English subtitles for clip: File:2-1-10- White House Press Briefing.webm
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
1 00:00:00,700 --> 00:00:02,170 Mr. Gibbs: Good afternoon. Before we get started with 2 00:00:02,166 --> 00:00:08,396 your questions, let me make a brief announcement. The President and the First Lady will be traveling 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:14,370 to Indonesia and Australia in the second half of March. This trip is an important part of 4 00:00:14,367 --> 00:00:18,737 the President's continued effort to broaden and strengthen the partnerships that are necessary 5 00:00:18,734 --> 00:00:24,264 to advance our security and prosperity. Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, 6 00:00:24,266 --> 00:00:30,536 the third largest democracy; is home to the largest Muslim population in the world; and 7 00:00:30,533 --> 00:00:37,663 an important partner in the G20. During his visit the President will formally launch the 8 00:00:37,667 --> 00:00:42,937 U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, an initiative through which the United States 9 00:00:42,934 --> 00:00:47,164 will broaden and strengthen relations with Indonesia to tackle important regional and 10 00:00:47,166 --> 00:00:52,296 global issues. In addition, this year also marks the 70th anniversary of U.S.-Australia 11 00:00:52,300 --> 00:00:56,230 relations. The President looks forward to commemorating that milestone and consulting 12 00:00:56,233 --> 00:01:01,033 with Prime Minister Rudd on ways that we can build on the strong relationship between our 13 00:01:01,033 --> 00:01:06,063 two countries and discuss issues such as global economic recovery, clean energy and climate 14 00:01:06,066 --> 00:01:11,366 change, non-proliferation and Afghanistan. En route to Asia the President will visit 15 00:01:11,367 --> 00:01:17,137 Guam, where he will speak with U.S. service members on the island. We'll have more specific 16 00:01:17,133 --> 00:01:23,133 dates for you shortly after they are completely done with the pre-advance. 17 00:01:23,133 --> 00:01:25,933 The Press: Before or after the NCAA brackets are announced? 18 00:01:25,934 --> 00:01:26,034 (laughter) 19 00:01:26,033 --> 00:01:29,063 Mr. Gibbs: I know that is weighing heavily on many traveling 20 00:01:29,066 --> 00:01:32,566 members' minds and we will seek to plan accordingly. 21 00:01:32,567 --> 00:01:35,637 The Press: Will he visit childhood haunts in Indonesia? 22 00:01:35,633 --> 00:01:39,103 Mr. Gibbs: I'd anticipate that that will likely be one of the stops. 23 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:39,830 The Press: Is the whole family coming? 24 00:01:39,834 --> 00:01:40,734 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 25 00:01:40,734 --> 00:01:43,504 The Press: Coincides with spring vacation for two little girls? 26 00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:46,470 Mr. Gibbs: Likely, yes. 27 00:01:46,467 --> 00:01:48,037 The Press: Any plan for India trip? 28 00:01:48,033 --> 00:01:49,963 Mr. Gibbs: Not on this trip. 29 00:01:49,967 --> 00:01:53,997 The Press: Speaking of numbers, the budget -- it's hard 30 00:01:54,000 --> 00:02:01,200 to avoid a headline out of this budget that the deficit is going to hit another record 31 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,470 this year. Next year, if Congress approves and the projections that are in the budget 32 00:02:04,467 --> 00:02:08,437 come true, the budget deficit will be back to basically what it was when the President 33 00:02:08,433 --> 00:02:08,763 took office. 34 00:02:08,767 --> 00:02:09,267 Mr. Gibbs: Right. 35 00:02:09,266 --> 00:02:12,936 The Press: Has he chosen the need to fight the recession 36 00:02:12,934 --> 00:02:17,104 to create jobs as a higher priority than fighting the deficit? 37 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:19,930 Mr. Gibbs: In the short term, absolutely. We have to 38 00:02:19,934 --> 00:02:24,604 get our economy moving again because one of the reasons that we've seen the budget deficit 39 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,800 grow is that the economy has slowed down. We all know the extraordinary measures that 40 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:33,870 had to be put in place in order to jumpstart the economy and we've seen some of the impacts 41 00:02:33,867 --> 00:02:40,437 of that as recently as Friday, with increased numbers in economic growth. The President, 42 00:02:40,433 --> 00:02:44,933 as you heard in the State of the Union and throughout the first year, discuss the need 43 00:02:44,934 --> 00:02:52,134 and the necessity to get that economy moving again, and then to transition to address our 44 00:02:52,133 --> 00:03:00,063 mid- and long-term fiscal challenges. I think many of the proposals the President outlines 45 00:03:00,066 --> 00:03:09,036 in here we have discussed -- non-security discretionary spending freeze; the President 46 00:03:09,033 --> 00:03:16,903 has supported and Congress thankfully passed last week a reinstitution of I think very 47 00:03:16,900 --> 00:03:22,230 simple commonsense rules that -- for pay as you go, that if we're going to spend money 48 00:03:22,233 --> 00:03:25,963 we're going to have to pay for it -- rules that were absent for a decent part of the 49 00:03:25,967 --> 00:03:32,337 last decade in which we saw deficits and debts skyrocket. 50 00:03:32,333 --> 00:03:34,903 The Press: His rhetoric, the words he chose today, talking 51 00:03:34,900 --> 00:03:37,770 about how we've got to stop spending money like it's Monopoly money and deficits matter 52 00:03:37,767 --> 00:03:42,737 and all that -- it sounds like he's saying that but saying, but we've got to wait on 53 00:03:42,734 --> 00:03:45,164 that part of it. In other words, he's, like, talking at cross purposes to the budget he 54 00:03:45,166 --> 00:03:45,796 actually submitted. 55 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,270 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, look, we -- look, we all understand 56 00:03:49,266 --> 00:03:56,136 we had to take extraordinary measures, again, to get this economy going. Are we spending 57 00:03:56,133 --> 00:04:00,603 more money on unemployment insurance than the President would like? Yes, on two accounts. 58 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:05,370 One, it's money that we're having to spend, and having to spend that money means more 59 00:04:05,367 --> 00:04:10,797 and more people are unemployed. Are we having to spend money on a Recovery Act that, all 60 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:15,230 things being equal, the President would like to not have to do? Absolutely. We have to 61 00:04:15,233 --> 00:04:24,033 get our economy moving again, we have to create jobs. That will improve our medium- and long-term 62 00:04:24,033 --> 00:04:32,233 deficit picture. Understanding, too, that the President has also taken some extraordinary 63 00:04:32,233 --> 00:04:38,463 steps, Mark, in terms of pay as you go, the -- we spent a lot of time in the past year 64 00:04:38,467 --> 00:04:45,937 talking about health care -- a proposal that the President laid out a specific path for 65 00:04:45,934 --> 00:04:55,764 paying for. We are where we are today partly because of this economic downturn, but partly 66 00:04:55,767 --> 00:05:05,537 because for a long time we had two wars that we weren't paying for. We had tax cuts that 67 00:05:05,533 --> 00:05:10,533 we weren't paying for. And we had a prescription drug benefit that, although very worthy, we 68 00:05:10,533 --> 00:05:16,463 never paid for. We have to return to some very common-sense principles that everyday 69 00:05:16,467 --> 00:05:24,067 Americans live by every time they go to the grocery store or want to go to the movies 70 00:05:24,066 --> 00:05:27,536 or cash their paycheck, and that is you can't spend more than you have. 71 00:05:27,533 --> 00:05:31,463 The Press: One more question stemming from the briefing 72 00:05:31,467 --> 00:05:35,037 that we just had. Christina Romer was talking about the jobless rate still being at 9.8 73 00:05:35,033 --> 00:05:40,233 percent as we get to the end of the year. With all the additional money that's going 74 00:05:40,233 --> 00:05:46,003 to be spent on job creation incentives for a company to hire, is a $3.8 trillion budget 75 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,500 getting its money's worth if that's the best we can do? 76 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:52,670 Mr. Gibbs: Well, understand, Mark, again -- and I think 77 00:05:52,667 --> 00:06:00,137 we've seen this over the last couple of months -- we have to create 100,000 to 150,000 jobs 78 00:06:00,133 --> 00:06:06,303 a month just to keep that unemployment rate at -- roughly keep that unemployment rate 79 00:06:06,300 --> 00:06:12,500 steady. As the economy begins to pick up, that will also put increased pressure