English subtitles for clip: File:7-22-10- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:00,734 --> 00:00:01,964
Mr. Gibbs:
Mr. Feller.

2
00:00:01,967 --> 00:00:03,297
The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

3
00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:06,330
A few questions following
up on Shirley Sherrod.

4
00:00:06,333 --> 00:00:08,603
Just a point of order,
in the statement --

5
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:09,400
Mr. Gibbs:
Point of order?

6
00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:10,200
The Press:
Point of order.

7
00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:10,730
Mr. Gibbs:
Okay.

8
00:00:10,734 --> 00:00:12,404
(laughter)

9
00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,030
Is there a parliamentarian
for Ben's point of order?

10
00:00:15,033 --> 00:00:18,333
The Press:
I cede my time to the gentleman
from the Associated Press.

11
00:00:18,333 --> 00:00:20,603
(laughter)

12
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:21,370
The Press:
The statement says --

13
00:00:21,367 --> 00:00:22,967
Mr. Gibbs:
If there are no objections
-- go ahead, I'm sorry.

14
00:00:22,967 --> 00:00:23,797
The Press:
Thank you.

15
00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,130
The President expressed to
Ms. Sherrod his regret.

16
00:00:27,133 --> 00:00:29,863
Is it accurate to say
that he apologized,

17
00:00:29,867 --> 00:00:30,497
personally apologized?

18
00:00:30,500 --> 00:00:31,270
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, yes.

19
00:00:31,266 --> 00:00:31,866
The Press:
Okay.

20
00:00:31,867 --> 00:00:33,867
Thank you, the point of order.

21
00:00:33,867 --> 00:00:34,837
Mr. Gibbs:
Reclaiming your time?

22
00:00:34,834 --> 00:00:37,764
The Press:
Reclaiming the time.

23
00:00:37,767 --> 00:00:41,137
Did he lobby for her
to take her job back --

24
00:00:41,133 --> 00:00:42,033
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

25
00:00:42,033 --> 00:00:42,903
The Press:
-- or to take the new job?

26
00:00:42,900 --> 00:00:47,330
Mr. Gibbs:
No, look, that was not what
the call was about and not

27
00:00:47,333 --> 00:00:49,233
what happened on the call.

28
00:00:49,233 --> 00:00:54,733
Obviously the President said,
as the readout discusses,

29
00:00:54,734 --> 00:01:00,904
that she has a unique set
of experiences and a unique

30
00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:04,770
opportunity to continue
using those experiences

31
00:01:04,767 --> 00:01:06,637
to help people.

32
00:01:06,633 --> 00:01:07,963
That's what he said to her.

33
00:01:07,967 --> 00:01:12,367
And obviously a decision about
what she's going to do is up to

34
00:01:12,367 --> 00:01:16,267
her, and I think she is supposed
to talk with the Department of

35
00:01:16,266 --> 00:01:18,196
Agriculture at some point today.

36
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,430
The Press:
She did accept his apology?

37
00:01:19,433 --> 00:01:22,733
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

38
00:01:22,734 --> 00:01:25,204
The Press:
Maybe I missed this, but
why couldn't she just have

39
00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,670
her old job back?

40
00:01:27,667 --> 00:01:31,767
Mr. Gibbs:
I would point you to USDA in
terms of -- they're handling

41
00:01:31,767 --> 00:01:37,167
the jobs discussions
with Ms. Sherrod.

42
00:01:37,166 --> 00:01:41,396
I would say that -- I think what
Secretary Vilsack offered was

43
00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,970
something that allows her to,
again, as the President said,

44
00:01:45,967 --> 00:01:52,167
use some unique experiences to
help root out what we know is

45
00:01:52,166 --> 00:01:56,836
long -- a department that has
struggled with discrimination.

46
00:01:56,834 --> 00:01:58,604
The Press:
Did the President
invite Ms. Sherrod --

47
00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,870
Mr. Gibbs:
I would just say that she's
a -- as April pointed out

48
00:02:00,867 --> 00:02:03,867
yesterday -- she's
a plaintiff in the

49
00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:06,697
Pigford discrimination case.

50
00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:08,330
The Press:
Did the President invite
her to the White House?

51
00:02:08,333 --> 00:02:09,963
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

52
00:02:09,967 --> 00:02:13,497
The Press:
Is it clear why the
President was unable

53
00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:14,770
to reach her yesterday?

54
00:02:14,767 --> 00:02:16,667
Apparently he tried and
-- she's been all over TV

55
00:02:16,667 --> 00:02:20,297
-- why wasn't she reachable?

56
00:02:20,300 --> 00:02:23,230
Mr. Gibbs:
It may have been because
she was all over TV.

57
00:02:23,233 --> 00:02:26,703
The White House operator tried
on at least two occasions last

58
00:02:26,700 --> 00:02:29,800
night and was both unable
to reach her and unable to

59
00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,130
leave a voicemail.

60
00:02:31,133 --> 00:02:31,863
The Press:
And last point on that.

61
00:02:31,867 --> 00:02:37,797
Is the White House comfortable
with the fact that she has been

62
00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,430
on a lot of television shows?

63
00:02:41,433 --> 00:02:45,133
Mr. Gibbs:
She's free to do and say
what every other person in

64
00:02:45,133 --> 00:02:49,063
the country is
free to do and say.

65
00:02:49,066 --> 00:02:52,336
The Press:
I'd like to ask about energy.

66
00:02:52,333 --> 00:02:54,933
Senator Kerry said it could be
very tough to get the energy

67
00:02:54,934 --> 00:02:59,534
bill passed, and there's been
talk that it could be scaled

68
00:02:59,533 --> 00:03:03,663
down and become more of a
referendum on offshore drilling.

69
00:03:03,667 --> 00:03:05,397
I was wondering what
response you had to that,

70
00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,030
and also any comment on what
chances do you think there is of

71
00:03:09,033 --> 00:03:10,403
getting the bill done?

72
00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:15,500
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I would say I think
that Senator Reid is --

73
00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:17,930
and Carol Browner and other
members of the administration

74
00:03:17,934 --> 00:03:24,104
are on the Hill now with
Democratic senators to discuss

75
00:03:24,100 --> 00:03:28,330
how best to move forward
on energy legislation.

76
00:03:28,333 --> 00:03:31,003
The President is committed
to moving comprehensive

77
00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,030
energy legislation,
understanding, though,

78
00:03:34,033 --> 00:03:40,433
that in the environment that
we live -- everything takes

79
00:03:40,433 --> 00:03:45,503
60 votes in the U.S. Senate,
which means there have to be

80
00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:47,470
-- there has to be bipartisan
support and bipartisan

81
00:03:47,467 --> 00:03:51,197
cooperation for moving forward
and getting something done.

82
00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:56,770
I do know there's discussions
about ensuring that increasing

83
00:03:56,767 --> 00:04:02,337
oil spill liability is part of
legislation and dealing with

84
00:04:02,333 --> 00:04:08,633
some of the problems that have
been presented as a result of

85
00:04:08,633 --> 00:04:10,363
the BP oil spill.

86
00:04:10,367 --> 00:04:12,697
And I think those will
certainly be in whatever

87
00:04:12,700 --> 00:04:14,530
legislation is taken up.

88
00:04:14,533 --> 00:04:17,533
The Press:
Okay, speaking of BP, what are
you hearing today in terms of

89
00:04:17,533 --> 00:04:19,103
what's happening with
the prospect of the

90
00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:21,630
tropical storm, evacuations?

91
00:04:21,633 --> 00:04:24,063
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Admiral Allen is going
to brief a little bit later

92
00:04:24,066 --> 00:04:32,466
on today, and he'll have more
on this, but tropical depression

93
00:04:32,467 --> 00:04:35,097
warnings have gone out for
the Bahamas and parts of

94
00:04:35,100 --> 00:04:41,630
South Florida, as the -- and the
President received a briefing,

95
00:04:41,633 --> 00:04:45,363
as you all got the readout, in
the Situation Room yesterday

96
00:04:45,367 --> 00:04:49,067
both about where we are
on the cap and that process,

97
00:04:49,066 --> 00:04:54,136
as well as the trajectory of the
storm potentially leading across

98
00:04:54,133 --> 00:04:57,703
Florida and into the Gulf.

