter-ISIL

1573
01:14:57,860 --> 01:15:01,260
strategy depends on our
ability to support those

1574
01:15:01,263 --> 01:15:07,403
forces on the ground that
have proven a willingness

1575
01:15:07,402 --> 01:15:10,542
and a capability
to go after ISIL.

1576
01:15:10,539 --> 01:15:13,039
With regard to the challenge
that's facing the civilians

1577
01:15:13,041 --> 01:15:15,911
in Aleppo, it's significant.

1578
01:15:15,911 --> 01:15:20,921
And when you consider the
military might of the Syrian

1579
01:15:24,753 --> 01:15:28,993
regime and their Russian
backers, and their

1580
01:15:28,991 --> 01:15:35,701
willingness to target
civilians and civilian

1581
01:15:35,697 --> 01:15:37,997
facilities like hospitals
and the water supply,

1582
01:15:41,603 --> 01:15:46,013
it's clear that the best
outcome is for the violence

1583
01:15:46,008 --> 01:15:48,608
to come to an end.

1584
01:15:48,610 --> 01:15:54,020
And the concern that we have
expressed about providing

1585
01:15:54,016 --> 01:15:56,016
that kind of armed
assistance that you're

1586
01:15:56,018 --> 01:15:58,818
referring to is that that
only further militarizes the

1587
01:15:58,820 --> 01:16:02,460
situation that doesn't
have a military solution.

1588
01:16:02,457 --> 01:16:06,397
The Press: And sanctioning
Russians involved in

1589
01:16:06,395 --> 01:16:08,835
supporting the regime, and
prosecution of the siege of

1590
01:16:08,830 --> 01:16:15,040
Aleppo and mid-level Syrian
military officers who have

1591
01:16:15,037 --> 01:16:16,167
been involved in the same.

1592
01:16:16,171 --> 01:16:18,571
Mr. Earnest: Andrew, we have
not taken the prospect

1593
01:16:18,573 --> 01:16:22,143
of additional financial
sanctions off the table.

1594
01:16:22,144 --> 01:16:25,284
Financial sanctions have
proven to be a useful tool

1595
01:16:25,280 --> 01:16:28,820
in advancing our interests
around the globe.

1596
01:16:28,817 --> 01:16:30,187
So we certainly haven't
taken those sanctions

1597
01:16:30,185 --> 01:16:31,525
off the table.

1598
01:16:31,520 --> 01:16:34,120
What we have taken a
dim view of, however,

1599
01:16:34,122 --> 01:16:35,422
are unilateral
sanctions.

1600
01:16:35,424 --> 01:16:39,064
We have found the strategy
of implementing sanctions in

1601
01:16:39,061 --> 01:16:42,831
close coordination with our
partners to be a much more

1602
01:16:42,831 --> 01:16:45,931
effective way for us to
maximize the impact of

1603
01:16:45,934 --> 01:16:48,504
financial sanctions.

1604
01:16:48,503 --> 01:16:52,143
And that's an option I would
not take off the table

1605
01:16:52,140 --> 01:16:53,510
in this instance.

1606
01:16:53,508 --> 01:16:54,448
The Press: I'll
leave it there.

1607
01:16:54,443 --> 01:16:56,183
Mr. Earnest: Jane.

1608
01:16:56,178 --> 01:16:59,248
The Press: Thank
you very much, Josh.

1609
01:16:59,247 --> 01:17:04,017
At last night's debate,
Donald Trump said that we

1610
01:17:04,019 --> 01:17:11,759
cannot protect the country
(inaudible) alliance

1611
01:17:11,760 --> 01:17:14,030
of Donald Trump.

1612
01:17:14,029 --> 01:17:20,939
This is so confused because
there's tensions in the

1613
01:17:20,936 --> 01:17:24,306
Korean Peninsula with
the North Korean threat.

1614
01:17:24,306 --> 01:17:29,446
Do you think the U.S. and
South Korea has an alliance?