as we 80 00:06:12,500 --> 00:06:17,600 do begin to add jobs because more and more people -- in addition to that, just the sheer 81 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,670 population growth -- but more and more people that had stopped looking for work will enter 82 00:06:21,667 --> 00:06:27,967 into the process of looking for work. So it is going to take quite some time to bring 83 00:06:27,967 --> 00:06:32,267 down the unemployment rate and to -- particularly to add the number of jobs that we've lost. 84 00:06:32,266 --> 00:06:40,436 Again, I don't think anybody is -- I don't think anybody looks at this in any way other 85 00:06:40,433 --> 00:06:46,963 than in a realistic way. We have more than 7 million fewer jobs now than we did when 86 00:06:46,967 --> 00:06:51,937 this recession began in December of 2007. So it's going to take quite a long time to 87 00:06:51,934 --> 00:06:53,564 fill that hole. Yes, sir. 88 00:06:53,567 --> 00:06:57,097 The Press: Robert, two questions, first on China and 89 00:06:57,100 --> 00:07:02,600 on the budget. What's the White House's reaction to China's reaction to the decision to sell 90 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:08,330 arms to Taiwan? Are you concerned about it? Are you concerned about how or whether this 91 00:07:08,333 --> 00:07:10,103 will hurt the U.S.-China relationship? 92 00:07:10,100 --> 00:07:15,070 Mr. Gibbs: We discussed many of the things that -- we 93 00:07:15,066 --> 00:07:20,536 discussed each and every aspect of our relationship with China when we met in China in November, 94 00:07:20,533 --> 00:07:26,103 including arms sales to Taiwan. The President was asked this in a town hall meeting also 95 00:07:26,100 --> 00:07:34,530 in front of the Chinese people. We have always said that we want the type of relationship 96 00:07:34,533 --> 00:07:39,533 where we're working together on important issues of mutual concern -- the global economic 97 00:07:39,533 --> 00:07:44,903 recovery, our concerns about proliferation -- but when we have disagreements, we'll 98 00:07:44,900 --> 00:07:52,870 do so -- we'll voice those disagreements out in the open in public. I think that's the 99 00:07:52,867 --> 00:07:57,367 type of relationship we've had with China during this administration and one that we'll 100 00:07:57,367 --> 00:07:58,537 continue to have. 101 00:07:58,533 --> 00:08:01,563 The Press: Well, they certainly voiced their disagreements. 102 00:08:01,567 --> 00:08:04,937 They're threatening to impose sanctions on U.S. companies. Is that something that the 103 00:08:04,934 --> 00:08:05,864 White House is concerned about? 104 00:08:05,867 --> 00:08:10,437 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, I don't -- I think our reaction 105 00:08:10,433 --> 00:08:15,463 to that would -- that would not be warranted. Again, this was something that was discussed 106 00:08:15,467 --> 00:08:22,367 with them when we met in November. And I'll say this -- again, we want to work on issues 107 00:08:22,367 --> 00:08:31,437 of mutual concern. I don't think that either country can afford to simply walk away from 108 00:08:31,433 --> 00:08:36,063 the other. That's not what we would do, and I don't think that's what anybody expects 109 00:08:36,066 --> 00:08:37,436 them to do either. 110 00:08:37,433 --> 00:08:40,533 The Press: What do you mean by not -- a reaction wouldn't 111 00:08:40,533 --> 00:08:40,863 be warranted? 112 00:08:40,867 --> 00:08:44,497 Mr. Gibbs: Their reaction, in terms of sanctions. 113 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:45,130 The Press: Was overblown? 114 00:08:45,133 --> 00:08:46,963 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, I'm saying my reaction to that is 115 00:08:46,967 --> 00:08:50,037 I don't think those would be warranted, given what we've know. 116 00:08:50,033 --> 00:08:51,533 The Press: All right. And my quick question on the budget 117 00:08:51,533 --> 00:08:55,563 is a political one. What do you think your chances are of getting this budget passed 118 00:08:55,567 --> 00:08:55,967 by Congress? 119 00:08:55,967 --> 00:08:58,867 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think the President had a productive 120 00:08:58,867 --> 00:09:09,437 session with House Republicans on Friday. I think the American people expect both political 121 00:09:09,433 --> 00:09:16,463 parties to work together to get things moved forward. So we're obviously optimistic that 122 00:09:16,467 --> 00:09:20,597 we can get a budget passed. It's an election year, and we all understand the games that 123 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:26,230 Washington plays in an election year. But I hope that this will be a budget that will 124 00:09:26,233 --> 00:09:31,463 be taken up and passed. If people have disagreements about the priorities that the President has 125 00:09:31,467 --> 00:09:36,767 laid out, I think this is a perfect time for them to roll out and talk about what their 126 00:09:36,767 --> 00:09:44,597 proposals are. I think the times are too important to simply lob a statement or email out a statement 127 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:50,930 about what you think is wrong. Get into the arena and propose a series of ideas in which 128 00:09:50,934 --> 00:09:57,904 you think are better, in terms of funding the investments that we need to make to move 129 00:09:57,900 --> 00:10:05,430 our economy forward, to build that new foundation, and to take care of the future. Jake. 130 00:10:05,433 --> 00:10:08,233 The Press: The President's executive order creating a 131 00:10:08,233 --> 00:10:14,303 bipartisan commission to look at debt reduction, why is it needed -- considering the fact that 132 00:10:14,300 --> 00:10:16,800 Democrats control the House, Senate, and the White House? 133 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,630 Mr. Gibbs: Well, it's needed, because I think if you 134 00:10:18,633 --> 00:10:26,363 look at the budget documents, we're going to get somewhere slightly above 3 percent 135 00:10:26,367 --> 00:10:31,397 of our GDP taken up in our budget deficit. And I think most people would say 3 percent 136 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:38,470 is about where you need to be. And it's going to take some tough decisions to close those gaps. 137 00:10:38,467 --> 00:10:43,097 The Press: But why are the President and substantial 138 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:46,070 majorities of Democrats in the House and Senate not capable of those tough decisions? 139 00:10:46,066 --> 00:10:47,336 Mr. Gibbs: Because we understand, Jake, that unless you 140 00:10:47,333 --> 00:10:55,263 get 60 votes in this environment, you can't make those determinations. Let's use -- in 141 00:10:55,266 --> 00:11:00,336 one particular instance, the debt commission itself. This was a legislative proposal -- 142 00:11:00,333 --> 00:11:07,063 and I'm sure many of you have heard me do this -- introduced in December, a bipartisan 143 00:11:07,066 --> 00:11:13,566 proposal by Senator Judd Gregg, Senator Conrad -- one a Republican, one a Democrat -- that 144 00:11:13,567 --> 00:11:20,897 enjoyed pretty broad bipartisan support. Normally, 50 votes would carry the day. This proposal 145 00:11:20,900 --> 00:11:28,670 got 53 votes when it needed 60. Seven cosponsors of the legislation ultimately voted against 146 00:11:28,667 --> 00:11:35,537 the legislation. So you need 60 votes in this environment to get something done. 147 00:11:35,533 --> 00:11:37,063 The Press: Democrats have 60 votes. 148 00:11:37,066 --> 00:11:39,436 Mr. Gibbs: No. I think very soon we're not going to have 149 00:11:39,433 --> 00:11:39,963 60 votes. 150 00:11:39,967 --> 00:11:42,397 The Press: But when you had that vote on the debt commission, 151 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,100 you did have 60 votes. 152 00:11:44,100 --> 00:11:47,100 Mr. Gibbs: We did have 60 votes, but we didn't get the 153 00:11:47,100 --> 00:11:51,930 60 votes we needed. We lost seven Republicans that supported the bill. Look, some Democrats 154 00:11:51,934 --> 00:11:56,304 don't support it. I get that. If we would have simply gotten all of the people that 155 00:11:56,300 --> 00:12:02,200 either voted for it or said they supported it, we would have gotten far more than 60 156 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:09,030 votes. Mitch McConnell, who I had the pleasure of sharing a Sunday show with, had supported 157 00:12:09,033 --> 00:12:14,403 this two months ago -- except when it came time to vote on it. 158 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,930 The Press: I guess my larger question is, aren't these 159 00:12:17,934 --> 00:12:22,864 the tough decisions that the President and members of Congress were elected to make? 160 00:12:22,867 --> 00:12:25,697 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely. But, Jake, we're -- one party 161 00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:30,000 is not going to solve these -- not going to solve all these problems. One party is not 162 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:30,400 going to make -- 163 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:34,670 The Press: Why not? Why is one party not capable -- 164 00:12:34,667 --> 00:12:36,197 Mr. Gibbs: Because of the -- 165 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:36,530 The Press: -- when one party controls the House, Senate 166 00:12:36,533 --> 00:12:36,703 and the White House? 