99
00:04:57,700 --> 00:05:02,300
The protocols, Admiral Allen
sent a letter to BP a day or

100
00:05:02,300 --> 00:05:08,200
so ago asking them for their
timeline on removing equipment

101
00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:13,230
in the Gulf in the event that
a storm heads in that area.

102
00:05:13,233 --> 00:05:16,033
Right now we have a trajectory
that would put it -- put this

103
00:05:16,033 --> 00:05:19,963
storm, the intensity with which
we obviously don't yet know,

104
00:05:19,967 --> 00:05:21,437
into the Gulf.

105
00:05:21,433 --> 00:05:23,663
The protocols that have
generally been established

106
00:05:23,667 --> 00:05:30,597
by Admiral Allen are if you believe that what are considered

107
00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:34,770
gale force winds, so winds in
excess of 39 miles an hour,

108
00:05:34,767 --> 00:05:40,597
are likely at the site, that
preparations should begin 120

109
00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:45,900
hours prior to that event in
terms of moving that equipment

110
00:05:45,900 --> 00:05:47,530
out of the area.

111
00:05:47,533 --> 00:05:50,163
Obviously the equipment is
owned by different companies.

112
00:05:50,166 --> 00:05:54,766
So Transocean and BP and others
all will make individual

113
00:05:54,767 --> 00:05:59,967
decisions as companies about
when they would move equipment.

114
00:05:59,967 --> 00:06:06,797
I think there's no doubt that
this storm has intensified and

115
00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:12,930
decisions will be made probably
likely later this afternoon on

116
00:06:12,934 --> 00:06:14,704
moving some of that
equipment out of there.

117
00:06:14,700 --> 00:06:22,930
For instance, the DD3, which is
the rig drilling the relief well

118
00:06:22,934 --> 00:06:28,904
that is closest to the
active well right now,

119
00:06:28,900 --> 00:06:34,670
about five feet away from it,
is -- that and the Q4000,

120
00:06:34,667 --> 00:06:38,437
which was the boat burning
the oil recovered through

121
00:06:38,433 --> 00:06:41,403
the original cap -- those
decisions I'm told will be

122
00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,600
made about 8:00 tonight
about whether or not to

123
00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,030
move those assets.

124
00:06:48,033 --> 00:06:51,103
Later this afternoon, I think
they will have a decision,

125
00:06:51,100 --> 00:06:54,000
and I would tune in to Admiral
Allen's briefing for more

126
00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,030
information on this.

127
00:06:56,033 --> 00:07:02,663
About what we do with the
sealing cap during a hurricane.

128
00:07:02,667 --> 00:07:05,737
During the briefing yesterday,
Secretary Chu and members of the

129
00:07:05,734 --> 00:07:10,104
scientific team that have been
working on the monitoring,

130
00:07:10,100 --> 00:07:19,300
the seismic -- reading the
seismic material on the testing,

131
00:07:19,300 --> 00:07:25,830
have been encouraged by what
they have seen; believe that,

132
00:07:25,834 --> 00:07:29,364
as of yesterday, that
the well was stable.

133
00:07:29,367 --> 00:07:32,597
So he is encouraged by what
he's seen in the testing that

134
00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,770
has been conducted
using the sealing cap.

135
00:07:36,767 --> 00:07:42,937
I think a final decision, again,
if the area is evacuated,

136
00:07:42,934 --> 00:07:45,764
whether to keep
that sealing cap on,

137
00:07:45,767 --> 00:07:47,837
is a decision that will be
made over the course of the

138
00:07:47,834 --> 00:07:49,734
next several hours.

139
00:07:49,734 --> 00:07:51,164
The Press:
Okay, thanks.

140
00:07:51,166 --> 00:07:52,166
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, sir.

141
00:07:52,166 --> 00:07:55,136
The Press:
Secretary Gates today
announced that the Obama

142
00:07:55,133 --> 00:07:58,403
administration was lifting a
more than decade-long ban on

143
00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:03,800
U.S. military assistance to
Indonesia's special forces unit.

144
00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,200
Human rights groups are outraged
by this because the special

145
00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,530
forces unit has been accused of
all sorts of serious crimes.

146
00:08:09,533 --> 00:08:11,303
Can you explain why
this decision was made?

147
00:08:11,300 --> 00:08:13,030
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have anything on this, Jake.

148
00:08:13,033 --> 00:08:15,333
I'd point you over to
the Pentagon on that.

149
00:08:15,333 --> 00:08:18,433
The Press:
Can I ask you a
question about Ms. Sherrod?

150
00:08:18,433 --> 00:08:21,833
Has the President seen
the full 45-minute video

151
00:08:21,834 --> 00:08:22,964
or at least parts --

152
00:08:22,967 --> 00:08:25,767
Mr. Gibbs:
He mentioned during the
call that he had read the

153
00:08:25,767 --> 00:08:27,397
transcript of her interview.

154
00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:28,500
The Press:
The full transcript?

155
00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:29,670
Mr. Gibbs:
The full transcript
of -- I'm sorry,

156
00:08:29,667 --> 00:08:31,397
not of her interview,
but of her speech.

157
00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:32,330
The Press:
And what did he think?

158
00:08:32,333 --> 00:08:34,433
What was his personal
reaction to her story?

159
00:08:34,433 --> 00:08:37,403
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I don't remember
exactly what he said on

160
00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:45,900
the call, but I think they
talked about how -- look,

161
00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:49,700
we all have -- I think he talked
about and -- talked about

162
00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:56,870
experiences that he had had and
written about in his book that

163
00:08:56,867 --> 00:09:00,197
in some ways were similar to the
experiences that she has written

164
00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,500
and talked about as
part of that speech.

165
00:09:02,500 --> 00:09:03,630
The Press:
Can you elaborate a little?

166
00:09:03,633 --> 00:09:06,533
Mr. Gibbs:
That's literally all
that was said about that.

167
00:09:06,533 --> 00:09:08,703
The Press:
Overcoming his own
biases and his own --

168
00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:10,570
Mr. Gibbs:
He didn't -- he just
talked about what he'd

169
00:09:10,567 --> 00:09:11,567
written in his book.

170
00:09:11,567 --> 00:09:14,367
They didn't -- he didn't
get deeply into that part.

171
00:09:14,367 --> 00:09:17,097
The Press:
Could you just elaborate a
little bit on his personal

172
00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:20,430
reaction to either reading
the transcript of her fuller

173
00:09:20,433 --> 00:09:23,833
speech or to the call itself, to
actually talking to this woman?

174
00:09:23,834 --> 00:09:28,204
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, he thought she was
-- look, obviously she's got

175
00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:29,770
a remarkable story.

176
00:09:29,767 --> 00:09:34,397
He expressed his apologies
for the events of the

177
00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,870
last several days.

178
00:09:38,867 --> 00:09:41,537
Obviously, again, this is a
woman who has a unique set of

179
00:09:41,533 --> 00:09:46,263
experiences, both before
this incident and now.

180
00:09:46,266 --> 00:09:49,366
The Press:
Which book are you referring
to -- the memoir or --

181
00:09:49,367 --> 00:09:51,437
Mr. Gibbs:
The memoir.

182
00:09:51,433 --> 00:09:57,303
So I think that -- again,
he was -- he thought she

183
00:09:57,300 --> 00:09:58,400
was very gracious.

