English subtitles for clip: File:3-22-10- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,630 The Press: The White House wanted this bill passed so 2 00:00:02,633 --> 00:00:06,763 you guys could pivot back to jobs, and now we're going Thursday to Iowa. Is pivoting 3 00:00:06,767 --> 00:00:11,197 to jobs still the plan? And how long are we going to be talking about health care now 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:12,570 that it's passed? 5 00:00:12,567 --> 00:00:15,467 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me take this a couple of different 6 00:00:15,467 --> 00:00:21,267 ways. One, I think the President has been working on the economic recovery every day 7 00:00:21,266 --> 00:00:26,536 that he's been in office. We know that the President, in fact, signed a bill just last 8 00:00:26,533 --> 00:00:32,563 week to provide tax credits for small businesses that hire the unemployed and I think we'll 9 00:00:32,567 --> 00:00:37,967 continue to talk about that going forward. We know there are aspects of small business 10 00:00:37,967 --> 00:00:43,137 lending -- zero capital gains for small business and the retrofit proposals that the President 11 00:00:43,133 --> 00:00:49,063 has made -- that he now wants to see also go through Congress. Thursday the President 12 00:00:49,066 --> 00:00:58,266 will visit Iowa City where he outlined a grassroots health care reform plan in 2007 and have a 13 00:00:58,266 --> 00:01:04,736 chance to talk about what this legislation means for the small businesses that I was 14 00:01:04,734 --> 00:01:10,504 talking about, for families with children who are labeled by insurance companies to 15 00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:15,670 suffer from a preexisting condition, or to talk about what this means for seniors who 16 00:01:15,667 --> 00:01:21,537 will finally get help with covering the cost of their prescription drugs if they happen 17 00:01:21,533 --> 00:01:23,303 to fall into what's commonly known as the doughnut hole in Medicare Part D. 18 00:01:23,300 --> 00:01:29,300 The Press: Is this going to be the one health care event 19 00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:34,930 he does outside of Washington, or are we going to be doing a series of events outside of 20 00:01:34,934 --> 00:01:36,004 Washington and barnstorm in support of this bill? 21 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,700 Mr. Gibbs: The President has a very busy schedule coming 22 00:01:38,700 --> 00:01:43,670 up on a whole host of issues. Phil, I assume the President will talk about health care 23 00:01:43,667 --> 00:01:54,197 for a long time, but the President has over the course of the past many weeks, even as 24 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:59,900 the legislative agenda has been focused on getting health care done, which we did last 25 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:03,670 night, the President also, I think as you'll see over the next couple of weeks, has been 26 00:02:03,667 --> 00:02:09,597 working on a number of other issues that are at the forefront and that we'll have an opportunity 27 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:10,200 to talk about. 28 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,600 The Press: Finally, a lot of Democrats switched their 29 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:17,170 votes or took politically dangerous votes for themselves, frankly, to support this bill. 30 00:02:17,166 --> 00:02:21,196 What kind of support are those Democrats in the House going to be receiving from the White House? 31 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,170 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think there's no doubt -- and I 32 00:02:24,166 --> 00:02:29,096 don't have a political schedule in front of me -- I have no doubt that we'll be on the 33 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:34,430 road extensively in the fall as it relates to health care reform and as it relates to 34 00:02:34,433 --> 00:02:43,533 helping those that supported health care last night and supporting Democrats, even some that didn't. 35 00:02:43,533 --> 00:02:47,033 The Press: Robert, did you mean to announce when the bill signing is? 36 00:02:47,033 --> 00:02:49,533 Mr. Gibbs: It's likely to be sometime tomorrow. I don't 37 00:02:49,533 --> 00:02:55,263 -- they're still working out some of the logistics. In terms of timing, I would plan 38 00:02:55,266 --> 00:03:05,666 as of right now for a late morning bill signing, weather permitting, outside, probably on the South Lawn. 39 00:03:05,667 --> 00:03:07,297 The Press: Definitely on campus, nothing -- 40 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:12,100 Mr. Gibbs: As of the last sort of update I got, it would 41 00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:18,370 be logistically tough to go off campus but also if the weather doesn't cooperate, it 42 00:03:18,367 --> 00:03:20,237 might also be logistically difficult to -- 43 00:03:20,233 --> 00:03:21,163 The Press: Invited? 44 00:03:21,166 --> 00:03:25,366 Mr. Gibbs: I think each and every member of the House 45 00:03:25,367 --> 00:03:29,867 and Senate that supported health care reform will be invited. I expect that many of them 46 00:03:29,867 --> 00:03:38,597 will attend. I also believe that the President will have with him many of the stories that 47 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:46,270 he's given lift to over the course of the past year to help demonstrate exactly why 48 00:03:46,266 --> 00:03:51,636 the President did what he did for so long and who this impacts the most. Jeff. 49 00:03:51,633 --> 00:03:54,833 The Press: Robert, two questions, one on health care 50 00:03:54,834 --> 00:03:59,934 and one on -- a foreign policy question. What's the White House's reaction to the states 51 00:03:59,934 --> 00:04:05,804 that have threatened to sue over this legislation? Is that something that the President and the 52 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:07,270 team are taking seriously? 53 00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:08,796 Mr. Gibbs: I heard Nancy-Ann talk a little bit about 54 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:16,700 this, this morning on television I think. My sense is that a lot of big pieces of legislation 55 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:23,930 are challenged in some ways. We certainly have -- you've seen the intent of some to 56 00:04:23,934 --> 00:04:32,164 do -- to challenge this legislation on grounds we don't think will be very successful. 57 00:04:32,166 --> 00:04:33,196 The Press: You don't think their suits will be very successful? 58 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:33,600 Mr. Gibbs: We don't. 59 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:39,430 The Press: Okay. And is there any kind of a plan or a 60 00:04:39,433 --> 00:04:40,203 reaction to deal with that in the coming -- 61 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,570 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I assume there will be many things that 62 00:04:42,567 --> 00:04:49,737 we will deal with in the coming weeks, months, and years ahead as health care reform is implemented. 63 00:04:49,734 --> 00:04:58,604 But I think that -- you know, look, some of the states and some of the players might end 64 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:08,070 up being kind of curious, but, again, I think there's pretty long-standing precedent on 65 00:05:08,066 --> 00:05:09,566 the constitutionality of this. 66 00:05:09,567 --> 00:05:12,837 The Press: My second question is on Google and China. 67 00:05:12,834 --> 00:05:17,964 If Google does decide to pull out of China, what effect would that have on U.S.-Chinese relations? 68 00:05:17,967 --> 00:05:22,167 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me not get ahead of something -- 69 00:05:22,166 --> 00:05:30,236 we'll have a chance to maybe discuss that later on. Look, I think that you heard the 70 00:05:30,233 --> 00:05:40,903 President enunciate quite clearly in China a policy and a belief that open government 71 00:05:40,900 --> 00:05:49,270 and the ability to communicate among people without the censorship of government is tremendously 72 00:05:49,266 --> 00:05:59,496 important. So it may be, as there are in some issues, that we in a mature diplomatic relationship 73 00:05:59,500 --> 00:06:04,170 have disagreements. But I don't want to get ahead of something, but we may have a 74 00:06:04,166 --> 00:06:06,466 chance to discuss that later. 75 00:06:06,467 --> 00:06:12,937 The Press: Did Google brief the administration on what it's doing? 