167 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:39,030 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, no, no -- welcome to Washington. 168 00:12:39,033 --> 00:12:45,063 One party is not going to get -- one party is not going to be able to solve all these. 169 00:12:45,066 --> 00:12:49,766 The American people want both parties to work together to solve these. We can make those 170 00:12:49,767 --> 00:12:53,697 tough decisions if people are willing to work together to do that. 171 00:12:53,700 --> 00:12:56,830 The Press: Was that your message in October? 172 00:12:56,834 --> 00:12:56,864 Mr. Gibbs: Which one? 173 00:12:56,867 --> 00:12:56,937 The Press: The one you just said to Jake. 174 00:12:56,934 --> 00:12:58,464 Mr. Gibbs: Well, it was kind of long. What was -- 175 00:12:58,467 --> 00:13:01,437 The Press: No, but both parties are here -- wouldn't 176 00:13:01,433 --> 00:13:05,263 you be making the case that you'd want Democrats to get elected? 177 00:13:05,266 --> 00:13:07,696 Mr. Gibbs: I'm going to vote for a Democrat in November. 178 00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:14,730 But, Chuck, the American people want -- today is an election day, okay? Go back to what 179 00:13:14,734 --> 00:13:20,004 the President said: If every day is election day, then I can assure you we'll never solve 180 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:20,900 any of the big problems. 181 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:21,770 The Press: But you're making -- 182 00:13:21,767 --> 00:13:23,467 Mr. Gibbs: Well, hold on -- no, no, let me just finish 183 00:13:23,467 --> 00:13:31,497 the sentence. Chuck interrupted your time. Every day is not election day, Chuck. We have 184 00:13:31,500 --> 00:13:35,470 elections -- sometimes we have special elections, but we have elections every two years for 185 00:13:35,467 --> 00:13:39,837 Congress. If every day is election day, we're never going to solve our problems, because 186 00:13:39,834 --> 00:13:43,664 everybody is going to be too busy not trying to save somebody else's job but trying to 187 00:13:43,667 --> 00:13:49,567 save theirs. The American people want Democrats and Republicans in government that represent 188 00:13:49,567 --> 00:13:51,867 them to work together to solve their problems. 189 00:13:51,867 --> 00:13:54,737 The Press: You're making my point. The point is that 190 00:13:54,734 --> 00:14:00,464 Democrats control the House, the Senate, and the White House. Why are you guys not capable 191 00:14:00,467 --> 00:14:01,097 of making these tough -- 192 00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:01,500 Mr. Gibbs: Jake, because -- 193 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:05,930 The Press: Are you just saying that -- because it seems 194 00:14:05,934 --> 00:14:08,734 to me you're making the argument that, essentially, underneath it all is, right, Democrats -- 195 00:14:08,734 --> 00:14:13,104 these are going to require very tough decisions and the Democratic Party is not going to do 196 00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:16,830 it by itself because we're not going to go down and lose our jobs -- 197 00:14:16,834 --> 00:14:17,834 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no -- 198 00:14:17,834 --> 00:14:19,234 The Press: -- without Republicans holding our hands. 199 00:14:19,233 --> 00:14:21,933 Mr. Gibbs: Jake, there's not uniform consensus in one 200 00:14:21,934 --> 00:14:27,604 party about how to do it. I think that's been pretty clear about health care. Lord knows 201 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,430 we've talked a lot about internal -- 202 00:14:29,433 --> 00:14:30,663 The Press: -- willing to do health care, but just Democrats? 203 00:14:30,667 --> 00:14:32,237 Mr. Gibbs: Hold on, let me just -- let me finish the 204 00:14:32,233 --> 00:14:39,533 question. We are going to have to make tough decisions, but in order to get this passed 205 00:14:39,533 --> 00:14:47,133 we're going to need both parties to work together. If you think one party can do it all, you 206 00:14:47,133 --> 00:14:52,333 know, I think there are examples not just from the past year but over the past many 207 00:14:52,333 --> 00:14:59,963 years that altogether that's not going to work. Jake, just because you're not in the 208 00:14:59,967 --> 00:15:04,797 majority doesn't mean you don't have an obligation to help solve the problems of this country. 209 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,970 That's the message that the President had on Friday to the House Republicans. That's 210 00:15:08,967 --> 00:15:13,937 the message that the President ran on. Even though the President runs as a Democrat, that 211 00:15:13,934 --> 00:15:17,334 doesn't mean that we're not going to work with Republicans on trying to solve problems. 212 00:15:17,333 --> 00:15:21,903 If that were the case, Chuck, we'd have elections, and then one party would just go about solving 213 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:25,530 everything; the other party wouldn't even have to show up to work until it was time 214 00:15:25,533 --> 00:15:30,063 to have the next election. It may sound like a great idea, but -- 215 00:15:30,066 --> 00:15:31,666 The Press: You're making an argument for legislating 216 00:15:31,667 --> 00:15:33,597 -- I mean, you're making the argument for legislating, not for a commission that a lot 217 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:34,370 of people say is a copout. 218 00:15:34,367 --> 00:15:36,767 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't think the commission is a copout. 219 00:15:36,767 --> 00:15:38,337 The Press: Well, it's not legislatively binding. And 220 00:15:38,333 --> 00:15:41,133 you don't have Boehner and McConnell signed off on it yet. 221 00:15:41,133 --> 00:15:46,963 Mr. Gibbs: Well, it was such a good idea that they supported 222 00:15:46,967 --> 00:15:51,797 it a few weeks ago. I don't -- Jake, you can ask them what happened. You can ask Mitch 223 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:56,270 McConnell why sitting on the very same show he was on yesterday when he supported the 224 00:15:56,266 --> 00:16:01,166 Conrad-Gregg commission -- when it came for a vote he didn't support it. I don't know 225 00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:08,336 the answer to that. It's a fascinatingly good question. But we are going to have to work 226 00:16:08,333 --> 00:16:14,003 together to solve these problems. It's not going to be one person or one party that solves 227 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:20,930 them. I don't think it's a copout, because what the President will propose is that Democrats 228 00:16:20,934 --> 00:16:26,264 and Republicans should work together to agree on proposals that he believes should be voted 229 00:16:26,266 --> 00:16:33,396 on. Understand that the legislation that failed would have required that the recommendations 230 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:37,830 that that commission came up with be voted on by the House and the Senate, like a base 231 00:16:37,834 --> 00:16:38,264 closure commission. 232 00:16:38,266 --> 00:16:40,566 The Press: Right, and this executive order will not do 233 00:16:40,567 --> 00:16:42,997 that, because it cannot do that. 234 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,270 Mr. Gibbs: The executive order will ask that based on 235 00:16:45,266 --> 00:16:51,336 the number of people that are chosen to serve on the commission -- some by Democrats, some 236 00:16:51,333 --> 00:16:57,263 by Republicans -- that a certain number of people agree in order for the recommendation 237 00:16:57,266 --> 00:17:04,066 to be voted on by Congress. But, Jake, the power -- it is interesting that -- I think 238 00:17:04,066 --> 00:17:10,496 we've heard from some quarters that Republicans just may not appoint anybody. Well, tell me 239 00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:19,000 how you're going to solve the big problems of this country if in a very polarized country 240 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:25,300 one political party is not going to join in working on that. It's just -- it's not going to happen. 