184
00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,000
And I would say, as
we did in the readout,

185
00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:06,630
the President expressed to
Ms. Sherrod that Secretary

186
00:10:06,633 --> 00:10:14,263
Vilsack had, he believed,
been extremely sincere in

187
00:10:14,266 --> 00:10:18,596
his comments yesterday,
in his apologies,

188
00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:24,770
and believed that he was also
equally sincere about the work

189
00:10:24,767 --> 00:10:28,597
that he is leading at the
Department of Agriculture to

190
00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,630
ensure that the department's
activities are conducted

191
00:10:31,633 --> 00:10:33,803
without discrimination.

192
00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,330
The Press:
Yes, Robert, yesterday during
the briefing someone asked

193
00:10:36,333 --> 00:10:40,233
whether the administration would
be putting forward Cheryl Cook

194
00:10:40,233 --> 00:10:44,463
so she could sort of talk about
what was said with Ms. Sherrod,

195
00:10:44,467 --> 00:10:46,967
and you directed that
question to the USDA.

196
00:10:46,967 --> 00:10:51,037
Now that the President has
apologized to Ms. Sherrod,

197
00:10:51,033 --> 00:10:54,163
why not put Cheryl Cook
forward to say what she did --

198
00:10:54,166 --> 00:10:56,696
Mr. Gibbs:
I'd point you over to USDA on that.

199
00:10:56,700 --> 00:10:58,570
I don't know if
you talked to USDA.

200
00:10:58,567 --> 00:11:01,437
The Press:
Right, but she's the person
who supposedly said that the

201
00:11:01,433 --> 00:11:03,203
White House wanted
her to step down --

202
00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:04,400
Mr. Gibbs:
Dan, if you want to reach
the under secretary or the

203
00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,430
deputy secretary, again, call
the Department of Agriculture.

204
00:11:07,433 --> 00:11:07,963
That's --

205
00:11:07,967 --> 00:11:10,137
The Press:
Do you know where she
is, she is Cheryl Cook?

206
00:11:10,133 --> 00:11:11,503
Mr. Gibbs:
I assume at the
Department of Agriculture.

207
00:11:11,500 --> 00:11:12,470
I don't know where she is.

208
00:11:12,467 --> 00:11:15,167
The Press:
But no plans at this point
that you know of to put her

209
00:11:15,166 --> 00:11:17,136
forward so she can clear
this up what was said?

210
00:11:17,133 --> 00:11:19,403
Mr. Gibbs:
Dan, again, if you're
interested in talking to the

211
00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,200
deputy secretary, call
the press office at the

212
00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:22,570
Department of Agriculture.

213
00:11:22,567 --> 00:11:23,297
Chip.

214
00:11:23,300 --> 00:11:25,030
The Press:
Okay, wait, I have
another question, Robert.

215
00:11:25,033 --> 00:11:27,233
The Press:
-- the USDA not allowing
people to talk to her?

216
00:11:27,233 --> 00:11:29,703
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, contact the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.

217
00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:32,730
The Press:
Robert, this was supposed
to be a week of focusing on

218
00:11:32,734 --> 00:11:34,464
Wall Street reform, the economy,

219
00:11:34,467 --> 00:11:38,537
kind an economy week, and
there's this story that's

220
00:11:38,533 --> 00:11:40,433
been dominating the headlines.

221
00:11:40,433 --> 00:11:42,933
Any frustration at all
politically that the message

222
00:11:42,934 --> 00:11:44,064
was lost behind this?

223
00:11:44,066 --> 00:11:45,596
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

224
00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,400
The Press:
Yesterday you said maybe
the President would speak

225
00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:49,500
on this at some point.

226
00:11:49,500 --> 00:11:50,400
Any progress on that?

227
00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:51,270
Do you think he will?

228
00:11:51,266 --> 00:11:53,396
Mr. Gibbs:
None that I'm aware of.

229
00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,670
The Press:
Is he avoiding speaking on this?

230
00:11:57,667 --> 00:12:00,337
Somebody shouted a question
earlier in the signing today

231
00:12:00,333 --> 00:12:01,203
of unemployment.

232
00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,330
Is that going to happen
in a place with reporters

233
00:12:03,333 --> 00:12:04,133
in the room?

234
00:12:04,133 --> 00:12:05,533
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know how the
bill will be signed.

235
00:12:05,533 --> 00:12:08,063
I know the President
is anxious to sign it.

236
00:12:08,066 --> 00:12:15,396
We have unemployment benefits
that you know if you're -- if

237
00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,930
you've exhausted your state
unemployment benefits at 26

238
00:12:17,934 --> 00:12:21,704
weeks, despite the fact that
normally through the Recovery

239
00:12:21,700 --> 00:12:24,770
Act we extended benefits
though the 99th week,

240
00:12:24,767 --> 00:12:28,137
people -- 2.5 million people
have lost their benefits.

241
00:12:28,133 --> 00:12:30,203
The Press:
Will it be done to still
photographers only to avoid

242
00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:31,670
questions on this matter?

243
00:12:31,667 --> 00:12:33,397
Mr. Gibbs:
I honestly don't know
what the coverage is.

244
00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,370
We're anxious to get
the bill and sign it.

245
00:12:35,367 --> 00:12:37,997
The Press:
It was one year ago today
that the President said

246
00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,600
the Cambridge Police acted
"stupidly" in the Henry Louis

247
00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,500
Gates matter, which kind of
obliterated other news for

248
00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:43,330
about a week.

249
00:12:43,333 --> 00:12:46,063
Is that why the President
is not coming out and talking

250
00:12:46,066 --> 00:12:46,966
about this publicly?

251
00:12:46,967 --> 00:12:48,237
Mr. Gibbs:
Because of the year
anniversary of --

252
00:12:48,233 --> 00:12:50,863
The Press:
Does he want to avoid that
kind of media firestorm so

253
00:12:50,867 --> 00:12:53,397
that he can keep his
focus on other issues?

254
00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:54,300
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

255
00:12:54,300 --> 00:12:55,630
The Press:
Could I ask you
one other question,

256
00:12:55,633 --> 00:12:58,203
a substantive question on
unemployment insurance?

257
00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:59,630
Mr. Gibbs:
You said that. I didn't.

258
00:12:59,633 --> 00:13:01,203
The Press:
The President -- as
opposed to the procedural

259
00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:02,400
questions that I ask.

260
00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,770
Mr. Gibbs:
As a point of order -- can
you just circle that out

261
00:13:04,767 --> 00:13:06,637
of the transcript?

262
00:13:06,633 --> 00:13:08,333
The Press:
The President this
morning made the case that

263
00:13:08,333 --> 00:13:10,133
there's a lot of waste, fraud
and abuse in the budget,

264
00:13:10,133 --> 00:13:12,003
and that there's been
an aggressive effort to

265
00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,530
go after that.

266
00:13:13,533 --> 00:13:17,833
Did the White House try -- at
least try to find $34 billion

267
00:13:17,834 --> 00:13:20,734
worth of waste, fraud and abuse
so that they could pay for this

268
00:13:20,734 --> 00:13:22,764
unemployment insurance
bill as the Republicans

269
00:13:22,767 --> 00:13:24,737
are insisting they do?

270
00:13:24,734 --> 00:13:28,104
Mr. Gibbs:
As a -- no, this was -- Chip,

271
00:13:28,100 --> 00:13:30,470
we had -- I think -- I don't
know if you were here last

272
00:13:30,467 --> 00:13:33,737
week when we I think
discussed this twice.

273
00:13:33,734 --> 00:13:36,704
Unemployment benefits and
extending unemployment

274
00:13:36,700 --> 00:13:40,400
insurance has and I believe
rightfully should be

275
00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,470
considered emergency spending.

276
00:13:43,467 --> 00:13:47,437
We're in the midst of an
economic downturn unlike

277
00:13:47,433 --> 00:13:50,103
anything we've seen since, as
I've said in here a thousand

278
00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:56,100
times, anything
since the late 1920s.

279
00:13:56,100 --> 00:13:59,400
That demands special action.