76 00:06:12,934 --> 00:06:17,034 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know what the latest is this morning on that. 77 00:06:17,033 --> 00:06:17,663 The Press: On Thursday you guys are going to Iowa to 78 00:06:17,667 --> 00:06:19,937 -- the President is going to talk about health care reform, and I know you recall 2007 when 79 00:06:19,934 --> 00:06:24,464 the President -- then-senator was there; he introduced his health care proposal. If you 80 00:06:24,467 --> 00:06:30,867 look at what he announced in 2007 and what is law or will be law as of tomorrow, there 81 00:06:30,867 --> 00:06:39,867 are a lot of similarities, but there are also a lot of striking differences in terms of 82 00:06:39,867 --> 00:06:44,037 whether or not there's universal coverage, whether or not every individual's family 83 00:06:44,033 --> 00:06:50,663 premiums will go down $2,500. Is this just what happens when ideals meet the pragmatic 84 00:06:50,667 --> 00:06:55,737 politics? Or why are there such differences between what the President proposed two years ago? 85 00:06:55,734 --> 00:07:01,504 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, Jake, obviously what you propose 86 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:06,470 and what goes through the system sometimes change. I think the promise that the President 87 00:07:06,467 --> 00:07:16,297 played out in May of 2007 and talked about even before laying out a specific policy was 88 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:25,470 that we should not, in a country like the United States of America, have to have people 89 00:07:25,467 --> 00:07:32,697 deciding between keeping their house and keeping their health care; or we shouldn't live 90 00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:42,770 in a country where people don't have access to affordable health care. So look, I think 91 00:07:42,767 --> 00:07:49,867 always in this, it always goes through the legislative process, but I think what the 92 00:07:49,867 --> 00:07:57,937 President promised that day and what the President will sign tomorrow -- very much the promise 93 00:07:57,934 --> 00:08:04,334 of affordable, accessible health care that puts people back in charge of their health 94 00:08:04,333 --> 00:08:12,063 care rather than insurance companies; I think something that will have lasting benefit for 95 00:08:12,066 --> 00:08:15,996 tens of millions of Americans for many years to come. 96 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,870 The Press: Is there going to be a follow-up legislation, 97 00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:31,867 since the President had the goal of universal coverage in 2007? And the CBO says that current 98 00:08:31,867 --> 00:08:32,367 legislation will leave uninsured 23 million Americans. Is there going to be a follow-up attempt? 99 00:08:32,367 --> 00:08:34,337 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I don't know if there's been any discussions 100 00:08:34,333 --> 00:08:37,003 about that this morning. The coverage that -- 101 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:37,870 The Press: Probably not. 102 00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:41,037 Mr. Gibbs: Right. The coverage -- I think CBO said somewhere 103 00:08:41,033 --> 00:08:49,263 between 94 and 95 percent of Americans will have coverage. And obviously we will, after 104 00:08:49,266 --> 00:08:56,566 the President signs this into law, get about to the important process of ensuring its efficient 105 00:08:56,567 --> 00:08:58,567 and speedy implementation. 106 00:08:58,567 --> 00:09:00,097 The Press: Does the President feel any -- this, obviously, 107 00:09:00,100 --> 00:09:06,870 was a very long, hard fight; very bitter and divisive in a lot of ways -- does the President 108 00:09:06,867 --> 00:09:15,467 feel any obligation, as a man who campaigned on bridging the partisan divide, to reach 109 00:09:15,467 --> 00:09:22,697 out to Republicans for future legislation, for improving the spirit in Washington that 110 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:29,370 has now been so poisoned by this very vicious debate at times? 111 00:09:29,367 --> 00:09:33,267 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know that -- we'll be able to 112 00:09:33,266 --> 00:09:41,366 look back and see whether the debate itself poisoned the atmosphere. I think that the 113 00:09:41,367 --> 00:09:49,697 President will do on financial reform, on campaign finance, on getting our economy moving 114 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:54,730 again, all of the host of issues that -- immigration reform and energy -- that we've 115 00:09:54,734 --> 00:10:01,034 talked about still being on the docket, I think the President will continue to reach 116 00:10:01,033 --> 00:10:07,033 out to Democrats and Republicans that want to make a positive effort on these issues. 117 00:10:07,033 --> 00:10:16,863 Jake, the President -- I'm a little struck by the fact that everybody seems on one side 118 00:10:16,867 --> 00:10:24,467 to be talking about repeal today. So I'll let them answer why, as Mitch McConnell put 119 00:10:24,467 --> 00:10:32,197 it in his profile in the New York Times, the anecdote of him having a plan even before 120 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,930 the President came to the Congress with an economic recovery plan last January, that 121 00:10:36,934 --> 00:10:42,634 he had a plan to simply say no to each and everything that the President proposed. I 122 00:10:42,633 --> 00:10:48,733 think that's a little bit about what elections are ultimately going to be about. And I think 123 00:10:48,734 --> 00:10:55,034 if people want to campaign on taking tax cuts away from small businesses, taking assistance 124 00:10:55,033 --> 00:11:05,363 away from seniors getting prescription drugs, and want to take away a mother knowing that 125 00:11:05,367 --> 00:11:09,937 their child can't be discriminated against by an insurance company -- if that's the platform 126 00:11:09,934 --> 00:11:15,804 that others want to run on, taking that away from families and small businesses, then we'll 127 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,400 have a robust campaign on that. 128 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,070 The Press: Can I just follow? What's your reaction 129 00:11:21,066 --> 00:11:24,866 to some of the words that were thrown around just this past weekend? One Republican member 130 00:11:24,867 --> 00:11:31,367 of Congress shouting "baby killer." You had Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights 131 00:11:31,367 --> 00:11:33,067 icon, have the N-word shouted at him. What's your reaction to that, first; but then how 132 00:11:33,066 --> 00:11:37,836 do you pick up the pieces from this debate for immigration and closing Gitmo and some 133 00:11:37,834 --> 00:11:38,164 of those other things? 134 00:11:38,166 --> 00:11:41,766 Mr. Gibbs: Well, Ed, you have -- we have talked about 135 00:11:41,767 --> 00:11:52,367 on any number of different debates what happens when people say things that have no place 136 00:11:52,367 --> 00:11:58,537 in a legislative debate, let alone any -- I think any real place in our public or, 137 00:11:58,533 --> 00:12:03,433 quite frankly, even private discourse. I don't know that I would want to explain to my six 138 00:12:03,433 --> 00:12:11,363 year old why I had done or said some of the things that were done or said this past weekend. 139 00:12:11,367 --> 00:12:18,337 I think the President believes regardless of the passion of your views, which people 140 00:12:18,333 --> 00:12:23,663 rightly hold in a country as great as this, that we ought to be able to have that debate 141 00:12:23,667 --> 00:12:33,697 without the type of language and actions that we've seen in some places over the weekend. 142 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:37,870 The Press: To follow on Jake was asking about the speech 143 00:12:37,867 --> 00:12:41,467 in the campaign about covering all Americans, regardless of whether there was any talk this 144 00:12:41,467 --> 00:12:46,967 morning about a second piece of legislation, generally how do you view this? Is this the 145 00:12:46,967 --> 00:12:50,697 first bite of the apple? Does the President hope to complete this by the end of 2012? 146 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:54,330 Mr. Gibbs: I appreciate you all constructing another 147 00:12:54,333 --> 00:13:02,763 mountain for us to climb. I'm quite frankly this afternoon just enjoying the view from where we are. 148 00:13:02,767 --> 00:13:04,997 The Press: Okay. On another subject, Israel, you got 149 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,530 the Prime Minister coming to meet with the President tomorrow. Ahead of that meeting 150 00:13:08,533 --> 00:13:14,033 we're getting reports that the Prime Minister has suggested he might make some concessions, 151 00:13:14,033 --> 00:13:16,903 including sitting down for direct talks with the Palestinians, U.S.-brokered. It sounds 152 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:20,730 like we need to hear whether the U.S. is willing to bring the parties together. How quickly 153 00:13:20,734 --> 00:13:27,104 do you think the President will receive those concessions and would he commence talks? 154 00:13:27,100 --> 00:13:31,030 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think Prime Minister Netanyahu is 155 00:13:31,033 --> 00:13:38,863 -- obviously is here, will meet with some administration officials today, and will meet 156 00:13:38,867 --> 00:13:45,967 privately with the President, like he did last year, tomorrow, early tomorrow evening. 