241 00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:28,630 The Press: I'm not going to -- and it's the last question 242 00:17:28,633 --> 00:17:31,203 I have on this, and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to challenge the notion that the other 243 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:36,070 party may be behaving cravenly in this instance and with the vote that you're talking about. 244 00:17:36,066 --> 00:17:38,096 But isn't the whole point of being President and controlling the House and Senate to man 245 00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:38,230 up and make these tough decisions -- 246 00:17:38,233 --> 00:17:38,303 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, absolutely. 247 00:17:38,300 --> 00:17:44,700 The Press: -- whether or not it costs you at the ballot 248 00:17:44,700 --> 00:17:45,830 box in November? 249 00:17:45,834 --> 00:17:47,834 Mr. Gibbs: We're not -- the commission -- 250 00:17:47,834 --> 00:17:49,034 The Press: You are -- you're saying, we're not going 251 00:17:49,033 --> 00:17:50,763 to do it unless we have sign off from the Republicans. 252 00:17:50,767 --> 00:17:53,067 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no. We're not going to make progress 253 00:17:53,066 --> 00:17:57,336 unless we have sign off from the Republicans. But again, Jake, there's not unanimity in 254 00:17:57,333 --> 00:18:06,103 one party on either way forward. Again, this President has instituted spending costs last 255 00:18:06,100 --> 00:18:11,930 year nobody thought we were going to get, including killing an F-22 program at the Pentagon. 256 00:18:11,934 --> 00:18:19,334 We've outlined a series of cuts this year. We've taken on the cost of health care and 257 00:18:19,333 --> 00:18:25,533 how it affects the federal budget. We've got some skin in the game, Jake. 258 00:18:25,533 --> 00:18:29,133 The Press: But the President, in his remarks this morning, 259 00:18:29,133 --> 00:18:34,003 talked about how some of the cuts were painful. What was the most difficult thing for the 260 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,330 economic team and the President to leave out of the budget? 261 00:18:36,333 --> 00:18:38,763 Mr. Gibbs: I would have to talk to those guys in terms 262 00:18:38,767 --> 00:18:42,237 of what -- I was not in every one of the meetings. 263 00:18:42,233 --> 00:18:43,563 The Press: But the President didn't express that there 264 00:18:43,567 --> 00:18:46,737 was something that he really would have rather had, but in the end they took it out? 265 00:18:46,734 --> 00:18:49,234 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think there are -- I have not heard 266 00:18:49,233 --> 00:18:53,733 him talk in particular. I mean, obviously there are -- budgets have to be a list of 267 00:18:53,734 --> 00:19:03,964 your priorities. And in tough economic times you can't afford everything. Look, one of 268 00:19:03,967 --> 00:19:09,937 the easier things to do, going -- again, let's go back to what had happened for a while, 269 00:19:09,934 --> 00:19:13,704 one thing would be to propose a series of new spending and not have to pay for any of 270 00:19:13,700 --> 00:19:16,470 it. That's sort of what got us into this mess. 271 00:19:16,467 --> 00:19:20,367 The Press: Can you talk a little bit about the process? 272 00:19:20,367 --> 00:19:27,597 Was there sort of a one team trying to make a case to keep something in the budget? What 273 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,330 was going on behind the scenes to settle these cuts and these increases? 274 00:19:31,333 --> 00:19:37,033 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, obviously when the President and 275 00:19:37,033 --> 00:19:44,033 Peter and the economic team decided on freezing non-security discretionary spending, there's 276 00:19:45,166 --> 00:19:52,736 no doubt that there were Cabinet officials that wanted to preserve certain things that 277 00:19:52,734 --> 00:20:02,464 mathematically just couldn't be preserved, or to take things out that they felt like 278 00:20:02,467 --> 00:20:08,737 weren't something that they would have left in. So, obviously, there was some give and 279 00:20:08,734 --> 00:20:16,464 take on that, but the larger numbers have been locked for quite some time. And the President 280 00:20:16,467 --> 00:20:20,297 obviously was in meetings on some of this back and forth. 281 00:20:20,300 --> 00:20:24,130 The Press: And as the President goes to New Hampshire 282 00:20:24,133 --> 00:20:28,333 tomorrow, what's the real goal there? There's still a lot of frustration about the pace 283 00:20:28,333 --> 00:20:31,133 of job creation. What does the President hope to accomplish? 284 00:20:31,133 --> 00:20:33,663 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the President will have a town hall 285 00:20:33,667 --> 00:20:40,597 meeting, but outline a proposal that he talked about in the State of the Union to increase 286 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:46,270 small business lending through community banks. That will be specifically what he talks about. 287 00:20:46,266 --> 00:20:56,936 Look, I think in many ways we've -- the President gets letters from, we've heard from small 288 00:20:56,934 --> 00:21:04,704 businesses across the country that want to expand, that need a loan to make payroll. 289 00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:11,430 We want to ensure that for those that want to add jobs, for those that want to start 290 00:21:11,433 --> 00:21:15,303 a small business, that they have the capital to do so. Chip. 291 00:21:15,300 --> 00:21:18,730 The Press: Following up on the commission, can you understand, 292 00:21:18,734 --> 00:21:22,304 though, the skepticism of people who look at this budget and say there really isn't 293 00:21:22,300 --> 00:21:29,000 a lot of specific cutting going on here, we're going to rely on this blue ribbon panel down 294 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:34,170 the road, and don't you think the average American is going to say you're kicking the 295 00:21:34,166 --> 00:21:34,466 can down the road here? 296 00:21:34,467 --> 00:21:35,537 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, Chip -- Chip, I think if you look 297 00:21:35,533 --> 00:21:42,263 at what the budget does over the next several years in going back down to a percent of GDP, 298 00:21:42,266 --> 00:21:45,766 you'll understand that these are not decisions that are not being made. Secondly -- 299 00:21:45,767 --> 00:21:52,637 The Press: But you are relying very heavily on what this 300 00:21:52,633 --> 00:21:52,733 panel would do in order to bring deficits back. 301 00:21:52,734 --> 00:21:54,434 Mr. Gibbs: No, I don't think it's relying very heavily, 302 00:21:54,433 --> 00:22:01,763 but I think it's -- is there any doubt that we're going to need consensus to make some 303 00:22:01,767 --> 00:22:04,767 important changes? The answer to that quite clearly is yes. 304 00:22:04,767 --> 00:22:10,797 The Press: And following up on Jake's question, the idea 305 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:16,700 that -- I mean, you were certainly willing to have Democrats alone, or pick off a Republican 306 00:22:16,700 --> 00:22:19,200 if you needed one, push through on something as important as health care reform. Why not 307 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,900 use your domination of the elected government to push through -- 308 00:22:21,900 --> 00:22:23,970 Mr. Gibbs: Well, Chip, again -- I mean, I think I answered 309 00:22:23,967 --> 00:22:24,797 this with Jake. 310 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:26,900 The Press: -- deficits, deficit cutting? 311 00:22:26,900 --> 00:22:30,570 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, we took on the cost of health 312 00:22:30,567 --> 00:22:36,267 care, which is a big driver in our federal budget deficit over the past year in the health 313 00:22:36,266 --> 00:22:41,266 care reform. We've taken on some of those fights. But, Chip, there's no doubt that we're 314 00:22:41,266 --> 00:22:47,196 not going to get all the way that we need to unless or until we get two parties working 315 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:52,030 together as the American people envision their government working. I don't think it's -- 316 00:22:52,033 --> 00:22:56,833 right now there seems to be some blowback on whether or not the other side will even 317 00:22:56,834 --> 00:23:03,404 appoint members to a commission. I think if you're serious about talking about deficit 318 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,870 reduction, appointing members, quite frankly, is the least you can do. 319 00:23:06,867 --> 00:23:10,137 The Press: I mean, why would they appoint? If they voted 320 00:23:10,133 --> 00:23:14,503 it down in Congress, why would you think they even might appoint members to a commission? 