280
00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,500
The long-term unemployed are a
big part of that 8.5 million

281
00:14:03,500 --> 00:14:07,770
jobs that have been lost.

282
00:14:07,767 --> 00:14:12,167
This -- it took the Senate
four different times just

283
00:14:12,166 --> 00:14:13,536
to get to this point.

284
00:14:13,533 --> 00:14:17,203
And thankfully we had
Republicans like Susan Collins

285
00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:23,630
and Olympia Snowe that were --
have understood that as they

286
00:14:23,633 --> 00:14:26,603
have voted in the past to
extend unemployment benefits as

287
00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:31,170
emergency spending, unlike some
who decided this was a perfect

288
00:14:31,166 --> 00:14:35,096
opportunity to play politics;
much as there's a bill on the

289
00:14:35,100 --> 00:14:40,370
floor now to cut taxes
on small business,

290
00:14:40,367 --> 00:14:43,667
which the President
greatly supports.

291
00:14:43,667 --> 00:14:47,537
There's a component of that
legislation to extend lending

292
00:14:47,533 --> 00:14:50,463
through community banks to small
businesses to help create jobs,

293
00:14:50,467 --> 00:14:54,537
yet for as many times as most
Republicans talk about small

294
00:14:54,533 --> 00:14:57,963
business, there's an
effort to block that.

295
00:14:57,967 --> 00:15:00,567
I think the newspapers had it
quite correctly this morning,

296
00:15:00,567 --> 00:15:02,437
that's because of politics

297
00:15:02,433 --> 00:15:04,163
The Press:
But you can get that
benefit from unemployment

298
00:15:04,166 --> 00:15:05,866
benefits, from passing it.

299
00:15:05,867 --> 00:15:08,137
And at the same time, why
wouldn't the President say,

300
00:15:08,133 --> 00:15:11,663
okay, guys, this has been going
on -- you had months with all

301
00:15:11,667 --> 00:15:12,797
these different votes.

302
00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,100
Why didn't he call up Orszag
and the green eye shade guys

303
00:15:16,100 --> 00:15:19,300
and say, go in there, find me
$34 billion worth of waste,

304
00:15:19,300 --> 00:15:22,370
fraud and abuse; let's pay for
this thing at the same time that

305
00:15:22,367 --> 00:15:23,867
we're getting the
benefits of this?

306
00:15:23,867 --> 00:15:26,967
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, because, Chip,
this is -- the President

307
00:15:26,967 --> 00:15:29,737
believes this should be treated,
like every President has

308
00:15:29,734 --> 00:15:31,434
previously, as
emergency spending.

309
00:15:31,433 --> 00:15:37,303
And thankfully, the partisan
games are over because of the

310
00:15:37,300 --> 00:15:38,570
good help of two Republicans.

311
00:15:38,567 --> 00:15:39,597
The Press:
Really?

312
00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:40,530
Is that going to
continue through

313
00:15:40,533 --> 00:15:41,433
Election Day on both sides?

314
00:15:41,433 --> 00:15:44,563
Mr. Gibbs:
It isn't likely to
continue through today.

315
00:15:44,567 --> 00:15:46,197
Again, I just mentioned that --

316
00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:47,470
The Press:
You don't think this is
going to be a political

317
00:15:47,467 --> 00:15:48,997
football through Election Day?

318
00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:49,530
Mr. Gibbs:
Which one?

319
00:15:49,533 --> 00:15:50,733
The Press:
Unemployment insurance?

320
00:15:50,734 --> 00:15:53,604
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm happy to have that --
I'm happy to make each and

321
00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,870
every day about whether you're
for people that have lost their

322
00:15:57,867 --> 00:16:01,697
jobs having the benefits that
they pay for in order to make

323
00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:05,870
ends meet when
they've lost their job.

324
00:16:05,867 --> 00:16:08,837
Governing is about choices,
Chip, each and every day.

325
00:16:08,834 --> 00:16:10,964
But we talk about the
partisan political games.

326
00:16:10,967 --> 00:16:17,297
I just said there's $30 billion
to community banks to lend to

327
00:16:17,300 --> 00:16:20,800
small businesses to create jobs.

328
00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:25,300
I cannot imagine that in a
normal time or in a normal year,

329
00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:28,170
that would be considered
controversial.

330
00:16:28,166 --> 00:16:31,396
But welcome to July 2010.

331
00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:32,330
Chuck.

332
00:16:32,333 --> 00:16:36,563
The Press:
Can you -- you've now spent
a couple of instances with

333
00:16:36,567 --> 00:16:40,667
the President talking about
this issue with Sherrod.

334
00:16:40,667 --> 00:16:45,397
Can you share with us more of
his sort of impressions of this

335
00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,530
week, of what -- sort
of this firestorm,

336
00:16:49,533 --> 00:16:50,533
the circus atmosphere?

337
00:16:50,533 --> 00:16:53,963
Mr. Gibbs:
Chuck, we have -- the circus.

338
00:16:53,967 --> 00:16:56,567
We have not honestly spent a
lot of time talking about that.

339
00:16:56,567 --> 00:16:59,737
We were -- I obviously heard
part of the call in order to

340
00:16:59,734 --> 00:17:01,834
provide a readout for you guys.

341
00:17:01,834 --> 00:17:03,864
But we haven't had a long
chance to talk about it.

342
00:17:03,867 --> 00:17:06,397
The Press:
You've done some media criticism.

343
00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,070
You were quoted in The
Washington Post today --

344
00:17:09,066 --> 00:17:10,196
Mr. Gibbs:
And in here yesterday.

345
00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:11,300
The Press:
And in here yesterday.

346
00:17:11,300 --> 00:17:13,000
Have you shared that with him?

347
00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,400
Is this his thinking as well?

348
00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:21,530
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't -- as I said yesterday,

349
00:17:21,533 --> 00:17:25,063
the actions of this
administration should

350
00:17:25,066 --> 00:17:26,366
be reflected on.

351
00:17:26,367 --> 00:17:31,997
I think the actions of the media
and our media culture should be

352
00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:33,570
reflected on.

353
00:17:33,567 --> 00:17:36,797
The statements and the actions
of interest groups on each side

354
00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:38,170
of this should be reflected on.

355
00:17:38,166 --> 00:17:42,266
And I've actually gotten a
number of emails from reporters

356
00:17:42,266 --> 00:17:46,336
that share those reflections.

357
00:17:46,333 --> 00:17:49,133
The Press:
Why did the President --
is there a reason -- you

358
00:17:49,133 --> 00:17:52,533
emphasized here and in the
readout it was emphasized that

359
00:17:52,533 --> 00:17:55,403
he wanted to make sure she
knew that Secretary Vilsack's

360
00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:56,570
apology was sincere.

361
00:17:56,567 --> 00:17:59,537
Has there been a concern
that she thought it wasn't?

362
00:17:59,533 --> 00:18:00,903
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't think so.

363
00:18:00,900 --> 00:18:05,570
I think -- look, I think
most of you all saw what

364
00:18:05,567 --> 00:18:07,437
Secretary Vilsack said.

365
00:18:07,433 --> 00:18:18,463
I don't think -- I think the
phrase "I'm sorry" probably

366
00:18:18,467 --> 00:18:20,737
could or should be said
a lot more in this town,

367
00:18:20,734 --> 00:18:26,264
and it's hard to
get out sometimes.

368
00:18:26,266 --> 00:18:29,066
I thought what Secretary -- I
think it was hard to watch what

369
00:18:29,066 --> 00:18:32,996
Secretary Vilsack did and not
believe this was coming from

370
00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,500
the bottom of his heart.

371
00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:38,300
And I think the President simply
wanted to convey that if there

372
00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:42,270
was any doubt in anybody's mind,
and if there was any doubt in

373
00:18:42,266 --> 00:18:49,336
her mind, of the sincerity of
and the work that Secretary

374
00:18:49,333 --> 00:18:53,003
Vilsack has both undertaken
and pledged to do,

375
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,970
that that -- that both of those
were from the bottom of his

376
00:18:57,967 --> 00:19:00,997
heart, and they were
genuinely sincere.