157 00:13:45,967 --> 00:13:54,737 Our goal in any of this is to create an atmosphere of trust and open dialogue to bring these 158 00:13:54,734 --> 00:14:02,504 two sides together so that the discussions can be substantive in moving towards comprehensive 159 00:14:02,500 --> 00:14:11,870 Middle Eastern peace. I think that's what we hope tomorrow is in his discussions with 160 00:14:11,867 --> 00:14:16,067 the Prime Minister, and we'll see what comes out of that. 161 00:14:16,066 --> 00:14:19,136 The Press: Is the President prepared to start talks with the 162 00:14:19,133 --> 00:14:20,433 U.S. helping to broker -- 163 00:14:20,433 --> 00:14:24,163 Mr. Gibbs: The President looks forward to having a good 164 00:14:24,166 --> 00:14:27,396 conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and we'll see where we go from there. 165 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:28,830 The Press: Coverage? 166 00:14:28,834 --> 00:14:32,034 Mr. Gibbs: No coverage. It will be in the dining room 167 00:14:32,033 --> 00:14:33,663 off the Oval Office. Yes, ma'am. 168 00:14:33,667 --> 00:14:36,197 The Press: What did the President learn about himself 169 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:42,270 out of this debate and about the different parties? And what is -- I think it's very 170 00:14:42,266 --> 00:14:47,596 legitimate to ask what is the next big mountain? 171 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,730 Mr. Gibbs: It's legitimate to ask. I didn't want 172 00:14:49,734 --> 00:14:55,264 to climb a separate mountain on this. Look, I think what he learned about -- I think what 173 00:14:55,266 --> 00:15:03,196 all of Washington learned about him is that he is willing to make very tough decisions -- 174 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:08,470 The Press: Why didn't he go for the government plan then? 175 00:15:08,467 --> 00:15:11,537 Mr. Gibbs: Let me -- I didn't even get five words out, Helen. 176 00:15:11,533 --> 00:15:13,603 (laughter) 177 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:22,130 I think somebody who's willing to make very tough decisions and see that through. I think 178 00:15:22,133 --> 00:15:31,503 there were many opportunities where he could have turned back, and I think he -- I think 179 00:15:31,500 --> 00:15:39,170 very much that what passed last night meant more to him than any election night could 180 00:15:39,166 --> 00:15:46,966 have, because I think he understands -- and the reason that he continued to push forward 181 00:15:46,967 --> 00:15:53,567 on something as important as health care reform is he understands just what it will mean, 182 00:15:53,567 --> 00:15:57,937 as I said earlier, for millions of Americans for many, many years to come. They will -- 183 00:15:57,934 --> 00:16:04,904 just in the next -- within this year, small businesses will begin to get tax credits to 184 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:13,700 help pay for the coverage they provide their employees. Seniors will get help in their 185 00:16:13,700 --> 00:16:18,270 prescription drug coverage, and we'll begin to close that doughnut hole that I talked 186 00:16:18,266 --> 00:16:22,566 about. Maybe most importantly in all these immediate benefits, like I've said before, 187 00:16:22,567 --> 00:16:27,637 a mother doesn't have -- won't have to sit in her kitchen on the phone with an insurance 188 00:16:27,633 --> 00:16:36,303 company, worried sick that the decisions about her child's health care are not going to 189 00:16:36,300 --> 00:16:43,800 be made by a doctor, they're not going to be made by her or her family, but by an insurance 190 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:50,830 company bureaucrat on the other end of the phone in God knows where, determining that 191 00:16:50,834 --> 00:16:56,034 that child had a preexisting condition. That's all going to change. And that's just what's 192 00:16:56,033 --> 00:17:03,433 going to happen over the course of the rest of 2010. So, look, I think he was -- I think 193 00:17:03,433 --> 00:17:14,703 he knew what he wanted to accomplish, and despite all of -- despite whatever he was 194 00:17:14,700 --> 00:17:22,230 told, he kept fighting for what he believed in. 195 00:17:22,233 --> 00:17:23,963 The Press: So will that be his modus operandi from now 196 00:17:23,967 --> 00:17:25,937 on? He started out very slow and not really pushing -- 197 00:17:25,934 --> 00:17:42,364 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I would say perseverance paid off. Look, I think the President 198 00:17:42,367 --> 00:17:47,567 rightly looks at the scorekeeping that happens on any given or individual day. And I doubt 199 00:17:47,567 --> 00:17:51,567 that anybody -- I doubt there's not anybody in here that at some point declared health 200 00:17:51,567 --> 00:18:00,767 care dead, maybe multiple times. I think the pace that the President had was to see the 201 00:18:00,767 --> 00:18:06,437 long view and to get this done, and I think that's what he did. As for the next mountains, 202 00:18:06,433 --> 00:18:14,103 we've talked about some of them. There's no doubt that finishing the legislation that 203 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:21,170 the President has offered and ideas that he's offered on getting our economy moving again, 204 00:18:21,166 --> 00:18:29,896 small business lending, zero capital gains for start-up small businesses, the retrofitting 205 00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:38,930 initiatives to, again, create jobs. There's the outstanding case -- and the loophole that 206 00:18:38,934 --> 00:18:47,864 the case generated for Citizens United; obviously, financial reform, which Senator Dodd's committee 207 00:18:47,867 --> 00:18:57,867 will take up today, and I think we feel there's some momentum building for seeing that through, 208 00:18:57,867 --> 00:19:05,367 as well as big issues like comprehensive energy and immigration legislation are obviously 209 00:19:05,367 --> 00:19:07,197 still left for the President to do. 210 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:11,170 The Press: There are some who think -- who seem to think 211 00:19:11,166 --> 00:19:15,866 that the President's health care reform bill will somehow fund abortions. Can you 212 00:19:15,867 --> 00:19:17,297 maybe speak to that? 213 00:19:17,300 --> 00:19:23,900 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry, say that again. 214 00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:25,570 The Press: There are some who think the President's 215 00:19:25,567 --> 00:19:25,897 health care reform is somehow funding abortions. Can you speak to that? 216 00:19:25,900 --> 00:19:27,400 Mr. Gibbs: I will say this, and I think the executive 217 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:36,530 order makes this clear: The President stated throughout this process that health care reform 218 00:19:36,533 --> 00:19:43,403 should simply maintain the status quo. He believes that the bill maintains the status 219 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:47,030 quo and he thinks the executive order reiterates that strong belief. 220 00:19:47,033 --> 00:19:49,833 The Press: But that's all it does, doesn't it -- 221 00:19:49,834 --> 00:19:57,064 reiterates the existing law? There's nothing -- there's nothing in particular about 222 00:19:57,066 --> 00:19:58,166 the executive order that changed anything. 223 00:19:58,166 --> 00:20:00,736 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, the President and I think quite 224 00:20:00,734 --> 00:20:05,864 frankly many in Congress on both sides of this believed, as the President did, that 225 00:20:05,867 --> 00:20:10,167 this should be a health care bill; that it shouldn't be a bill about other issues. 226 00:20:10,166 --> 00:20:15,836 And what the bill does and what the executive order does is underscore 227 00:20:15,834 --> 00:20:20,204 that the status quo is preserved. 228 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:21,030 The Press: It doesn't change anything, though, does it? 229 00:20:21,033 --> 00:20:23,803 Mr. Gibbs: That was the whole point. 230 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,930 The Press: So tomorrow, will there be -- will the President 231 00:20:26,934 --> 00:20:29,604 have any new proposals to move the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations beyond where they are with the 232 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,300 Mitchell talks right now? Is he going to -- any new ideas to push this forward? 233 00:20:32,300 --> 00:20:47,430 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, we'll have a sense of what 234 00:20:47,433 --> 00:20:54,003 building the type of trust that's needed to get two parties back at the table 235 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:55,470 to begin that dialogue. 236 00:20:55,467 --> 00:20:59,667 The Press: Does he expect a further apology for the treatment 237 00:20:59,667 --> 00:20:59,767 of the Vice President? 238 00:20:59,767 --> 00:21:03,067 Mr. Gibbs: I think we've spoken clearly on that and I 239 00:21:03,066 --> 00:21:06,496 have no doubt that that will be a topic in the meeting. Chuck. 