321 00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:18,400 Mr. Gibbs: Why wouldn't they? 322 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:19,070 The Press: They already voted against it. 323 00:23:19,066 --> 00:23:20,266 Mr. Gibbs: No, 53 people voted for it. 324 00:23:20,266 --> 00:23:23,566 The Press: You know that the key Republicans are not for it. 325 00:23:23,567 --> 00:23:26,297 Mr. Gibbs: Well, then I guess they'll get to explain 326 00:23:26,300 --> 00:23:27,370 to the American people what they're going to do -- 327 00:23:27,367 --> 00:23:28,367 The Press: Well, then you're just playing politics, you're not -- 328 00:23:28,367 --> 00:23:29,297 Mr. Gibbs: No, wait a minute -- (laughter) -- 329 00:23:29,300 --> 00:23:31,070 The Press: If you're saying, "We know we're not going 330 00:23:31,066 --> 00:23:32,566 to get it" because the Republican aren't going to -- 331 00:23:32,567 --> 00:23:33,497 Mr. Gibbs: We're appointing members. 332 00:23:33,500 --> 00:23:34,700 The Press: What good is it if they -- 333 00:23:34,700 --> 00:23:36,900 Mr. Gibbs: Let's take a walk a bit for a second on playing 334 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:42,500 politics, okay? There's a proposal, one by -- by Republican and Democrat, to set up 335 00:23:42,500 --> 00:23:47,870 a commission -- let me just do this -- right? It needed 60 votes. It got 53. Seven people 336 00:23:47,867 --> 00:23:53,437 that said they supported it in December voted against it. Now, I'll let your definition 337 00:23:53,433 --> 00:23:58,503 of whether or not that's playing politics -- we'll just leave that aside. If you can't 338 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:04,070 set this up legislatively, then the President will, through executive order. And he'll appoint 339 00:24:04,066 --> 00:24:10,296 members on his side on this commission. Now, if you won't appoint members, I'll leave that 340 00:24:10,300 --> 00:24:14,570 aside whether you think that's playing politics with the issue. But at some point, Chip, you 341 00:24:14,567 --> 00:24:20,967 have to get in the game. At some point you have to have a series of ideas on how to do 342 00:24:20,967 --> 00:24:28,837 this. This is -- regardless of who wins elections, everybody that's sworn into Congress and everybody 343 00:24:28,834 --> 00:24:33,604 that serves in the executive branch has an obligation to solve problems and make it work 344 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:41,130 for the American people. Not supporting something that you did two months ago, or a month ago; 345 00:24:41,133 --> 00:24:47,403 not appointing members simply out of obstinance -- if that's not playing political games, 346 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:51,570 then I don't know what the definition, Chip, would look like. 347 00:24:51,567 --> 00:24:55,297 The Press: Well, I think you're right. It is. But aren't 348 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:57,770 you doing the same thing by then harping on it rather than moving on to something that 349 00:24:57,767 --> 00:24:58,797 you could actually try to pass legislatively? 350 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,430 Mr. Gibbs: No, the President -- we tried to pass it legislatively. 351 00:25:01,433 --> 00:25:04,903 The President lent his support to what Democrats and Republicans -- 352 00:25:04,900 --> 00:25:06,200 The Press: No, I mean actual cuts, not the commission. 353 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,030 If the commission is not going to work, why not just move on? 354 00:25:08,033 --> 00:25:09,503 Mr. Gibbs: We outlined in the budget some specific cuts, 355 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:13,570 and I think if you look at over the course of the next several years -- look, we didn't 356 00:25:13,567 --> 00:25:21,167 get into this budget problem and deficits overnight. If you look at the graph of where 357 00:25:21,166 --> 00:25:25,896 budget deficits go over the next three or four years, you'll see that on a decidedly 358 00:25:25,900 --> 00:25:32,330 downward trajectory, to get the rest of the way the President first asked Congress to 359 00:25:32,333 --> 00:25:36,763 pass a legislative commission, despite getting 53 votes and having seven people that supported 360 00:25:36,767 --> 00:25:41,297 a month ago walk away. The President is going to do this through executive committee and 361 00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:44,600 hopes that the Republicans will take part in the exercise of governing. 362 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,430 The Press: Two quick questions. Have you ruled out Abdulmutallab 363 00:25:48,433 --> 00:25:53,063 being treated as an enemy combatant? 364 00:25:53,066 --> 00:26:00,336 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I want to say -- I'll say this. Having 365 00:26:00,333 --> 00:26:06,403 been in a series of meetings about this over the past many days, decisions that are being 366 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:15,670 reported as having been made have not been made. There's no doubt that a city like New 367 00:26:15,667 --> 00:26:23,167 York has serious security and logistical concerns about a trial, and those can, should and will 368 00:26:23,166 --> 00:26:30,966 be taken into account. The President, Chuck, believes that the forum that the Attorney 369 00:26:30,967 --> 00:26:37,867 General decided that these trials be held in are the best way to deal with Khalid Sheikh 370 00:26:37,867 --> 00:26:38,167 Mohammed and others. 371 00:26:38,166 --> 00:26:39,596 The Press: My question was about the Christmas bomber, 372 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:40,230 though, Abdulmutallab. I'm sorry. 373 00:26:40,233 --> 00:26:41,033 Mr. Gibbs: Oh, I'm sorry. 374 00:26:41,033 --> 00:26:42,603 The Press: No, it's okay. I mean -- 375 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,800 Mr. Gibbs: Have we ruled him out as -- 376 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,730 The Press: As treating him as an enemy combatant. Because 377 00:26:48,734 --> 00:26:51,104 it's possible you could still -- that has been done in previous -- 378 00:26:51,100 --> 00:26:54,170 Mr. Gibbs: That certainly was done with JosĂŠ Padilla 379 00:26:54,166 --> 00:27:04,366 and Al-Marri were indicted -- transferred and indicted -- look, I think that very experienced 380 00:27:04,367 --> 00:27:12,597 interrogators at the FBI made decisions about interrogation, and the Department of Justice 381 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:22,600 made determinations to seek an indictment, and the President believes that's the appropriate place. 382 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:23,770 The Press: So that means the administration is satisfied 383 00:27:23,767 --> 00:27:24,297 there's no more intelligence to be gained from Abdulmutallab? 384 00:27:24,300 --> 00:27:26,330 Mr. Gibbs: The White House is satisfied that the process 385 00:27:26,333 --> 00:27:28,863 of gaining that intelligence is working. 386 00:27:28,867 --> 00:27:35,537 The Press: And was the CIA -- I mean, there was a report 387 00:27:35,533 --> 00:27:41,503 this morning, I think it was in the LA Times -- was the CIA and the DNI asked for their 388 00:27:41,500 --> 00:27:41,800 input on the decision before he was indicted, or was it just -- 389 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:45,230 Mr. Gibbs: Let me say this, and I want to be clear on 390 00:27:45,233 --> 00:27:48,163 this. When -- I forget the exact day but I can look it up -- when the President held 391 00:27:48,166 --> 00:27:56,266 a Situation Room meeting to go over the failures of the Christmas Day bombing -- I believe 392 00:27:56,266 --> 00:27:58,366 this was on a Tuesday, because we then were -- 393 00:27:58,367 --> 00:27:59,837 The Press: This was the 4th or 5th, right? When he came 394 00:27:59,834 --> 00:28:00,204 back -- a big meeting when he came back. 395 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,700 Mr. Gibbs: This was -- right -- I think it must have 396 00:28:02,700 --> 00:28:08,370 been the 5th, it was on a Tuesday. In that meeting were the President, the Vice President, 397 00:28:08,367 --> 00:28:14,767 the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the National Counterterrorism 398 00:28:14,767 --> 00:28:21,037 Center, the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the CIA. I don't know who 399 00:28:21,033 --> 00:28:26,963 else I've forgotten. Whoever that roster was -- the Director of the Federal Bureau of 400 00:28:26,967 --> 00:28:33,637 Investigation. All those people were present in a meeting where the Attorney General said 401 00:28:33,633 --> 00:28:40,463 that in the next day Mr. Abdulmutallab would be indicted for his crimes. 