377
00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:01,830
The Press:
Another topic.

378
00:19:01,834 --> 00:19:06,434
There's a letter-writing
campaign being done by some

379
00:19:06,433 --> 00:19:11,003
poverty activists in southeast
Ohio, on Appalachia.

380
00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:12,730
And they've been writing
letters to the President

381
00:19:12,734 --> 00:19:15,234
on paper plates.

382
00:19:15,233 --> 00:19:18,063
Do you know if the President --
I know that the President -- I

383
00:19:18,066 --> 00:19:19,696
know you guys go
through these letters.

384
00:19:19,700 --> 00:19:21,100
Do you know of any
of these letters --

385
00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:22,030
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me check --

386
00:19:22,033 --> 00:19:23,263
The Press:
-- that have come to him?

387
00:19:23,266 --> 00:19:25,936
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know the answer to that.

388
00:19:25,934 --> 00:19:34,464
I know he gets regularly those
-- five to 10 of those letters.

389
00:19:34,467 --> 00:19:38,897
Let me see if any of
those have gone to him.

390
00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:41,230
Yes, ma'am.

391
00:19:41,233 --> 00:19:43,463
The Press:
Does the White House have
a view about whether it's

392
00:19:43,467 --> 00:19:46,637
appropriate for a mosque to be
built near the Ground Zero site

393
00:19:46,633 --> 00:19:47,803
in New York?

394
00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:49,870
Mr. Gibbs:
I think I got this question last week,

395
00:19:49,867 --> 00:19:53,437
and didn't render
an opinion on it.

396
00:19:53,433 --> 00:19:56,503
The Press:
So, no, you still don't
have an opinion on it?

397
00:19:56,500 --> 00:19:59,130
And just one quick thing
on the Sherrod situation,

398
00:19:59,133 --> 00:20:02,763
from what the -- from the
conversation that you heard,

399
00:20:02,767 --> 00:20:05,367
she had said that she didn't
want to just get an apology from

400
00:20:05,367 --> 00:20:07,497
the President, she wanted to
have a conversation about the

401
00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:09,070
issues that all of this sparked.

402
00:20:09,066 --> 00:20:11,866
Do you think the conversation
they had was sort of a

403
00:20:11,867 --> 00:20:14,597
conversation about the issue,
the exchange of ideas?

404
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:18,700
Or was it a little
more perfunctory?

405
00:20:18,700 --> 00:20:21,530
How would you describe it?

406
00:20:21,533 --> 00:20:25,733
Mr. Gibbs:
I think they had an
opportunity to talk about parts

407
00:20:25,734 --> 00:20:31,504
of the situation, and, again,
the President expressed his

408
00:20:31,500 --> 00:20:37,400
regret and expressed that her
unique experiences provided her

409
00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,300
a good opportunity to
continue that work,

410
00:20:39,300 --> 00:20:46,070
and they talked about,
as I said a minute ago,

411
00:20:46,066 --> 00:20:51,236
some of the experiences that
I think each of them have had.

412
00:20:51,233 --> 00:20:55,203
Ms. Sherrod talked about some of
the work that she had done as

413
00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,300
the head of rural
development in Georgia.

414
00:20:58,300 --> 00:20:59,400
And that's when
the President said,

415
00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,230
I think that's -- there's an
opportunity for you to continue

416
00:21:02,233 --> 00:21:04,333
that work if you want to do so.

417
00:21:04,333 --> 00:21:09,903
So I think it was a -- I
know the President believed

418
00:21:09,900 --> 00:21:13,800
it was a good call.

419
00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:14,370
Mark.

420
00:21:14,367 --> 00:21:18,667
The Press:
Robert, in November of last
year, President Obama signed

421
00:21:18,667 --> 00:21:21,097
an extension of
unemployment benefits.

422
00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:23,600
And in his statement he made a
point of saying that they were

423
00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:28,800
fully paid for and an example
of fiscal responsibility.

424
00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:30,670
When did he change his
mind about unemployment

425
00:21:30,667 --> 00:21:32,297
benefits not being --

426
00:21:32,300 --> 00:21:35,530
Mr. Gibbs:
I'd have to -- let me look
at the thing and I don't --

427
00:21:35,533 --> 00:21:37,133
The Press:
Can I give the text
of what he said?

428
00:21:37,133 --> 00:21:38,933
Mr. Gibbs:
Why don't you give it to
Bill and I'll be happy to

429
00:21:38,934 --> 00:21:40,504
take a look at it.

430
00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:43,330
The Press:
Is the pressure to
nominate Elizabeth Warren to

431
00:21:43,333 --> 00:21:45,803
head the consumer agency --
pressure you guys are getting

432
00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:49,270
from congressional Democrats and
consumer groups -- how is that

433
00:21:49,266 --> 00:21:50,936
helping or hurting the process?

434
00:21:50,934 --> 00:21:52,564
And do you have any
timeline for when --

435
00:21:52,567 --> 00:21:53,867
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, as I said yesterday,

436
00:21:53,867 --> 00:21:55,467
I don't expect an
imminent announcement.

437
00:21:55,467 --> 00:21:58,597
Obviously there are
several positions that

438
00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:02,400
this legislation created.

439
00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:08,230
Obviously one of those
important jobs are the office

440
00:22:08,233 --> 00:22:11,433
-- the consumer bureau.

441
00:22:11,433 --> 00:22:14,503
I think, as I said yesterday,
that she is somebody who --

442
00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:20,570
look, in many ways, this bureau
was borne out of a policy idea

443
00:22:20,567 --> 00:22:21,337
that she had.

444
00:22:21,333 --> 00:22:24,333
I think she would be somebody
who would be obviously terrific

445
00:22:24,333 --> 00:22:26,603
at that job, well qualified.

446
00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:27,700
The Press:
How many candidates --

447
00:22:27,700 --> 00:22:33,030
Mr. Gibbs:
I think we've talked
about several candidates,

448
00:22:33,033 --> 00:22:37,263
people like Michael Barr, who
has done terrific work over at

449
00:22:37,266 --> 00:22:38,496
the Treasury now.

450
00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:41,770
The Press:
Do you want to get this through
before the August recess?

451
00:22:41,767 --> 00:22:42,637
Mr. Gibbs:
Get?

452
00:22:42,633 --> 00:22:43,303
The Press:
Do you want to --

453
00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:45,830
Mr. Gibbs:
I do not think there's
a scenario in which the

454
00:22:45,834 --> 00:22:49,034
Senate will act on this
before the August recess.

455
00:22:49,033 --> 00:22:51,733
The Press:
And the House just passed the
unemployment benefits bill.

456
00:22:51,734 --> 00:22:53,064
Will the President sign it --

457
00:22:53,066 --> 00:22:55,436
Mr. Gibbs:
As soon as we get it, we
will -- the President will

458
00:22:55,433 --> 00:22:56,503
sign that legislation.

459
00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:57,500
The Press:
Likely today.

460
00:22:57,500 --> 00:22:58,700
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes. I assume so.

461
00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:01,470
The Press:
And I had a question
about Ken Feinberg.

462
00:23:01,467 --> 00:23:05,137
Since he doesn't have the power
to recover the money from

463
00:23:05,133 --> 00:23:06,103
companies that he says --

464
00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:08,630
Mr. Gibbs:
You're talking about --
this is -- not at BP,

465
00:23:08,633 --> 00:23:10,103
but you're talking
about now as the --

466
00:23:10,100 --> 00:23:13,600
The Press:
Yes.

467
00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,370
So since he doesn't have the
power to recover that money,

468
00:23:15,367 --> 00:23:17,897
will the White House exert
pressure for these executives

469
00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:19,500
to give the money back?