240 00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:08,770 The Press: Just to follow-up quickly on -- 241 00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:10,997 -- so there's no coverage, there's going to be no public statement 242 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,000 with the President appearing -- 243 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:13,500 Mr. Gibbs: No. 244 00:21:13,500 --> 00:21:15,400 The Press: This is the second time in a row that Prime 245 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,600 Minister Netanyahu has visited and you guys have not had any cameras. Is there -- is this 246 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:20,470 just a coincidence? 247 00:21:20,467 --> 00:21:23,097 Mr. Gibbs: I think over the course of -- this will be -- 248 00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:25,600 The Press: Is this the only world leader and now it's twice? 249 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,230 Mr. Gibbs: No, I think -- well, I don't -- you may have 250 00:21:28,233 --> 00:21:30,363 better -- Mark probably has better statistics on -- 251 00:21:30,367 --> 00:21:32,567 The Press: How did I do on that? 252 00:21:32,567 --> 00:21:34,537 The Press: Well, King Juan Carlos, we didn't get a picture of him. 253 00:21:34,533 --> 00:21:35,433 The Press: Okay. 254 00:21:35,433 --> 00:21:36,433 (laughter) 255 00:21:36,433 --> 00:21:37,603 There you go. 256 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:39,000 Mr. Gibbs: What do you have to say about that? 257 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,400 (laughter) 258 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:46,200 I think this is the fourth meeting, if I'm not mistaken, with Prime Minister Netanyahu 259 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,300 -- two were open with sprays, two have been -- 260 00:21:49,300 --> 00:21:50,330 The Press: This is the second straight visit to the White 261 00:21:50,333 --> 00:21:57,833 House, though, with no public statements. Not a coincidence or it is a coincidence? 262 00:21:57,834 --> 00:21:59,334 Is there -- 263 00:21:59,333 --> 00:22:04,063 Mr. Gibbs: I think they'll have a good discussion. 264 00:22:04,066 --> 00:22:05,366 The Press: Why do you want to play it down? 265 00:22:05,367 --> 00:22:07,537 The Press: Yes, I mean, isn't this a helpful thing to -- 266 00:22:07,533 --> 00:22:11,033 Mr. Gibbs: You guys seem to be let in on a secret that the meeting is happening. 267 00:22:11,033 --> 00:22:12,503 The Press: Secret? 268 00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:13,470 (laughter) 269 00:22:13,467 --> 00:22:14,667 The Press: Well, why wouldn't they both want to reassure 270 00:22:14,667 --> 00:22:16,737 the world that relations are not frayed? 271 00:22:16,734 --> 00:22:19,534 Mr. Gibbs: We said that a week ago. 272 00:22:19,533 --> 00:22:21,963 The Press: Right, but why won't they go public -- the leaders? 273 00:22:21,967 --> 00:22:24,167 Mr. Gibbs: I can tell you that -- I can tell you that 274 00:22:24,166 --> 00:22:30,296 they're not frayed and that our bond with the Israelis is strong. 275 00:22:30,300 --> 00:22:33,600 The Press: So this is how an ally -- so an ally comes 276 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:39,400 and visits, no picture, no back-slapping, hey -- relations with the Associated Press 277 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,900 are great between -- I know, I mean -- it does seem odd -- 278 00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:46,800 Mr. Gibbs: You lost me in that otherwise pretty good analogy. 279 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,230 The Press: No, it just seems odd -- no, that you guys 280 00:22:49,233 --> 00:22:54,203 have -- this is an important ally. You say relations aren't frayed. So why not come 281 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:56,470 out together and say that? 282 00:22:56,467 --> 00:22:58,637 Mr. Gibbs: This is how the coverage of the meeting is going to go. 283 00:22:58,633 --> 00:23:00,933 The Press: Back to health care; I want to follow upon 284 00:23:00,934 --> 00:23:05,964 the legal challenge question. What has your Counsel's Office said? Why do you have this 285 00:23:05,967 --> 00:23:10,737 confidence that -- you say there's established law, established precedent. On what, what 286 00:23:10,734 --> 00:23:12,204 is it? What is the established precedent? 287 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,470 Mr. Gibbs: On regulation of interstate commerce. 288 00:23:14,467 --> 00:23:18,567 The Press: But how is a mandate on an individual part 289 00:23:18,567 --> 00:23:20,137 of interstate -- I mean, so -- 290 00:23:20,133 --> 00:23:22,803 Mr. Gibbs: Well, that's -- I think, again -- look, I'm 291 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:23,830 not a lawyer, right. 292 00:23:23,834 --> 00:23:24,604 The Press: And neither am I. 293 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:25,670 (laughter) 294 00:23:25,667 --> 00:23:27,237 Mr. Gibbs: Right, so we're both in a pool where we 295 00:23:27,233 --> 00:23:31,903 can't either see or touch the bottom. But as I understand the articles that I've read, 296 00:23:31,900 --> 00:23:35,970 the Attorney General, for instance, of Virginia, is going to sue because he thinks this violates 297 00:23:35,967 --> 00:23:46,737 that. I think that for many decades, the Supreme Court has recognized Congress's authority 298 00:23:46,734 --> 00:23:54,934 under the commerce clause to regulate activities relating to interstate commerce. 299 00:23:54,934 --> 00:23:56,964 The Press: But this is essentially going to say -- the 300 00:23:56,967 --> 00:24:01,067 argument is going to be, if you're a human being and an American citizen, you have to 301 00:24:01,066 --> 00:24:02,436 get health insurance. 302 00:24:02,433 --> 00:24:05,433 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I think they're challenging the basis 303 00:24:05,433 --> 00:24:11,703 -- the constitutional basis of an individual responsibility requirement that -- 304 00:24:11,700 --> 00:24:13,100 The Press: On a federal level, as opposed to a -- 305 00:24:13,100 --> 00:24:14,800 Mr. Gibbs: -- right -- that the President and the team 306 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:19,970 do not believe. For instance, I think Utah is one of the states that's thinking about 307 00:24:19,967 --> 00:24:28,067 doing this. Senator Hatch and Senator Bennett have both been on legislation requiring some 308 00:24:28,066 --> 00:24:35,666 level of individual responsibility like this. Senator Bennett's health care bill with 309 00:24:35,667 --> 00:24:42,167 Senator Wyden has an individual mandate. So again, I won't get into why some of this stuff -- 310 00:24:42,166 --> 00:24:43,136 The Press: But that speaks to an advocacy question, not 311 00:24:43,133 --> 00:24:49,463 to the legal basis of it. They could advocate for it, and it could be wrong legally, too. 312 00:24:49,467 --> 00:24:50,297 I mean, that doesn't answer -- that doesn't solve the -- I'm not making a judgment on 313 00:24:50,300 --> 00:24:50,530 their policy points -- 314 00:24:50,533 --> 00:24:53,263 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I'll let you ask Senator Hatch whether 315 00:24:53,266 --> 00:24:56,836 he thinks that he regularly believes -- 316 00:24:56,834 --> 00:24:59,064 The Press: Your advice from Counsel is there is no legal basis 317 00:24:59,066 --> 00:25:00,996 on which the -- 318 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,430 Mr. Gibbs: My advice from Counsel is that we'll win these lawsuits. 319 00:25:04,433 --> 00:25:06,963 The Press: And finally, confidence on this -- on what's 320 00:25:06,967 --> 00:25:10,767 going to happen this week in the Senate? You've got your 51 votes, you've got them lined 321 00:25:10,767 --> 00:25:11,997 up, this is -- 322 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:13,730 Mr. Gibbs: I would say that -- look, I would point you 323 00:25:13,734 --> 00:25:16,834 to what Senator Reid told the House caucus on Saturday; that -- 324 00:25:16,834 --> 00:25:19,234 The Press: He seemed to hedge a little bit. 325 00:25:19,233 --> 00:25:20,503 Mr. Gibbs: I didn't see that -- 326 00:25:20,500 --> 00:25:22,430 The Press: I mean, there was no letter, 51, right, he 327 00:25:22,433 --> 00:25:25,633 didn't have a full-fledged, or the 51 signatures. I mean, is that -- 328 00:25:25,633 --> 00:25:27,403 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I think -- 329 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:28,370 The Press: Do you expect -- 330 00:25:28,367 --> 00:25:33,697 Mr. Gibbs: I doubt Senator Reid would have to -- if he 331 00:25:33,700 --> 00:25:38,370 didn't have the commitment that he told many he would have and we believe he does. 332 00:25:38,367 --> 00:25:40,167 The Press: You expect the Senate to pass this word for 333 00:25:40,166 --> 00:25:42,336 word, what they passed? 334 00:25:42,333 --> 00:25:46,933 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think that the Senate will take this 335 00:25:46,934 --> 00:25:52,134 up at some point this week, begin the process, and, look, health care is going to become 336 00:25:52,133 --> 00:26:01,163 law tomorrow. I think that -- I can't speak to all of the amendments or all of the shenanigans 337 00:26:01,166 --> 00:26:06,796 that will be tried on Capitol Hill over the course of the next many days, but we're 338 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:11,670 confident that this process is coming to an end. Yes, ma'am. 339 00:26:11,667 --> 00:26:14,367 The Press: Back onto abortion, there are some who believe 340 00:26:14,367 --> 00:26:16,137 that given the difficultly of complying with this separation of funds and the rules that 341 00:26:16,133 --> 00:26:20,763 are laid out, that a lot of insurance companies just simply won't offer abortion coverage 342 00:26:20,767 --> 00:26:28,567 in the exchange. What's the White House's view on the likelihood of that outcome? 