402 00:28:40,467 --> 00:28:44,567 The Press: Are you saying there was no debate around 403 00:28:44,567 --> 00:28:44,737 that table on this topic -- 404 00:28:44,734 --> 00:28:49,164 Mr. Gibbs: I will say that anybody that wanted or needed 405 00:28:49,166 --> 00:28:53,736 to register their concern, the notion that somehow a forum wasn't readily available 406 00:28:53,734 --> 00:29:01,034 to register anybody's concern doesn't certainly comport the way I understand events, having 407 00:29:01,033 --> 00:29:08,263 been in the room watching those present have an opportunity to ask questions about those procedures. 408 00:29:08,266 --> 00:29:11,036 The Press: Did the President and First Lady vote tomorrow? 409 00:29:11,033 --> 00:29:15,933 Mr. Gibbs: They I believe both voted by absentee ballot. 410 00:29:15,934 --> 00:29:21,434 The Press: They've already voted? 411 00:29:21,433 --> 00:29:22,303 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 412 00:29:22,300 --> 00:29:24,100 The Press: Just to go back to your initial response to 413 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:26,800 Chuck's question when you talked about New York, are you saying that there has been no 414 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:27,670 decision yet, no formal decision to -- 415 00:29:27,667 --> 00:29:28,167 Mr. Gibbs: I am. 416 00:29:28,166 --> 00:29:31,066 The Press: -- to take it out of New York? 417 00:29:31,066 --> 00:29:32,336 Mr. Gibbs: I am. 418 00:29:32,333 --> 00:29:36,633 The Press: Now on this New Hampshire trip tomorrow, along 419 00:29:36,633 --> 00:29:41,063 with the community bank theme, to what extent is this a "take the budget on the road" event? 420 00:29:41,066 --> 00:29:44,166 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think obviously there will be 421 00:29:44,166 --> 00:29:48,196 certain questions on it and have an opportunity to talk about it. Our focus tomorrow is -- 422 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:56,470 the proposal the President will talk specifically about at the town hall is the effort for increased 423 00:29:56,467 --> 00:29:59,937 lending through community banks directly to small businesses. 424 00:29:59,934 --> 00:30:04,504 The Press: And going back to the Friday event with the 425 00:30:04,500 --> 00:30:07,170 Republicans, is there any follow up to that? Do you think he'll talk to Senate Republicans 426 00:30:07,166 --> 00:30:09,696 at some point? What other things along those lines -- 427 00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:12,870 Mr. Gibbs: I believe we have been invited to speak to 428 00:30:12,867 --> 00:30:23,467 the Senate Republicans, and we will do so. Look, I think the President had -- I think 429 00:30:23,467 --> 00:30:31,937 the President enjoyed the give and take on these issues of importance. You guys seemed 430 00:30:31,934 --> 00:30:42,004 to think it was a worthwhile endeavor. And I think opportunities like this for both sides 431 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:48,930 are important to talk through our ideas. I honestly believe, and I know the President 432 00:30:48,934 --> 00:30:56,634 believes this and said as much on Friday, that it may be very rare that everybody in 433 00:30:56,633 --> 00:31:05,163 Congress -- 535 members -- and the President agree on every single word in a bill. But 434 00:31:05,166 --> 00:31:13,296 there ought to be enough that we can agree on in a piece of legislation that can garner 435 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:18,130 strong bipartisan support to solve the problems that the American people have. 436 00:31:18,133 --> 00:31:22,633 The Press: Would you insist that the Senate -- if you 437 00:31:22,633 --> 00:31:25,433 do it with the Republicans in the Senate, that it also would be available for live coverage 438 00:31:25,433 --> 00:31:26,033 the way this was? 439 00:31:26,033 --> 00:31:30,463 Mr. Gibbs: We were -- we asked that it be open on Friday 440 00:31:30,467 --> 00:31:35,567 and I wouldn't have any problem with it being open if we spoke to the Senate Republicans 441 00:31:35,567 --> 00:31:40,497 too. But let me say, look, I think the two biggest things that are on people's minds 442 00:31:40,500 --> 00:31:45,200 in this country are creating jobs and two parties working together. And I think there's 443 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:49,770 no better opportunity to show the American people that we're serious about their priorities 444 00:31:49,767 --> 00:31:55,497 than to work together on getting a jobs bill passed -- one that cuts taxes on small business, 445 00:31:55,500 --> 00:32:01,870 one that increases our investment in infrastructure to create jobs. I think we can show the American 446 00:32:01,867 --> 00:32:06,137 people that we hear their anger and frustration and demonstrate it in a way that moves the 447 00:32:06,133 --> 00:32:08,933 process forward by working together. 448 00:32:08,934 --> 00:32:12,134 The Press: On the non-security discretionary spending, 449 00:32:12,133 --> 00:32:16,063 on one of the calls last night, I think Orszag kind of hinted at a veto threat. And I just 450 00:32:16,066 --> 00:32:19,366 wanted to get your take on that. When these appropriations bills wend their way through 451 00:32:19,367 --> 00:32:22,797 Congress and they don't adhere to that freeze, will the President -- 452 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,200 Mr. Gibbs: Let me go back and see what Peter said on 453 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:32,770 the call. I know that the President spoke broadly about ensuring that we had, through 454 00:32:32,767 --> 00:32:36,467 the course of this, a non-security discretionary freeze and the President is serious. 455 00:32:36,467 --> 00:32:42,897 The Press: I think Peter was answering a question about 456 00:32:42,900 --> 00:32:44,130 whether or not the President would veto the budget. So I think that it got kind of garbled 457 00:32:44,133 --> 00:32:45,003 because he -- 458 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:46,500 Mr. Gibbs: Oh, I see -- 459 00:32:46,500 --> 00:32:48,030 The Press: -- well, because it won't go to him, but then 460 00:32:48,033 --> 00:32:49,433 it went back and forth until line-item veto and whatnot. 461 00:32:49,433 --> 00:32:52,763 Mr. Gibbs: Again, on Friday I think Congressman Ryan 462 00:32:52,767 --> 00:32:56,197 presented a proposal for a line-item veto that I think the President would be anxious 463 00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:01,800 to look at. 464 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:07,470 The Press: But, I mean, your chance for you to rule out 465 00:33:07,467 --> 00:33:10,067 veto threats on non-security -- 466 00:33:10,066 --> 00:33:20,066 Mr. Gibbs: I wouldn't in any way rule that out, no. Yes, sir. 467 00:33:20,066 --> 00:33:21,266 The Press: Peter Orszag and Dr. Romer were very cautious 468 00:33:21,266 --> 00:33:21,866 to couch the President's economic assumptions as in the middle of what private economists 469 00:33:21,867 --> 00:33:26,167 predict, and yet you're basing about $10 billion a year of your projected savings on passage 470 00:33:26,166 --> 00:33:33,536 of a health reform bill that is at least in question right now. On what do you base your optimism? 471 00:33:33,533 --> 00:33:37,003 Mr. Gibbs: We're one vote away from getting health care 472 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:47,500 reform. We think it's good policy. And, Wendell, we -- I hazard to guess what your question 473 00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:55,270 would be if we didn't take into account any of that in what our budget was. The President 474 00:33:55,266 --> 00:34:01,866 has said we should be realistic about what our assumptions are, but also assume -- if 475 00:34:01,867 --> 00:34:05,537 we're going to propose something, I don't think it makes much sense to not assume that 476 00:34:05,533 --> 00:34:10,303 it should be in the budget. Again, some of that got us into this mess, right? We had 477 00:34:10,300 --> 00:34:15,470 troops in Iraq. We had troops in Afghanistan. But we weren't paying for that on budget. 478 00:34:15,467 --> 00:34:23,397 I mean, that's certainly one way to look at how you do a budget -- is to have our brave 479 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:29,000 men and women fighting half a world away, but pretend that we're not paying for it by 480 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,530 not putting it in the budget. The President made certain policy assumptions and added 481 00:34:32,533 --> 00:34:33,503 those into the budget. 482 00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:35,770 The Press: On another budget matter, Republicans have 483 00:34:35,767 --> 00:34:41,537 criticized the stimulus bill as containing too much government spending, not enough tax 484 00:34:41,533 --> 00:34:43,603 cuts and specifically tax cuts for small businesses, which you seem to be erasing now in this second 485 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:47,930 jobs proposal. Were they right all along? 