470
00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:21,670
Mr. Gibbs:
I think I'd wait -- I'll
be happy to look at that

471
00:23:21,667 --> 00:23:24,237
question tomorrow when we have
a -- I think the report he

472
00:23:24,233 --> 00:23:26,303
releases comes out tomorrow.

473
00:23:26,300 --> 00:23:27,070
Major.

474
00:23:27,066 --> 00:23:29,536
The Press:
You may have addressed this
with Laura, but this morning

475
00:23:29,533 --> 00:23:31,763
Shirley Sherrod said she wanted
to talk to the President about

476
00:23:31,767 --> 00:23:34,567
her experiences
growing up in the South,

477
00:23:34,567 --> 00:23:37,397
the rural parts of America,
communicate to him things that

478
00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:41,130
she was under the impression he
may not have had a sufficient

479
00:23:41,133 --> 00:23:43,133
awareness of or personal
experience with.

480
00:23:43,133 --> 00:23:44,863
Did that go on with
the conversation?

481
00:23:44,867 --> 00:23:49,697
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Major, I think each and
every person brings unique and

482
00:23:49,700 --> 00:23:53,270
special experiences
from their life.

483
00:23:53,266 --> 00:23:56,396
I think we learn most
probably from experience.

484
00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:01,900
But, again, I think we've
provided a fair readout of

485
00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:03,130
what happened in the call.

486
00:24:03,133 --> 00:24:08,733
There was not a long
conversation about her

487
00:24:08,734 --> 00:24:11,204
life in the South.

488
00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,530
The Press:
There was a protest
yesterday about the

489
00:24:13,533 --> 00:24:16,233
deepwater drilling moratorium.

490
00:24:16,233 --> 00:24:20,463
There are some reports that
international drilling companies

491
00:24:20,467 --> 00:24:22,767
may move some equipment
out, taking advantage

492
00:24:22,767 --> 00:24:25,097
of this moratorium.

493
00:24:25,100 --> 00:24:27,570
Mr. Gibbs:
Taking advantage of the moratorium?

494
00:24:27,567 --> 00:24:32,667
The Press:
Well, in that because
it can't be done here,

495
00:24:32,667 --> 00:24:36,437
moving equipment elsewhere
to where it can be done.

496
00:24:36,433 --> 00:24:37,563
Mr. Gibbs:
Okay, maybe I just
didn't understand the words

497
00:24:37,567 --> 00:24:39,197
"taking advantage of."

498
00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,300
The Press:
Perhaps I could have
phrased it differently.

499
00:24:41,300 --> 00:24:44,070
Is that -- the concerns
expressed by those in the

500
00:24:44,066 --> 00:24:46,266
Gulf continue to mount,
they're not abating,

501
00:24:46,266 --> 00:24:50,166
there is some indication that
drilling platforms that were

502
00:24:50,166 --> 00:24:52,996
there may be moved out, and
there could be a continued

503
00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:53,830
loss of jobs.

504
00:24:53,834 --> 00:24:56,264
I know that you've
weighed this carefully,

505
00:24:56,266 --> 00:25:00,596
but does this persistent concern
economically there raise any

506
00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:04,530
additional reasons to
reevaluate the moratorium?

507
00:25:04,533 --> 00:25:07,363
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think the
President believes and the

508
00:25:07,367 --> 00:25:11,597
administration believe that the
moratorium we have in place is

509
00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:16,330
there for a very
important reason,

510
00:25:16,333 --> 00:25:21,103
and that is to ensure that we
have a better sense of what is

511
00:25:21,100 --> 00:25:25,730
happening and what happened, and
to create a regulatory framework

512
00:25:25,734 --> 00:25:31,964
that addresses the fact that
drilling is happening in places

513
00:25:31,967 --> 00:25:38,937
that we don't have as
much experience at.

514
00:25:38,934 --> 00:25:43,104
Five thousand -- I mean, the
unique challenges that this

515
00:25:43,100 --> 00:25:47,500
accident -- the unique
challenges that we've run into

516
00:25:47,500 --> 00:25:52,500
are because you can't walk up to
a blowout preventer and fix it.

517
00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:55,700
You can in shallow-water
drilling because, in many ways,

518
00:25:55,700 --> 00:25:59,500
that's -- those are blowout
preventers that are on top

519
00:25:59,500 --> 00:26:02,300
of the surface.

520
00:26:02,300 --> 00:26:07,670
The President believes that
it is important to understand

521
00:26:07,667 --> 00:26:12,397
what happened before we
start doing this again.

522
00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:17,200
He understands the concerns
expressed economically.

523
00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:21,770
At the same time, those same
people express the concerns

524
00:26:21,767 --> 00:26:24,637
of what is happening now.

525
00:26:24,633 --> 00:26:31,833
And as I've said here before,
there are -- you hear from, say,

526
00:26:31,834 --> 00:26:35,304
the governor of Louisiana
discuss the deepwater drilling

527
00:26:35,300 --> 00:26:40,530
moratorium right after he
talks about how hard is to

528
00:26:40,533 --> 00:26:42,733
work with BP.

529
00:26:42,734 --> 00:26:45,204
And you have to understand
that four of those permits

530
00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:49,670
are held by BP.

531
00:26:49,667 --> 00:26:53,997
And I think it's -- I think it
sometimes gets hard to match up

532
00:26:54,000 --> 00:27:01,500
how exactly you can have
both of those emotions

533
00:27:01,500 --> 00:27:03,400
going at one time.

534
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,530
The President understands
that, but at the same time,

535
00:27:06,533 --> 00:27:10,333
his job is to ensure that we're
doing all that we can safely,

536
00:27:10,333 --> 00:27:14,603
that we have -- and you saw
plans yesterday by oil companies

537
00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:20,370
on how to respond, which I
think were clearly lacking

538
00:27:20,367 --> 00:27:22,867
before those were released.

539
00:27:22,867 --> 00:27:26,067
The Press:
Speaking of BP, are you
aware of this burgeoning

540
00:27:26,066 --> 00:27:29,396
controversy about the
Photoshopping of --

541
00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:30,200
Mr. Gibbs:
About the BP --

542
00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:31,100
The Press:
Photoshopping --

543
00:27:31,100 --> 00:27:32,200
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, oh, yes.

544
00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:33,530
The Press:
Photoshopping -- do you
have a comment on that?

545
00:27:33,533 --> 00:27:36,563
Has the administration expressed
any concern directly through

546
00:27:36,567 --> 00:27:37,937
Admiral Allen or
anyone else about --

547
00:27:37,934 --> 00:27:39,364
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know that it
-- I don't know that --

548
00:27:39,367 --> 00:27:40,667
The Press:
Where does this fall on the
transparency scale as far

549
00:27:40,667 --> 00:27:42,867
as you're concerned?

550
00:27:42,867 --> 00:27:44,867
Mr. Gibbs:
I think it's genuinely
on the stupidity part

551
00:27:44,867 --> 00:27:45,837
of the transparency scale.

552
00:27:45,834 --> 00:27:49,064
(laughter)

553
00:27:49,066 --> 00:27:51,066
If you want to show a picture
of what the room looks like,

554
00:27:51,066 --> 00:27:52,266
just take a picture.

555
00:27:52,266 --> 00:27:57,996
I mean, I don't -- I mean, I
think you could probably write

556
00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:03,900
an entire encyclopedia on some
of the mistakes that have been

557
00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:12,970
made by the company in trying to
do certain things and trying to

558
00:28:12,967 --> 00:28:15,837
complicate the simple.

559
00:28:15,834 --> 00:28:20,664
We asked for several days for
cameras to be put on at the

560
00:28:20,667 --> 00:28:24,637
site, to make that available --
make that footage available.

561
00:28:24,633 --> 00:28:28,533
Again, I think the
resistance on that,

562
00:28:28,533 --> 00:28:32,333
Photoshopping people and
screens into photographs,

563
00:28:32,333 --> 00:28:35,803
is stupidly
complicating the simple.