343 00:26:28,567 --> 00:26:33,197 Mr. Gibbs: I have not talked to Nancy-Ann about whether 344 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:40,500 or not that's a topic that they have wrestled with. Obviously that's -- once the President 345 00:26:40,500 --> 00:26:48,100 signs this into law, there will be a host of implementation ideas and tasks that we'll 346 00:26:48,100 --> 00:26:50,400 begin working on. 347 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,800 The Press: And on the broader question, the President 348 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:58,400 entered office determined to sort of try to bridge the gap in the abortion wars and repeatedly 349 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:03,570 has issued statements trying to bring the sides together, and yet it seems as though 350 00:27:03,567 --> 00:27:06,397 the abortion wars are as hot as they've ever been. 351 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,470 Mr. Gibbs: I don't think that's true. I think if 352 00:27:09,467 --> 00:27:14,767 they were as hot as they'd ever been, we'd be talking about why this was an issue that 353 00:27:14,767 --> 00:27:23,067 wasn't central to the legislation but it caused its demise. Instead, we're here because 354 00:27:23,066 --> 00:27:27,736 groups worked together in order to ensure that a health care bill would be a health care bill. 355 00:27:27,734 --> 00:27:30,464 The Press: So you think that the abortion debate has 356 00:27:30,467 --> 00:27:31,467 become less toxic over the last year? 357 00:27:31,467 --> 00:27:33,437 Mr. Gibbs: I think, as it relates to health care, it's 358 00:27:33,433 --> 00:27:43,533 evidenced that -- it's evidenced that the issue is one that even those that disagree 359 00:27:43,533 --> 00:27:50,363 on can find common ground to ensure that important policies like comprehensive health care reform 360 00:27:50,367 --> 00:27:52,697 move forward. Yes, Mark. 361 00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:55,200 The Press: Robert, will the President sign the executive 362 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:56,370 order tomorrow, as well? 363 00:27:56,367 --> 00:27:58,667 Mr. Gibbs: I'm told he can't sign that until he signs 364 00:27:58,667 --> 00:28:03,037 the law, so whether that -- I don't know whether that's tomorrow or in the coming 365 00:28:03,033 --> 00:28:08,903 days. Bill handed me a note that said, likely because of the weather we are going to be 366 00:28:08,900 --> 00:28:15,500 over at the Department of the Interior tomorrow. And we'll get you logistical information 367 00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:19,970 on all that. 368 00:28:19,967 --> 00:28:22,237 The Press: Any reason for the Department of Interior? 369 00:28:22,233 --> 00:28:22,763 Mr. Gibbs: I think largely because of -- 370 00:28:22,767 --> 00:28:22,997 The Press: Space? 371 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:23,300 Mr. Gibbs: -- space. Yes. 372 00:28:23,300 --> 00:28:24,230 The Press: And on the trip on Thursday, is that a victory 373 00:28:24,233 --> 00:28:30,303 lap or is he trying to reach out to perhaps Americans that are upset about the bill? 374 00:28:30,300 --> 00:28:32,830 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think, Mark, he will take the 375 00:28:32,834 --> 00:28:44,734 opportunity to discuss the benefits that the law provides millions of Americans as a result 376 00:28:44,734 --> 00:28:54,064 of his signature. We can debate the polling and the politics on this. I think that as 377 00:28:54,066 --> 00:29:02,036 -- as we get away from the back and forth of a legislative floor debate and examine 378 00:29:02,033 --> 00:29:08,063 what is in the bill and how it affects families and small businesses and seniors -- and then 379 00:29:08,066 --> 00:29:15,896 we can talk about what's not in the bill, despite what some people have said -- I think 380 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:24,470 the President believes that more will -- more will see the benefits that he saw in 381 00:29:24,467 --> 00:29:28,437 making sure this legislation becomes law. 382 00:29:28,433 --> 00:29:31,903 The Press: But does he want to try to allay the fears 383 00:29:31,900 --> 00:29:33,470 or concerns of those who are opposed to the bill? 384 00:29:33,467 --> 00:29:37,537 Mr. Gibbs: I think he will -- I think he will walk -- 385 00:29:37,533 --> 00:29:41,333 in all that he does, he'll walk people through what he believes this legislation 386 00:29:41,333 --> 00:29:47,063 does. And I think you've heard him say over the past many months to address specific instances 387 00:29:47,066 --> 00:29:51,766 about what people say the bill does that it in fact doesn't do. So I think he will have 388 00:29:51,767 --> 00:29:56,737 and continue to have an opportunity to do that. And certainly the first -- I anticipate 389 00:29:56,734 --> 00:30:00,834 he'll do a lot of that tomorrow; he did some of that last night; and will do even 390 00:30:00,834 --> 00:30:04,364 more of it in Iowa City. 391 00:30:04,367 --> 00:30:08,567 The Press: Did he have any comment that the vote yesterday 392 00:30:08,567 --> 00:30:11,767 for the bill was entirely partisan, but the vote against it was bipartisan? 393 00:30:11,767 --> 00:30:15,097 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I remember anything specifically 394 00:30:15,100 --> 00:30:23,270 on that, Mark. I know that, again, this is a President that has -- I think by any account 395 00:30:23,266 --> 00:30:33,236 you could see that this is a process that took a little more than a year to complete 396 00:30:33,233 --> 00:30:37,903 partly because the process that the President and Congress went through was one in order 397 00:30:37,900 --> 00:30:43,470 to try to get Republican support, even when Republicans said even it's likely if -- 398 00:30:43,467 --> 00:30:48,937 even if it's likely that I can support -- I like what's in the bill, I might not 399 00:30:48,934 --> 00:30:54,764 be able to vote for it. I think that just is the -- regrettably the times that apparently 400 00:30:54,767 --> 00:30:56,167 we live in. Roger. 401 00:30:56,166 --> 00:30:59,396 The Press: Robert, since the briefing started Google 402 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:06,470 has now announced that it won't censor searches in China and is directing users to the Hong 403 00:31:06,467 --> 00:31:13,567 Kong servers. Now, can you talk about how the U.S. was informed -- 404 00:31:13,567 --> 00:31:17,767 Mr. Gibbs: Let me -- I know that there were some -- 405 00:31:17,767 --> 00:31:22,897 I need to find out what discussions were had here this morning. I know there was some discussion 406 00:31:22,900 --> 00:31:30,600 over the weekend that something like this might be coming. 407 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:32,530 The Press: With NSC? 408 00:31:32,533 --> 00:31:33,933 Mr. Gibbs: With NSC. 409 00:31:33,934 --> 00:31:35,304 The Press: Okay. And do you know what action the U.S. 410 00:31:35,300 --> 00:31:36,670 might take if China's government makes any move against Google's operations? 411 00:31:36,667 --> 00:31:40,097 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know that I would get into a hypothetical 412 00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:41,170 on something like that. 413 00:31:41,166 --> 00:31:42,496 The Press: Is it possible -- 414 00:31:42,500 --> 00:31:44,400 Mr. Gibbs: I'm happy to react to what's happening, 415 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:45,500 not what we think might. 416 00:31:45,500 --> 00:31:47,830 The Press: On the talks tomorrow night, will the President 417 00:31:47,834 --> 00:31:50,404 be in kind of a listen mode, trying to understand the housing stuff last week, or is he going 418 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:53,330 to offer up some proposal, some sort of way forward? Can you talk a little bit about what 419 00:31:53,333 --> 00:31:58,103 he's going to be doing? 420 00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:05,070 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I'm not under the impression the 421 00:32:05,066 --> 00:32:14,136 President is bringing new proposals forward. I think what we need to do is work to get 422 00:32:14,133 --> 00:32:18,103 and build the type of relationship between these two parties that allows them to get 423 00:32:18,100 --> 00:32:23,370 to the table and trust each other enough to have conversations. I think that's what the 424 00:32:23,367 --> 00:32:29,267 President's intention has been, quite honestly, since the beginning of his administration 425 00:32:29,266 --> 00:32:30,596 in trying to get this done. 426 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:35,370 The Press: Will he ask them for specific requests? 