1615
01:17:29,444 --> 01:17:32,744
Mr. Earnest: President Obama
has stated many times how

1616
01:17:32,748 --> 01:17:39,658
important the U.S.-South
Korea alliance is.

1617
01:17:39,654 --> 01:17:42,524
And President Obama had an
opportunity to meet with

1618
01:17:42,524 --> 01:17:47,534
President Park earlier this
month in Laos to discuss

1619
01:17:51,099 --> 01:17:53,599
the ongoing U.S.
commitment to the safety

1620
01:17:53,602 --> 01:17:56,602
and security of our
allies in South Korea.

1621
01:17:56,605 --> 01:17:59,305
The President's commitment
to that alliance has not

1622
01:17:59,307 --> 01:18:02,147
diminished in any way.

1623
01:18:02,144 --> 01:18:06,414
And that's why the United
States has discussed the

1624
01:18:06,415 --> 01:18:09,755
deployment of a THAAD
battery to South Korea

1625
01:18:09,751 --> 01:18:15,021
to protect the South Korean
people from the ballistic

1626
01:18:15,023 --> 01:18:17,023
missile threat emanating
from North Korea.

1627
01:18:17,025 --> 01:18:19,495
And the United States
continues to work closely

1628
01:18:19,494 --> 01:18:21,934
with South Korea, our
allies in Japan, and other

1629
01:18:21,930 --> 01:18:28,200
countries around the region
to counter the rhetoric

1630
01:18:28,203 --> 01:18:32,973
and threats of the
North Korean regime.

1631
01:18:32,974 --> 01:18:36,174
The Press: So will the
United States continue

1632
01:18:36,178 --> 01:18:41,418
to protect South Korea
from North Korean threat?

1633
01:18:41,416 --> 01:18:43,686
Mr. Earnest: The United
States is as committed

1634
01:18:43,685 --> 01:18:47,685
as we've ever been to the
health and strength of the

1635
01:18:47,689 --> 01:18:50,229
U.S.-South Korea alliance.

1636
01:18:50,225 --> 01:18:51,325
Lalit, I'll give
you the last one.

1637
01:18:51,326 --> 01:18:52,196
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

1638
01:18:52,194 --> 01:18:55,394
Over the weekend, Indian
Prime Minister Modi said

1639
01:18:55,397 --> 01:18:58,367
that India is going to
ratify the climate change

1640
01:18:58,366 --> 01:19:02,476
agreement on October 2, with
60 countries and 48 percent

1641
01:19:02,471 --> 01:19:06,441
of emissions countries
would be ratifying it.

1642
01:19:06,441 --> 01:19:10,011
Do you think this will be
coming to force in the

1643
01:19:10,011 --> 01:19:13,951
Morocco conference
on November 7th?

1644
01:19:13,949 --> 01:19:18,619
And will the President think
this is mission accomplished

1645
01:19:18,620 --> 01:19:20,560
on the climate change part?

1646
01:19:20,555 --> 01:19:25,565
Mr. Earnest: Well, Lalit, we
have not put a firm deadline

1647
01:19:25,560 --> 01:19:29,800
for ratification of the
climate agreement, other

1648
01:19:29,798 --> 01:19:33,498
than to say we expect the
agreement to enter into

1649
01:19:33,502 --> 01:19:36,642
force by the end of
this calendar year.

1650
01:19:36,638 --> 01:19:38,638
I don't know if it will
be done by the first

1651
01:19:38,640 --> 01:19:41,110
week in November.

1652
01:19:41,109 --> 01:19:48,049
We, of course, welcome
the actions from

1653
01:19:48,049 --> 01:19:49,219
the Indian government.

1654
01:19:49,217 --> 01:19:52,217
It is just another example
of the courageous leadership

1655
01:19:52,220 --> 01:19:56,190
that Prime Minister Modi
has shown on this issue.

1656
01:19:56,191 --> 01:19:57,361
And that's to his credit.

1657
01:19:57,359 --> 01:20:01,259
He recognizes how important
it is for India to be a

1658
01:20:01,263 --> 01:20:03,903
leader in the international
community on this issue.