564
00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:36,570
Yes.

565
00:28:36,567 --> 00:28:37,997
The Press:
One question quickly
on the supplemental,

566
00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,430
which has to be done by next
week before the House is

567
00:28:40,433 --> 00:28:42,433
scheduled to go.

568
00:28:42,433 --> 00:28:43,163
Mr. Gibbs:
To go, right.

569
00:28:43,166 --> 00:28:46,936
The Press:
It's -- as I understand it --
the White House's preference

570
00:28:46,934 --> 00:28:50,864
-- communicated preference
that be a clean supplemental,

571
00:28:50,867 --> 00:28:53,897
the House still somewhat
attached to the spending

572
00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:56,030
it had previously put
on the supplemental.

573
00:28:56,033 --> 00:28:57,163
What is the status of that?

574
00:28:57,166 --> 00:28:57,996
What are the -- where
are the negotiations --

575
00:28:58,000 --> 00:28:58,930
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me check with
Legislative Affairs --

576
00:28:58,934 --> 00:29:01,104
The Press:
And am I understanding
the White House position

577
00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:02,030
on that correctly?

578
00:29:02,033 --> 00:29:06,033
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me get -- because it
moves around a bit with the

579
00:29:06,033 --> 00:29:09,403
Senate and the House, let me see
if there's an update on that.

580
00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,100
I know there was some -- I heard
some discussion today that the

581
00:29:12,100 --> 00:29:14,700
supplemental might be taken up
as -- depending on when the --

582
00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:18,570
when small business was acted
on, it could come -- yes,

583
00:29:18,567 --> 00:29:22,867
it could come late
today or tomorrow.

584
00:29:22,867 --> 00:29:23,867
Yes.

585
00:29:23,867 --> 00:29:26,967
The Press:
Robert, when the President gave
his speech on race during the

586
00:29:26,967 --> 00:29:30,067
campaign, he lamented a
tendency in our society

587
00:29:30,066 --> 00:29:34,396
to tackle race
only as spectacle.

588
00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,230
The events of this week would
suggest that we haven't exactly

589
00:29:37,233 --> 00:29:39,363
moved beyond that.

590
00:29:39,367 --> 00:29:41,067
Does the President believe --

591
00:29:41,066 --> 00:29:42,836
Mr. Gibbs:
Is this my question to you
or your question to me?

592
00:29:42,834 --> 00:29:44,264
(laughter)

593
00:29:44,266 --> 00:29:45,896
The Press:
It's -- well, but does
the President -- and in

594
00:29:45,900 --> 00:29:49,970
that speech had vowed to take
a leadership role in moving

595
00:29:49,967 --> 00:29:54,097
society beyond that -- does he
believe that any progress has

596
00:29:54,100 --> 00:29:56,870
been made on his watch?

597
00:29:56,867 --> 00:30:02,397
And has he done any
reconsideration of what his own

598
00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:06,030
role might be, what he should
be doing to further that along?

599
00:30:06,033 --> 00:30:09,463
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think -- look,

600
00:30:09,467 --> 00:30:19,497
I think we have tried to and
made progress on issues that

601
00:30:19,500 --> 00:30:24,970
are -- look, I think look
at an issue like education.

602
00:30:24,967 --> 00:30:28,837
We have tried -- I think you
would hear of many civil rights

603
00:30:28,834 --> 00:30:32,964
leaders talk about education
as a civil rights issue.

604
00:30:32,967 --> 00:30:36,767
I think the progress that we've
made on -- through initiatives

605
00:30:36,767 --> 00:30:40,667
like Race to the Top, which have
seen an increase in standards,

606
00:30:40,667 --> 00:30:44,497
is something that
represents -- well,

607
00:30:44,500 --> 00:30:47,930
not maybe the traditional topic
that you're talking about,

608
00:30:47,934 --> 00:30:52,764
but a better sense of
equality in this country,

609
00:30:52,767 --> 00:30:55,667
at least in terms of the
education that's offered

610
00:30:55,667 --> 00:30:58,937
to our children.

611
00:30:58,934 --> 00:31:03,464
Look, I don't think the
President was under any illusion

612
00:31:03,467 --> 00:31:08,267
that -- and I think has said as
such -- that his election alone

613
00:31:08,266 --> 00:31:18,666
would change long held views.

614
00:31:18,667 --> 00:31:27,067
And I think that we'll be having
discussions on race and have --

615
00:31:27,066 --> 00:31:30,036
and I'm sure there will continue
to be differing opinions long

616
00:31:30,033 --> 00:31:32,863
after this President has left.

617
00:31:32,867 --> 00:31:33,537
Go ahead.

618
00:31:33,533 --> 00:31:38,303
The Press:
Well, does he believe --
there have been kind of

619
00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:44,400
formalized sporadic efforts in
the past to sort of officially

620
00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,400
start a conversation on race.

621
00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:48,470
Certainly, you could
say that, I mean,

622
00:31:48,467 --> 00:31:50,467
during the Clinton
administration -- you could

623
00:31:50,467 --> 00:31:53,767
argue that that was what the
"Beer Summit" was all about.

624
00:31:53,767 --> 00:31:54,497
What does the President --

625
00:31:54,500 --> 00:31:58,500
Mr. Gibbs:
I would actually argue that
the -- I don't necessarily --

626
00:31:58,500 --> 00:32:00,830
first of all, the "Beer
Summit" is a great example.

627
00:32:00,834 --> 00:32:02,834
I think that's -- if
I'm not mistaken --

628
00:32:02,834 --> 00:32:04,334
a term you guys coined.

629
00:32:04,333 --> 00:32:05,133
The Press:
Well, okay.

630
00:32:05,133 --> 00:32:07,163
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't think we ever --

631
00:32:07,166 --> 00:32:08,666
The Press:
You're right, but --

632
00:32:08,667 --> 00:32:09,697
The Press:
But you embraced it.

633
00:32:09,700 --> 00:32:10,600
Mr. Gibbs:
Okay.

634
00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:13,100
The Press:
You embraced it.

635
00:32:13,100 --> 00:32:13,900
The Press:
You drank it.

636
00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:15,000
Mr. Gibbs:
No, well -- I drank the beer.

637
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:16,930
(laughter)

638
00:32:16,934 --> 00:32:18,304
The Press:
But what I'm asking is,

639
00:32:18,300 --> 00:32:20,370
what is the use -- what is
the usefulness of these sort

640
00:32:20,367 --> 00:32:23,237
of events, these kind of
choreographed events that

641
00:32:23,233 --> 00:32:26,103
do this versus the kind of
thing you're talking about --

642
00:32:26,100 --> 00:32:27,600
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me say
this, let me say this.

643
00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:33,430
I don't -- and Dan had a point.

644
00:32:33,433 --> 00:32:36,003
Look, this is something
that's dominated the news.

645
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,070
And I was asked -- Chip asked
yesterday if this is a teachable

646
00:32:38,066 --> 00:32:40,336
moment, is the
President the teacher.

647
00:32:40,333 --> 00:32:44,033
I don't think you have to -- I
don't think you have to have a

648
00:32:44,033 --> 00:32:47,633
teacher for this to
be a teachable moment.

649
00:32:47,633 --> 00:32:52,663
I doubt that any of us have gone
through the events of the past

650
00:32:52,667 --> 00:32:56,167
several days, if you work
in this administration,

651
00:32:56,166 --> 00:33:04,396
and thinking back to how this
was -- how this came to be,

652
00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,270
it's conjecture, but my guess is
a lot of you all have thought

653
00:33:07,266 --> 00:33:10,436
about these issues in a way you
might not have thought about

654
00:33:10,433 --> 00:33:13,763
last week because it
wasn't at the forefront.