427 00:32:35,367 --> 00:32:41,497 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I'm not going to get into what has 428 00:32:41,500 --> 00:32:45,770 been discussed with the Secretary of State or the Vice President over the past many days. 429 00:32:45,767 --> 00:32:47,197 The Press: How about a readout? 430 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:48,830 Mr. Gibbs: We'll have one, yes. Major. 431 00:32:48,834 --> 00:32:51,464 The Press: Robert, a little bit of texture on yesterday. 432 00:32:51,467 --> 00:32:57,037 When was it that the President knew confidently that he had the votes -- Democratic leadership 433 00:32:57,033 --> 00:33:02,233 had the votes in the House? Was it the final resolution, the Stupak situation? Was it sometime 434 00:33:02,233 --> 00:33:07,933 after that? And can you take us a little bit into the Roosevelt Room for what I have to 435 00:33:07,934 --> 00:33:13,034 imagine was a more than mildly significant moment for him personally and for those 436 00:33:13,033 --> 00:33:15,903 closest to him? 437 00:33:15,900 --> 00:33:21,070 Mr. Gibbs: I think that -- in terms of votes, I think 438 00:33:21,066 --> 00:33:30,796 obviously the members that Congressman Stupak had -- that shared his concerns, once the 439 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:36,500 executive order -- once that all played out, I think obviously that's the point in which 440 00:33:36,500 --> 00:33:47,200 we felt good that the legislation would exceed 216 votes. The President -- 441 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:48,930 The Press: Did you doubt up until that moment whether 442 00:33:48,934 --> 00:33:52,664 you could get 216 without that arrangement? 443 00:33:52,667 --> 00:33:55,637 Mr. Gibbs: We were trying -- the President spent a lot 444 00:33:55,633 --> 00:34:02,233 of time talking to a lot of different members, discussing the benefits of what this legislation 445 00:34:02,233 --> 00:34:07,833 did, in a lot of different combinations, to get to 216. So -- in terms of the Roosevelt -- 446 00:34:07,834 --> 00:34:10,864 The Press: The question is, could you have gotten there without Stupak? 447 00:34:10,867 --> 00:34:14,367 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not sure that that would -- is altogether 448 00:34:14,367 --> 00:34:21,037 knowable, since at a certain point yesterday it became that way. And I don't know what 449 00:34:21,033 --> 00:34:24,463 that -- I don't know what that does to other people's votes, so I'm not sure that that's 450 00:34:24,467 --> 00:34:30,737 altogether knowable. In terms of the Roosevelt Room, Major, he walked in, the Vice President 451 00:34:30,734 --> 00:34:42,404 was there, many staffers were there, and I think he very much wanted to -- he'd come 452 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:51,130 down from the residence and very much wanted to be, as we wanted to be with him, be with 453 00:34:51,133 --> 00:34:56,803 a group of people that have spent many years, some people far longer than coming here, working 454 00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:04,770 on the promise of health care reform for millions and millions of Americans. So as you always 455 00:35:04,767 --> 00:35:11,497 do, you anxiously watch, you wonder who the 24 people are that haven't voted, with two-and-a-half 456 00:35:11,500 --> 00:35:15,930 minutes left, given the fact that it's been what everybody's been talking about for 457 00:35:15,934 --> 00:35:25,834 weeks. And then obviously when we hit 216, there was a lot of jubilation. The President 458 00:35:25,834 --> 00:35:35,464 went around the room, shaking hands and hugging and high-fiving. As I said, there are people 459 00:35:35,467 --> 00:35:40,137 that have worked on this issue longer than there has been an Obama administration. There 460 00:35:40,133 --> 00:35:46,333 are people that have been with the President for many years throughout the campaign, like 461 00:35:46,333 --> 00:35:57,533 myself, I think that felt enormously proud of him for the type of perseverance I talked 462 00:35:57,533 --> 00:36:07,063 about earlier and not letting up and not giving up, and making sure that we drove toward what 463 00:36:07,066 --> 00:36:14,296 he saw as the outcome rather than listening to all of the noise in getting there. And 464 00:36:14,300 --> 00:36:15,500 that's, I think, one of -- 465 00:36:15,500 --> 00:36:17,500 The Press: Any memorable quotes from that particular 466 00:36:17,500 --> 00:36:18,770 moment, either way, staff or President? 467 00:36:18,767 --> 00:36:22,167 Mr. Gibbs: I just remember him being very happy. I mean, 468 00:36:22,166 --> 00:36:30,436 again, when he walked around the room, I think we all had a chance to say stuff to him. 469 00:36:30,433 --> 00:36:37,503 The Press: Was Mrs. Obama there? 470 00:36:37,500 --> 00:36:45,370 Mr. Gibbs: No, she was not. 471 00:36:45,367 --> 00:36:53,037 The Press: Speaking of Iowa, Charles Grassley just said 472 00:36:53,033 --> 00:37:03,903 a moment ago that he would like to offer an amendment during the reconciliation process 473 00:37:03,900 --> 00:37:07,470 to require the President -- and all senior staff and all Cabinet secretaries -- to live 474 00:37:07,467 --> 00:37:12,137 under the guidelines and the requirements of the health care bill. First of all, do 475 00:37:12,133 --> 00:37:24,763 you stipulate that they do not? And second of all, do you consider that a flaw in the 476 00:37:24,767 --> 00:37:38,297 legislation and a legitimate point of criticism? 477 00:37:38,300 --> 00:37:38,770 Mr. Gibbs: I'd have to look at the amendment and ask 478 00:37:38,767 --> 00:37:39,397 Nancy-Ann. I know that -- I think someone offered an amendment at some point in the 479 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:41,170 process to make members of Congress, as the President has said, give the American people 480 00:37:41,166 --> 00:37:42,096 the same type of health care that members of Congress have. And, obviously, the President 481 00:37:42,100 --> 00:37:42,770 supported that. I just have not seen what Senator Grassley -- 482 00:37:42,767 --> 00:37:43,097 The Press: One more on another topic. Peter Orszag put 483 00:37:43,100 --> 00:37:43,470 out a memo last week on ACORN funding. Do you consider that just a response to the federal 484 00:37:43,467 --> 00:37:43,837 court order to reinstate that -- 485 00:37:43,834 --> 00:37:44,804 Mr. Gibbs: Let me get some information from OMB on that. 486 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:45,900 I don't have anything on that. 487 00:37:45,900 --> 00:37:46,100 The Press: Okay. 488 00:37:46,100 --> 00:37:46,330 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, sir. 489 00:37:46,333 --> 00:37:47,003 The Press: What is the -- what kind of event is it in 490 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:47,370 Iowa? A speech, a town hall? 491 00:37:47,367 --> 00:37:47,767 Mr. Gibbs: It will be a speech. 492 00:37:47,767 --> 00:37:48,267 The Press: And as President Obama and Prime Minister 493 00:37:48,266 --> 00:37:48,896 Netanyahu resolve their differences, what's the administration's message to the Palestinians? 494 00:37:48,900 --> 00:37:50,670 After the administration called on the Israeli government to stop building in East Jerusalem, 495 00:37:50,667 --> 00:37:51,967 they said they're not going to. It doesn't seem to get at the Palestinian concerns at 496 00:37:51,967 --> 00:37:56,397 all. And it seems now that this is dissolving, but there is no real solution in their view. 497 00:37:56,400 --> 00:38:00,200 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, I think the President is hopeful 498 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:07,770 that we will in this meeting make progress and get -- without getting into the intricacies 499 00:38:07,767 --> 00:38:15,667 of it -- get these two parties back to -- not just back physically to talks, but to 500 00:38:15,667 --> 00:38:21,267 the type of relationship that is necessary for those talks to bear fruit. Yes, sir. 501 00:38:21,266 --> 00:38:24,796 The Press: Thanks. Two quick questions, Robert. First, 502 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:30,430 on the passage of the health care reform bill, there's been a lot of talk about the effect 503 00:38:30,433 --> 00:38:35,663 this is going to have on Democrats in November. The Republicans -- I think Karl Rove said 504 00:38:35,667 --> 00:38:40,367 it was going to be devastating to Democrats. Most of the reporters I've heard on TV since 505 00:38:40,367 --> 00:38:42,567 -- even since the passage of the bill seem to be conceding it's going to -- Democrats 506 00:38:42,567 --> 00:38:44,837 are going to pay some price. Is there any scenario that you or the President sees whereby 507 00:38:44,834 --> 00:38:50,404 Democrats could actually gain in November based on the momentum from this legislative victory? 