486 00:34:47,934 --> 00:34:52,734 Mr. Gibbs: No, look, there's -- I can get a list of the 487 00:34:52,734 --> 00:35:01,104 specific taxes that we cut. Understand this, when we cut taxes for 95 percent of working 488 00:35:01,100 --> 00:35:04,570 Americans in this country, a whole host of -- 489 00:35:04,567 --> 00:35:05,867 The Press: But they said cutting taxes for small businesses 490 00:35:05,867 --> 00:35:08,867 would create more jobs faster, and that's what you're proposing now. 491 00:35:08,867 --> 00:35:12,567 Mr. Gibbs: How about we do this: How about if I agree 492 00:35:12,567 --> 00:35:18,467 that cutting taxes on small businesses has the opportunity to create an environment to 493 00:35:18,467 --> 00:35:23,997 create jobs? If they agree with me, I got an idea. Let's have those two ideas meet in 494 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:34,000 the House and the Senate. The President has put forward a plan to cut taxes on small businesses 495 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:38,500 for a tax credit for additional hiring. What better message to send to the American people 496 00:35:38,500 --> 00:35:43,070 than both parties getting that to the President's desk so that small business in this country 497 00:35:43,066 --> 00:35:46,996 can start hiring and getting a tax credit? What better way to show them than, as the 498 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:51,670 President will do tomorrow, let's take $30 billion that the big banks have paid back 499 00:35:51,667 --> 00:35:57,167 through TARP, and give that money to community banks to lend a small business? That would 500 00:35:57,166 --> 00:36:03,766 be another great idea. Let's reward small business by increasing our infrastructure 501 00:36:03,767 --> 00:36:09,167 spending, laying a new foundation for an economy for the future, building the highways and 502 00:36:09,166 --> 00:36:14,766 bridges and railways of tomorrow. That should have bipartisan support. All three of those 503 00:36:14,767 --> 00:36:20,337 things, Wendell, we ought to be able to do pretty quickly with bipartisan support because 504 00:36:20,333 --> 00:36:24,833 we're all on the same page. We just solved half our problems, Wendell, and that was great. 505 00:36:24,834 --> 00:36:27,134 The Press: Tomorrow Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen 506 00:36:27,133 --> 00:36:39,133 are up on the Hill testifying. What does the President hope comes out of the hearing? And will we be hearing 507 00:36:39,133 --> 00:36:39,703 from the President on the subject between now and then -- or tomorrow sometime? 508 00:36:39,700 --> 00:36:41,130 Mr. Gibbs: Look, if the President gets asked a question, 509 00:36:41,133 --> 00:36:46,563 I don't anticipate a statement other than what he said in the State of the Union. Scott, 510 00:36:46,567 --> 00:36:53,137 we'll have more on this later in the day on what we anticipate will be in their testimony. 511 00:36:53,133 --> 00:37:00,133 But I think you'll hear a frank discussion about the President's proposal to overturn 512 00:37:00,133 --> 00:37:05,933 this, and the support that it has to do so. I don't want to get ahead of where their testimony 513 00:37:05,934 --> 00:37:09,604 is and the different aspects of what's involved. Jeff. 514 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:10,470 The Press: May I follow on that? 515 00:37:10,467 --> 00:37:15,367 Mr. Gibbs: I'll come back. Hold on. 516 00:37:15,367 --> 00:37:17,467 The Press: Okay. 517 00:37:17,467 --> 00:37:26,797 The Press: As you know, on Sunday is Super Bowl. A year 518 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:31,570 ago on Sunday the President had a bipartisan Super Bowl party here, too, sort of a kickoff 519 00:37:31,567 --> 00:37:31,937 to the year. It didn't go so well. What did he learn from things that he can do now -- 520 00:37:31,934 --> 00:37:31,964 (laughter) 521 00:37:31,967 --> 00:37:36,297 Mr. Gibbs: I thought it was going to be a Super Bowl question. 522 00:37:36,300 --> 00:37:36,670 (laughter) 523 00:37:36,667 --> 00:37:36,867 That seems patently unfair to -- 524 00:37:36,867 --> 00:37:37,397 The Press: What does he think that he can do differently 525 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:37,930 to engage with Republicans this year? Substantively, after the Friday's thing -- 526 00:37:37,934 --> 00:37:41,134 Mr. Gibbs: Not invite Steelers fans, not invite -- no, 527 00:37:41,133 --> 00:37:42,203 I'm kidding. 528 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:42,730 (laughter) 529 00:37:42,734 --> 00:37:52,764 Look, I think -- look, I think that the President certainly was under no illusion that having 530 00:37:52,767 --> 00:37:58,397 members of both parties here to watch a football game was somehow going to wipe away years 531 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:08,230 of rhetoric and mistrust. I think instead of -- and I'm sure there will be Republicans 532 00:38:08,233 --> 00:38:16,333 and Democrats that will come to the White House this year to watch the Super Bowl, but 533 00:38:16,333 --> 00:38:25,563 I think activities like the President did on Friday, exchanging ideas -- you heard him 534 00:38:25,567 --> 00:38:32,967 talk about the desire to sit down and work together on these issues. I just mentioned 535 00:38:32,967 --> 00:38:42,037 a series of issues around the economy. Our problems are big and only by addressing them 536 00:38:42,033 --> 00:38:47,403 together are we going to be able to move forward. I think the President wants to hear Republican 537 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:55,200 ideas on how to get the economy moving and how to stimulate job creation. I think there's 538 00:38:55,200 --> 00:39:02,830 -- I think there has to be a series of give and take, there have to be a series of meetings, 539 00:39:02,834 --> 00:39:08,034 but I also think we have to understand, as I said earlier, if one side, either Democrat 540 00:39:08,033 --> 00:39:16,633 or Republican, is looking for a hundred percent of all of its ideas to carry the day on either 541 00:39:16,633 --> 00:39:26,303 side, that's not necessarily ever going to work. If -- again, if you've -- to take Wendell's 542 00:39:26,300 --> 00:39:37,530 tax example, the recovery plan had about $300 billion in tax relief -- $70 billion for wiping 543 00:39:37,533 --> 00:39:45,303 out the alternative minimum tax, which if somebody would have posed two years ago that 544 00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:50,730 I can envision in the future Republicans opposing doing away with the alternative minimum tax, 545 00:39:50,734 --> 00:39:55,564 I think people would have thought you were crazy. But we may not get a hundred percent 546 00:39:55,567 --> 00:40:02,067 agreement on every idea, but we certainly ought to be able to agree on most of what 547 00:40:02,066 --> 00:40:07,336 needs to be done and at least look for ideas and legislation that can move the process 548 00:40:07,333 --> 00:40:11,463 forward. Again, even if you don't get all of what you want, you can get enough of what 549 00:40:11,467 --> 00:40:16,667 you want and enough of what your constituents need on something like jobs to make a big difference. 550 00:40:16,667 --> 00:40:19,297 The Press: For this to continue will Republicans have 551 00:40:19,300 --> 00:40:21,400 to vote for at least some of his proposals? 552 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:24,830 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I don't think they're going to 553 00:40:24,834 --> 00:40:31,634 be his proposals, they're going to be our proposals. They're going to be -- look, Jeff, 554 00:40:31,633 --> 00:40:39,663 if people have a concept for a tax credit for creating jobs, we're certainly -- as you 555 00:40:39,667 --> 00:40:47,867 heard the President say on Friday, he's ready, willing and able to look at it. But I don't 556 00:40:47,867 --> 00:40:52,837 think the President is ready, though, Jeff, that if you don't agree with everything that 557 00:40:52,834 --> 00:40:58,664 he does that you have to agree with everything that they do in order for that to garner some 558 00:40:58,667 --> 00:41:07,067 series of bipartisanship. If that's the test I think that's not a healthy standard to try and meet. 559 00:41:07,066 --> 00:41:11,836 The Press: Was there one thing on Friday that he was 560 00:41:11,834 --> 00:41:16,434 really struck by that he said that he would embrace, or intrigued by? 561 00:41:16,433 --> 00:41:21,463 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think specifically when Congressman 562 00:41:21,467 --> 00:41:27,237 Ryan mentioned a line-item -- I haven't met many Presidents, but I daresay I doubt 563 00:41:27,233 --> 00:41:32,003 there are many that would miss the opportunity to use that. 564 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:35,870 The Press: Robert, just two -- just two questions. 