1659
01:20:03,899 --> 01:20:09,739
And he's making good on that
priority, and he deserves

1660
01:20:09,738 --> 01:20:10,868
a lot of credit for that.

1661
01:20:10,872 --> 01:20:13,512
And I know that the
President, when he met with

1662
01:20:13,508 --> 01:20:16,678
Prime Minister Modi earlier
this month in Laos,

1663
01:20:16,678 --> 01:20:19,218
had an opportunity to thank
him for his leadership

1664
01:20:19,214 --> 01:20:20,854
on this issue.

1665
01:20:22,717 --> 01:20:27,557
However, as important as the
Paris climate agreement is,

1666
01:20:27,556 --> 01:20:29,656
and how significant it
is that this agreement

1667
01:20:29,658 --> 01:20:36,998
is going into effect within
a year's time, it's only

1668
01:20:36,998 --> 01:20:39,238
a starting point.

1669
01:20:39,234 --> 01:20:42,334
And the President is hopeful
that the significance of

1670
01:20:42,337 --> 01:20:46,977
this agreement is not that
it solves the problem of

1671
01:20:46,975 --> 01:20:50,445
carbon pollution once and
for all, but rather it

1672
01:20:50,445 --> 01:20:52,815
serves as a template to
mobilize the international

1673
01:20:52,814 --> 01:20:58,554
community to take
coordinated, substantial

1674
01:20:58,553 --> 01:21:00,523
steps to addressing
this problem.

1675
01:21:00,522 --> 01:21:05,262
And it sets up a mechanism
whereby every five years

1676
01:21:05,260 --> 01:21:07,000
countries consider the
commitments that they

1677
01:21:06,995 --> 01:21:11,635
can make to further
fight carbon pollution.

1678
01:21:11,633 --> 01:21:19,073
And the impact of this
agreement is one that is

1679
01:21:19,074 --> 01:21:22,714
likely to be seen only after
it's been in place for a

1680
01:21:22,711 --> 01:21:25,151
substantial period of time.

1681
01:21:25,146 --> 01:21:26,816
And we've been able to see
the progress the country,

1682
01:21:26,815 --> 01:21:30,815
that the world, that the
planet makes in confronting

1683
01:21:30,819 --> 01:21:34,359
this challenge, and as the
world continues to more

1684
01:21:34,356 --> 01:21:38,026
effectively cooperate to
confront this shared threat.

1685
01:21:38,026 --> 01:21:38,856
The Press: I have
one more question.

1686
01:21:38,860 --> 01:21:42,760
After the Uri terrorist
attack, India has said --

1687
01:21:42,764 --> 01:21:45,404
Prime Minister Modi has said
talks -- they cannot work

1688
01:21:45,400 --> 01:21:49,140
together, and as such, he's
taking several steps -- like

1689
01:21:49,137 --> 01:21:53,807
one, India has pulled
out from SAARC Summit

1690
01:21:53,808 --> 01:21:56,178
in Islamabad next month.

1691
01:21:56,177 --> 01:21:58,447
How do you see the
situation there?

1692
01:21:58,446 --> 01:21:59,886
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
United States has continued

1693
01:21:59,881 --> 01:22:02,681
to encourage India and
Pakistan to find a way

1694
01:22:02,684 --> 01:22:04,584
to resolve their
differences peacefully

1695
01:22:04,586 --> 01:22:06,526
and through diplomacy.

1696
01:22:06,521 --> 01:22:11,531
And we have condemned
violence, particularly

1697
01:22:11,526 --> 01:22:13,866
terrorist attacks.

1698
01:22:13,862 --> 01:22:16,102
And we continue to be
hopeful and encouraging

1699
01:22:16,097 --> 01:22:19,097
of both sides to try to find
a way to resolve their

1700
01:22:19,100 --> 01:22:21,900
differences and to reduce
their tensions through

1701
01:22:21,903 --> 01:22:26,313
diplomacy and without
resorting to more violence.

1702
01:22:26,308 --> 01:22:27,208
Thanks, everybody.