508 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:56,770 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I'm not going to hazard a lot 509 00:38:56,767 --> 00:39:01,297 of guesses on what's going to happen eight months from now, since eight months from 510 00:39:01,300 --> 00:39:06,770 -- eight months backwards from today I don't think many people thought today we'd be 511 00:39:06,767 --> 00:39:14,667 talking about what we've accomplished in those eight months. So I tend not to have a crystal 512 00:39:14,667 --> 00:39:24,897 ball. Again, I think that as -- when the President signs this landmark legislation the American 513 00:39:24,900 --> 00:39:33,030 people will, in the next several months, begin to feel -- through small business tax credits, 514 00:39:33,033 --> 00:39:39,063 through protections against children being declared -- or having declared that they have 515 00:39:39,066 --> 00:39:42,796 a preexisting condition, seniors getting help with their prescription drugs -- the type 516 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:52,330 of things that the President envisioned happening as a part of health care reform. And I think 517 00:39:52,333 --> 00:39:56,363 that will be beneficial. The President I think was pretty eloquent in saying this over the 518 00:39:56,367 --> 00:40:02,237 past couple weeks, that when asked what happens if this fails, what does it mean for you politically, 519 00:40:02,233 --> 00:40:07,403 I think the President was pretty clear in saying that his far greater concern was what 520 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:14,270 happens to all of those that are depending on us to change the status quo, and to do 521 00:40:14,266 --> 00:40:22,936 so in a way that helps them. So I know there are a lot of folks that will want to prognosticate. 522 00:40:22,934 --> 00:40:29,404 I think the President's strong belief is you make the decisions that you believe are 523 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:34,130 right. You don't spend a lot of time looking at the polls or listening to the chatter, 524 00:40:34,133 --> 00:40:41,203 and good decisions and good policy often tend to make for good politics in the long term. 525 00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:43,370 The Press: My second question was, there's also been 526 00:40:43,367 --> 00:40:49,237 some talk on the left about how any Democratic senator could sponsor an amendment to put 527 00:40:49,233 --> 00:40:54,233 a public option in the reconciliation package. If that happened, would that be something 528 00:40:54,233 --> 00:40:57,263 the President would push for? 529 00:40:57,266 --> 00:41:03,796 Mr. Gibbs: I'm going to wait for the Senate to decide 530 00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:04,730 what they want to do in terms of amendments. Yes, sir. 531 00:41:04,734 --> 00:41:06,934 The Press: Robert, can we go back to Jake's question 532 00:41:06,934 --> 00:41:08,504 and ask if -- in the obverse, about bipartisanship? The President endured months of negotiation 533 00:41:08,500 --> 00:41:12,870 in the Senate while his allies tried to get some Republicans on board. He went through 534 00:41:12,867 --> 00:41:16,367 town halls and meetings at Blair House, et cetera, and ended up with zero Republican 535 00:41:16,367 --> 00:41:23,597 votes. Why isn't the lesson of this that bipartisanship is a fool's errand? 536 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:28,330 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think, again, if your -- if the strategy 537 00:41:28,333 --> 00:41:34,963 on the other side is regardless of what the President proposes, to say no, then bipartisanship 538 00:41:34,967 --> 00:41:40,567 is going to be difficult. I think you've seen people to say -- people have said today, 539 00:41:40,567 --> 00:41:45,197 well, what this whole process means, we're not going to work together with the other 540 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:49,370 side for the rest of the year. Well, I don't think that's a real change in their schedule 541 00:41:49,367 --> 00:41:55,537 because I haven't noticed that there's been a whole lot of, gee, I know the economy 542 00:41:55,533 --> 00:42:01,063 is experiencing the worst downturn since the Great Depression, here are some ideas, let's 543 00:42:01,066 --> 00:42:09,866 help. I think that's -- but again, I think the American people will judge whether or 544 00:42:09,867 --> 00:42:16,197 not people are doing what they're doing because they're just continuing the type 545 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:24,370 of games that the American people hate in this town versus somebody who's trying to 546 00:42:24,367 --> 00:42:33,697 honestly make some progress. I think the President spent seven or so hours at the Blair House. 547 00:42:33,700 --> 00:42:41,600 Incorporated in the legislation were more than a hundred Republican amendments. You'd 548 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:50,200 have to ask them what it would take to get their support when, as the President has himself 549 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:56,270 said, bipartisanship can't be "none of my ideas and all of yours." Incorporated 550 00:42:56,266 --> 00:43:02,336 in the legislation were Republican ideas. People like Bob Dole and Howard Baker had 551 00:43:02,333 --> 00:43:07,033 proposals with Tom Daschle, very similar to what is proposed here. I've talked about 552 00:43:07,033 --> 00:43:11,503 the fact that this legislation looks an awful lot like what happened in Massachusetts, and 553 00:43:11,500 --> 00:43:16,800 I'm sure Governor Romney hates every time I say that. The only difference really is 554 00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:20,570 that we addressed cost, and Massachusetts didn't do that, and it took them a while 555 00:43:20,567 --> 00:43:30,597 to get to that curve. But what makes Republicans that two or four or eight or 12 years ago 556 00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:36,630 would have proposed something very similar to this now walk away from it is a good thing 557 00:43:36,633 --> 00:43:38,203 for them to have to answer. 558 00:43:38,200 --> 00:43:41,630 The Press: Robert, my question was about what the President 559 00:43:41,633 --> 00:43:44,163 takes from this. Is he still willing to do the same sort of -- going for a year, for 560 00:43:44,166 --> 00:43:45,296 example, on financial overhaul? 561 00:43:45,300 --> 00:43:47,870 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't think the President believes 562 00:43:47,867 --> 00:43:54,037 -- well, we've already been working a year on financial reform. We passed the House. 563 00:43:54,033 --> 00:43:59,463 We are likely to pass soon the committee of jurisdiction in the Senate. And I think the 564 00:43:59,467 --> 00:44:07,837 President believes that we are coming close to the two-year anniversary of the utter collapse 565 00:44:07,834 --> 00:44:15,734 of our financial system based on people gaming that system and there not being in place strong 566 00:44:15,734 --> 00:44:21,604 rules to prevent that from happening. The President is not convinced that it is going 567 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:27,400 to take another year to get those rules into place. And people are going to have to decide 568 00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:32,330 in the next few months, particularly on financial reform, whether you're going to put rules 569 00:44:32,333 --> 00:44:35,403 in place to prevent this from happening, or whether you're going to work on the side 570 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:41,570 of the very same actors that caused many of these types of episodes -- this type of episode, 571 00:44:41,567 --> 00:44:44,137 calamitous episode, to happen. Yes, sir. 572 00:44:44,133 --> 00:44:47,563 The Press: Robert, is the President's health care a 573 00:44:47,567 --> 00:44:53,137 communications challenge different than Iowa City and beyond than it was in Missouri or 574 00:44:53,133 --> 00:44:55,963 Pennsylvania or Ohio before the bill was passed? 575 00:44:55,967 --> 00:44:57,697 Mr. Gibbs: In what way? 576 00:44:57,700 --> 00:45:01,000 The Press: Does he have a different message now? 577 00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:04,570 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I mean, obviously, look, I think the 578 00:45:04,567 --> 00:45:10,367 President will now discuss -- look, obviously, up until yesterday we were discussing what 579 00:45:10,367 --> 00:45:16,097 happens when the bill passes. Now we'll be able to talk about tangibly what people 580 00:45:16,100 --> 00:45:23,200 will see. So in some ways it's -- I mean, obviously, some of the verbs are a little 581 00:45:23,200 --> 00:45:27,470 different, but there's no question that the basis by what the President -- I think 582 00:45:27,467 --> 00:45:33,767 what you've heard the President talk about for the past two weeks about what insurance 583 00:45:33,767 --> 00:45:37,967 companies are doing and what this reform does will be the basis for what I think a lot of 584 00:45:37,967 --> 00:45:44,237 what you'll hear going forward. Yes, sir. 585 00:45:44,233 --> 00:45:50,003 The Press: Robert, just on some of the other issues on 586 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:51,630 the President's agenda, do you have a ranking of the most important things and the most 587 00:45:51,633 --> 00:45:52,003 gettable things you want, or -- 588 00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:52,500 Mr. Gibbs: I picked Kansas to win the bracket, so I don't 589 00:45:52,500 --> 00:45:54,700 see any reason for me to begin ranking said priorities. 