565 00:41:35,867 --> 00:41:39,697 Mr. Gibbs: I like how he always goes like this. 566 00:41:39,700 --> 00:41:43,500 The Press: Just two. That's all. There have been news 567 00:41:43,500 --> 00:41:47,170 reports that the President's nominee for EEOC commissioner, Chai Feldblum, and the ACLU 568 00:41:47,166 --> 00:41:52,596 support the acceptance of polygamy. Does the President believe our armed forces should 569 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:55,030 begin recruiting polygamists? 570 00:41:55,033 --> 00:41:57,103 The Press: Say yes. 571 00:41:57,100 --> 00:41:57,900 (laughter) 572 00:41:57,900 --> 00:42:01,230 The Press: Yes. 573 00:42:01,233 --> 00:42:05,003 Mr. Gibbs: I'm happy to look at the information in the 574 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:08,000 news reports you cite, but I don't have anything on that. 575 00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:12,100 The Press: All right. Last June, Newsweek's editor, Evan 576 00:42:12,100 --> 00:42:20,670 Thomas, on MSNBC, said the President is "sort of God." Last week on MSNBC, Chris Matthews 577 00:42:20,667 --> 00:42:29,637 said the President is "post-racial. I forgot he was black tonight for an hour." What is 578 00:42:29,633 --> 00:42:34,103 the President's reaction to these two MSNBC revelations? 579 00:42:34,100 --> 00:42:37,400 Mr. Gibbs: Smartly, the President does not occupy his 580 00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:39,400 time watching cable television. 581 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:42,400 The Press: Oooh! 582 00:42:42,400 --> 00:42:43,400 (laughter) 583 00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:48,700 The Press: Robert, do you think it made it more difficult 584 00:42:48,700 --> 00:42:50,030 for Sheikh Mohammed to get a fair trial with the comments you made yesterday and the fact 585 00:42:50,033 --> 00:42:51,003 that he would be -- why not? 586 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:52,530 Mr. Gibbs: No, because I daresay, Ann, we wouldn't go 587 00:42:52,533 --> 00:42:58,733 to trial and indict him if we didn't feel like we had a case that would lead to a conviction. 588 00:42:58,734 --> 00:43:03,704 And I think -- I don't have any problem saying that I think that conviction would lead to 589 00:43:03,700 --> 00:43:04,270 the death sentence. 590 00:43:04,266 --> 00:43:08,766 The Press: And he would be in a civilian trial, with 591 00:43:08,767 --> 00:43:13,767 the same kind of protections other defendants would get, including innocent until proven guilty? 592 00:43:13,767 --> 00:43:14,867 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely. 593 00:43:14,867 --> 00:43:17,667 The Press: And do you believe that the President still 594 00:43:17,667 --> 00:43:19,997 is insisting on civilian trials, even though a growing number on Capitol Hill are saying 595 00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:24,770 they would stop the money for those civilian trials? 596 00:43:24,767 --> 00:43:30,797 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think the President believes, 597 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:37,770 particularly if you look at the southern district of New York, you've got experienced prosecutors 598 00:43:37,767 --> 00:43:44,037 at bringing these cases, experienced judges at hearing these cases. We've all seen cases 599 00:43:44,033 --> 00:43:50,063 that have gone through that system and ended in the conviction of those that committed 600 00:43:50,066 --> 00:44:00,136 terrorism. And I go back to two of the bigger examples over the past many years: Richard 601 00:44:00,133 --> 00:44:09,703 Reid, who tried to blow up a plane over the Atlantic, in an operation masterminded and 602 00:44:09,700 --> 00:44:15,900 financed by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, was brought to justice in a courtroom in Boston; Zacarias 603 00:44:15,900 --> 00:44:21,030 Moussaoui, the 20th hijacker, was brought to justice in a courtroom about 10 miles from 604 00:44:21,033 --> 00:44:28,963 where I stand and you sit, heralded by the former mayor of New York's reverence for our 605 00:44:28,967 --> 00:44:37,467 justice system, after having testified in that trial. I do see now that you have some 606 00:44:37,467 --> 00:44:42,367 members of Congress rethinking their, what appears to be, more than eight years support 607 00:44:42,367 --> 00:44:50,467 of that type of justice in the short term and what I think is a continuation of the 608 00:44:50,467 --> 00:45:00,067 type of games that people in this country are tired of. Yes, sir. 609 00:45:00,066 --> 00:45:00,536 The Press: Thank you, Robert. Two brief questions. First, 610 00:45:00,533 --> 00:45:07,003 the President was widely praised for the tone that he had with the Republicans, of conciliation 611 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:10,970 and conviviality. On the other hand, one of his -- 612 00:45:10,967 --> 00:45:12,367 Mr. Gibbs: Bill, look it up for me. 613 00:45:12,367 --> 00:45:13,797 (laughter) 614 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:17,930 The Press: -- major supporters, Andy Stern, of the SEIU, 615 00:45:17,934 --> 00:45:25,064 has used some very strong language about Republicans, of one who opposed health care reform, at 616 00:45:25,066 --> 00:45:29,596 one point liking them to terrorists. Is that the kind of talk the President associates 617 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:31,270 with or repudiates? 618 00:45:31,266 --> 00:45:34,496 Mr. Gibbs: I have said this many times in this room about 619 00:45:34,500 --> 00:45:43,500 different policy debates. Nobody should be compared to people that -- to the people that 620 00:45:43,500 --> 00:45:51,300 have sought to do the world harm through terrorism. Nobody should be compared to Nazis. I think 621 00:45:51,300 --> 00:45:56,070 in the heat of these debates people tend to get overexcited on both sides of the political 622 00:45:56,066 --> 00:46:05,736 spectrum, in both parties, and I think that those types of comments on either side make 623 00:46:05,734 --> 00:46:13,434 no sense. Let me take a couple more since I know these guys are -- yes, and then I'll 624 00:46:13,433 --> 00:46:14,463 come back here. 625 00:46:14,467 --> 00:46:19,167 The Press: Robert, in his speech last week, the President 626 00:46:19,166 --> 00:46:23,436 mentioned immigration passing, but didn't go into detail. That obviously disappointed 627 00:46:23,433 --> 00:46:26,733 some immigrant rights advocates who were hoping he'd throw his weight behind a comprehensive 628 00:46:26,734 --> 00:46:30,504 bill that would include legalization. So my question is, if this is such a priority for 629 00:46:30,500 --> 00:46:33,330 him this year, why not go stake out a specific position and -- 630 00:46:33,333 --> 00:46:35,963 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think the President's position 631 00:46:35,967 --> 00:46:43,667 on immigration reform and what he supports is enormously clear. He campaigned on it. 632 00:46:43,667 --> 00:46:50,497 He worked on legislation that I think is quite similar to what would come up this year in 633 00:46:50,500 --> 00:46:58,700 the House or the Senate with people like John McCain and Lindsey Graham in 2005 and 2006 634 00:46:58,700 --> 00:47:03,830 in the Senate. Like climate change, there are bipartisan efforts that are ongoing to 635 00:47:03,834 --> 00:47:13,804 bring legislation like this to the fore and to create bipartisan majorities to get it 636 00:47:13,800 --> 00:47:21,770 passed. The President hosted a meeting here not too long ago to keep that process going, 637 00:47:21,767 --> 00:47:26,597 and we look forward to taking part in it. 638 00:47:26,600 --> 00:47:28,700 The Press: So I understand you don't want to get ahead 639 00:47:28,700 --> 00:47:32,800 of the testimony of Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, but on "don't ask, don't tell," does 640 00:47:32,800 --> 00:47:39,030 the President envision a dual track for repeal where there's some alteration of the regulations 641 00:47:39,033 --> 00:47:49,963 within the Pentagon going on at the same time that they're pushing for congressional repeal? 642 00:47:49,967 --> 00:47:53,697 Mr. Gibbs: Give me a few hours -- (laughter) -- and I think -- 643 00:47:53,700 --> 00:47:56,400 The Press: Are you going to get back to me personally? 644 00:47:56,400 --> 00:48:01,570 Mr. Gibbs: I will. I think you'll see efforts on a number 645 00:48:01,567 --> 00:48:06,797 of fronts over the course of the next many months that will be outlined by Secretary 646 00:48:06,800 --> 00:48:16,570 Gates, outlined by Admiral Mullen, the chair of the Joint Chiefs, to address what the President 647 00:48:16,567 --> 00:48:23,337 promised -- again, dating back to his Senate campaign in 2003 and 2004 -- to seek the overturning 648 00:48:23,333 --> 00:48:28,563 of "don't ask, don't tell" a number of different ways. Thanks, guys.