590 00:45:54,700 --> 00:45:57,100 The Press: How will you decide what to go for and what 591 00:45:57,100 --> 00:45:58,200 to really invest in -- 592 00:45:58,200 --> 00:45:59,270 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look -- 593 00:45:59,266 --> 00:46:00,936 The Press: -- financial reform or energy or education? 594 00:46:00,934 --> 00:46:04,834 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think there's no doubt that -- 595 00:46:04,834 --> 00:46:12,704 well, on education I think the President and Secretary Duncan have made amazing strides 596 00:46:12,700 --> 00:46:19,030 on reforming our educational system. I think there's no doubt that financial reform is 597 00:46:19,033 --> 00:46:23,633 something the President expects to sign before the end of this year. David. 598 00:46:23,633 --> 00:46:25,803 The Press: Thank you, Robert. You talked a little bit 599 00:46:25,800 --> 00:46:29,330 earlier about the tone of the debate, but from the members of Congress -- not just from 600 00:46:29,333 --> 00:46:32,733 people outside the hall -- there was some very excessive rhetoric. Connie Mack, representative 601 00:46:32,734 --> 00:46:36,534 from Florida, Republican, said -- put out a press release, saying literally, "Freedom 602 00:46:36,533 --> 00:46:43,263 died today." If that's sort of the response you got from the other side, first, you know, 603 00:46:43,266 --> 00:46:48,666 what do you make of it, and can you work with people like that in other areas? 604 00:46:48,667 --> 00:46:53,167 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, all the President can do is try. 605 00:46:53,166 --> 00:47:03,036 All the President can do is talk to members about what is important going forward, and 606 00:47:03,033 --> 00:47:08,063 getting our economy moving again -- is it helping small businesses with tax credits 607 00:47:08,066 --> 00:47:14,836 and lending and things like that. I happen to believe there is some overlap and commonality, 608 00:47:14,834 --> 00:47:21,104 at least in the rhetoric of what President Obama and some on the Republican side talk 609 00:47:21,100 --> 00:47:29,270 about. Whether or not -- again, whether or not they're willing to put aside Senator 610 00:47:29,266 --> 00:47:36,766 McConnell's plan to oppose everything and seek to be part of a governing solution, we'll 611 00:47:36,767 --> 00:47:37,637 just have to see. 612 00:47:37,633 --> 00:47:42,833 The Press: On a related front, looking back at what happened 613 00:47:42,834 --> 00:47:48,364 with the stimulus and the political debate that followed for months afterwards, do you 614 00:47:48,367 --> 00:47:53,637 believe the White House has picked up any lessons on how to deal with the definitional 615 00:47:53,633 --> 00:47:56,903 debate that will come about after the passage of this bill? 616 00:47:56,900 --> 00:48:01,470 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, I think, as is the case with 617 00:48:01,467 --> 00:48:09,137 the Recovery Plan, I think there's no doubt, as I said early on in my time here today, 618 00:48:09,133 --> 00:48:14,403 that the President will -- there's no doubt the President will continue to talk about 619 00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:21,900 what health care reform is for the American people, what the passage of this law means. 620 00:48:21,900 --> 00:48:26,930 And as I said, I think people will also get a chance to see what some people have said 621 00:48:26,934 --> 00:48:33,934 the bill means -- they'll get to see that's not what's happened. And I think all of 622 00:48:33,934 --> 00:48:38,834 that will be beneficial for folks over the next many months. 623 00:48:38,834 --> 00:48:39,504 The Press: Can I follow that? 624 00:48:39,500 --> 00:48:41,330 Mr. Gibbs: Hold on a second. Mike. 625 00:48:41,333 --> 00:48:42,933 The Press: Is the White House ready for the implementation 626 00:48:42,934 --> 00:48:45,364 challenge that will come after the President's signature? There are a number of positions 627 00:48:45,367 --> 00:48:53,837 at HHS, for instance, that are still vacant and will have a big role here. 628 00:48:53,834 --> 00:48:57,334 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I know that senior staff here this morning 629 00:48:57,333 --> 00:49:05,433 in our morning meeting as well as in our meeting with the President discussed beginning in 630 00:49:05,433 --> 00:49:13,663 earnest that process and what goes along with it -- undoubtedly a big challenge. But I think 631 00:49:13,667 --> 00:49:21,297 many of the same group of people that helped think -- helped get through Congress what 632 00:49:21,300 --> 00:49:32,470 many people thought was unattainable will begin the challenge of implementing what will 633 00:49:32,467 --> 00:49:33,597 be law on Tuesday. Glen. 634 00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:36,270 The Press: Robert, it was really kind of a circus-like 635 00:49:36,266 --> 00:49:45,636 atmosphere in the House chamber at times yesterday. In addition to sort of the Neugebauer-Stupak 636 00:49:45,633 --> 00:49:48,863 issue, there were fliers placed on seats. There was one incident in which some -- there 637 00:49:48,867 --> 00:49:53,137 was an outburst in the gallery and some members on the Republican side seemed to encourage 638 00:49:53,133 --> 00:49:55,363 that outburst. Do you think the GOP leadership in the House is doing enough to rein in its 639 00:49:55,367 --> 00:49:58,267 own members and to instill a sense of decorum about the House? 640 00:49:58,266 --> 00:50:02,896 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I didn't -- I was in and out of a 641 00:50:02,900 --> 00:50:10,270 lot of things yesterday. I did not see each and every instance. I have said here and I 642 00:50:10,266 --> 00:50:19,596 think many have said that we have to be respectful of each other despite the differences that 643 00:50:19,600 --> 00:50:26,100 we may have in our opinions and to conduct ourselves in a way that demonstrates that 644 00:50:26,100 --> 00:50:37,830 respect. I think that goes for anybody in public life on both sides of the aisle as 645 00:50:37,834 --> 00:50:42,534 -- even as you're debating something that has inflamed the passions like health care 646 00:50:42,533 --> 00:50:43,233 reform certainly has. 647 00:50:43,233 --> 00:50:46,763 The Press: Do you think it says something, though, about 648 00:50:46,767 --> 00:50:51,797 the party and where they're at, at the moment, that you're seeing this kind of behavior? 649 00:50:51,800 --> 00:50:55,170 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, I think instead of being frustrated 650 00:50:55,166 --> 00:51:02,966 about a process, there were many avenues with which to become active in the legislative 651 00:51:02,967 --> 00:51:13,537 problem-solving part of the process that I think many wish they might have taken up. 652 00:51:13,533 --> 00:51:16,903 The Press: Do the insurance -- are the insurance companies 653 00:51:16,900 --> 00:51:22,200 going to be expected to comply with the measures in the law from the moment the President signs 654 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:26,600 them? In other words, you talked about kids and preexisting conditions -- will people 655 00:51:26,600 --> 00:51:32,500 notice that immediately on day one in talking to their insurance companies? Don't there 656 00:51:32,500 --> 00:51:36,270 have to be regulations -- aren't we really actually talking about many months before 657 00:51:36,266 --> 00:51:39,436 that actually goes into effect, or do you expect that they comply in the spirit from day one? 658 00:51:39,433 --> 00:51:43,963 Mr. Gibbs: Let me ask -- that's a good policy question 659 00:51:43,967 --> 00:51:52,267 for me to ask Nancy Ann. The legislation on the three things that I discussed phases that 660 00:51:52,266 --> 00:51:58,036 in over the course of the remaining part of this year. The spirit of the law is something 661 00:51:58,033 --> 00:52:01,503 I've not talked to her about, but I'd say it's a question worth asking. George. 662 00:52:01,500 --> 00:52:04,570 The Press: President Clinton, on Saturday night, said 663 00:52:04,567 --> 00:52:10,637 that he was making calls to Democratic members of the House at the behest the White House, 664 00:52:10,633 --> 00:52:15,363 and then took a call from President Obama about 7:00-7:15 p.m. Can you talk about the 665 00:52:15,367 --> 00:52:18,667 role he played and what you asked him to do? 666 00:52:18,667 --> 00:52:23,237 Mr. Gibbs: Look, obviously, President Clinton has relationships 667 00:52:23,233 --> 00:52:32,403 with many members of Congress on the Democratic side going back to his time here. And we made 668 00:52:32,400 --> 00:52:44,370 use of his offering to do whatever he could to help pass this legislation. He asked for 669 00:52:44,367 --> 00:52:54,037 calls. Obviously, Rahm knows who the President -- President Clinton knows well. And we handed 670 00:52:54,033 --> 00:53:00,063 him members to reach out to. And I think, in the end, he was successful in helping us 671 00:53:00,066 --> 00:53:06,636 get some of those votes. I will say this, too. Prior to coming out here, I was in a 672 00:53:06,633 --> 00:53:17,303 meeting in the Situation Room where Secretary Clinton was, and she was very happy to see 673 00:53:17,300 --> 00:53:24,130 what happened yesterday, and when the President came in, walked over and gave him a big hug 674 00:53:24,133 --> 00:53:26,003 for what had been accomplished.