655
00:33:13,767 --> 00:33:17,797
I think it's these types of
experiences that allow us to

656
00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,830
think through some of these
issues and think about them

657
00:33:21,834 --> 00:33:22,904
in different ways.

658
00:33:22,900 --> 00:33:26,200
I don't think you necessarily
have to -- it's not a teachable

659
00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,130
moment in the sense that
there's a classroom setting,

660
00:33:28,133 --> 00:33:32,733
but each person has and sees
experiences either that they

661
00:33:32,734 --> 00:33:37,834
take part in, or that they hear
about as part of the news that

662
00:33:37,834 --> 00:33:39,804
provide you a chance
to look and learn.

663
00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:48,270
And maybe what we do is we learn
that -- certainly if you listen

664
00:33:48,266 --> 00:33:52,596
to the entirety of what Ms.
Sherrod was saying you learn

665
00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:59,230
about the -- how her experiences
changed the way she thinks and

666
00:33:59,233 --> 00:34:01,463
the way she acts.

667
00:34:01,467 --> 00:34:05,937
And maybe because of that we
take the time to think about how

668
00:34:05,934 --> 00:34:09,534
we think and how we act.

669
00:34:09,533 --> 00:34:16,463
So I think in that way, you --
while this isn't a set event or

670
00:34:16,467 --> 00:34:22,737
a symposium or a big meeting,
it's still, in and of itself,

671
00:34:22,734 --> 00:34:25,834
a moment that I think
provides us an opportunity

672
00:34:25,834 --> 00:34:28,164
to reflect and change.

673
00:34:28,166 --> 00:34:29,466
The Press:
Robert, can I just follow up?

674
00:34:29,467 --> 00:34:31,937
If this is a teachable
moment, what is the lesson?

675
00:34:31,934 --> 00:34:34,164
Is it about race?

676
00:34:34,166 --> 00:34:35,936
Or is it about
media and politics?

677
00:34:35,934 --> 00:34:38,434
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know that I'd
oversimplify it just as

678
00:34:38,433 --> 00:34:40,963
something -- I mean,
I think it -- I mean,

679
00:34:40,967 --> 00:34:43,837
the beauty of a big teachable
moment is each person gets to

680
00:34:43,834 --> 00:34:47,304
take away from it something
different, right.

681
00:34:47,300 --> 00:34:51,230
I mean, look, have I thought
about the way all this unfolded?

682
00:34:51,233 --> 00:34:53,633
Of course.

683
00:34:53,633 --> 00:34:56,803
That the next time I hear
about an event like this and a

684
00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:00,500
decision that's made somewhat
-- that you stop and ask,

685
00:35:00,500 --> 00:35:03,570
did we look at
the whole context?

686
00:35:03,567 --> 00:35:05,267
Did we look at everything?

687
00:35:05,266 --> 00:35:10,436
I can't imagine that those same
discussions aren't being had in

688
00:35:10,433 --> 00:35:14,003
your newsrooms by both you,
your editors, by producers,

689
00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:19,300
in saying, next time maybe
-- maybe that's race,

690
00:35:19,300 --> 00:35:20,870
maybe that's media and culture.

691
00:35:20,867 --> 00:35:25,837
I don't -- I think all of it is
one -- I think it's all in one

692
00:35:25,834 --> 00:35:28,604
big -- I think it's
all one big thing.

693
00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,030
I don't know that -- but, again,
I don't -- I think the great

694
00:35:31,033 --> 00:35:35,563
thing is we all get to learn
and look back and evaluate the

695
00:35:35,567 --> 00:35:38,167
entirety of the situation
and pull different things.

696
00:35:38,166 --> 00:35:41,266
I think you can probably
pull both, right?

697
00:35:41,266 --> 00:35:45,436
I think you can probably pull
the lesson that -- I don't think

698
00:35:45,433 --> 00:35:49,603
anybody would doubt and this --
I'm not up here to lecture or

699
00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:54,170
scold because I'm -- nobody that
has been involved in this whole

700
00:35:54,166 --> 00:35:56,036
situation, from the
administration's perspective,

701
00:35:56,033 --> 00:35:59,803
is, as I said, isn't thinking
about what has happened.

702
00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:12,100
But asking that question,
did we see the whole thing;

703
00:36:12,100 --> 00:36:17,400
do we know when that story was;
do we know what her background

704
00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:24,570
is; do we know how the story
ends -- I think -- certainly I

705
00:36:24,567 --> 00:36:28,267
think stuff like that is helpful
and reflective because I think

706
00:36:28,266 --> 00:36:31,696
not only is it, do
we live in this crazy

707
00:36:31,700 --> 00:36:36,030
reality-TV culture, right?

708
00:36:36,033 --> 00:36:39,003
Yes, I think that's part of
it, but I also think it was

709
00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:46,870
undoubtedly sparked by the fact
that it's a discussion about

710
00:36:46,867 --> 00:36:52,167
race and that is something
that always garners a

711
00:36:52,166 --> 00:36:53,396
lot of attention.

712
00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:54,570
The Press:
May I just follow up, Robert?

713
00:36:54,567 --> 00:36:56,337
The Press:
Robert, can I have just
one quick question -- you

714
00:36:56,333 --> 00:36:57,663
might have answered this
before -- did the President

715
00:36:57,667 --> 00:36:59,237
watch the whole video?

716
00:36:59,233 --> 00:37:02,903
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I said earlier that
I think -- he said on the

717
00:37:02,900 --> 00:37:05,530
phone call to her that he
had read a transcript of --

718
00:37:05,533 --> 00:37:06,563
The Press:
Of the whole thing?

719
00:37:06,567 --> 00:37:07,097
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

720
00:37:07,100 --> 00:37:07,700
The Press:
Okay.

721
00:37:07,700 --> 00:37:09,130
And when you were listening
in or in the room,

722
00:37:09,133 --> 00:37:10,733
were you only
listening to his part?

723
00:37:10,734 --> 00:37:12,334
Or did you hear also
-- hear her too?

724
00:37:12,333 --> 00:37:13,263
Mr. Gibbs:
I could hear both parts.

725
00:37:13,266 --> 00:37:14,496
The Press:
You could hear both parts.

726
00:37:14,500 --> 00:37:16,030
Mr. Gibbs:
And I don't even work for CNN.

727
00:37:16,033 --> 00:37:17,103
(laughter)

728
00:37:17,100 --> 00:37:18,500
Sorry, I had to say that.

729
00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:22,670
The Press:
And it sounds like what
you're saying in terms of

730
00:37:22,667 --> 00:37:24,667
the teachable moment, if
there's anybody who is

731
00:37:24,667 --> 00:37:28,667
doing the teaching, it's her
in the entirety of her remarks.

732
00:37:28,667 --> 00:37:29,037
Is that --

733
00:37:29,033 --> 00:37:31,663
Mr. Gibbs:
I think that's certainly
one lesson you'd learn, yes.

734
00:37:31,667 --> 00:37:34,397
The Press:
Putting aside that people
shouldn't leap before they

735
00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:37,070
look -- get all the facts,
but just in terms of the --

736
00:37:37,066 --> 00:37:39,096
teaching about race,
that was her --

737
00:37:39,100 --> 00:37:40,800
Mr. Gibbs:
I think -- look, I think if I
were writing the chapter title,

738
00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,530
it might be what you just
said, "Look Before you Leap."

739
00:37:43,533 --> 00:37:45,763
It might be "Don't
Rush to Judgment,"

740
00:37:45,767 --> 00:37:51,767
because that's all about the
fact that conclusions were drawn

741
00:37:51,767 --> 00:37:58,837
by all involved based on what we
thought was the entirety of and

742
00:37:58,834 --> 00:38:01,604
what we now know is a
very small part of it.

743
00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:02,730
The Press:
But when he read the
whole transcript,

744
00:38:02,734 --> 00:38:05,664
I'm wondering if he
felt it was -- I mean,

745
00:38:05,667 --> 00:38:06,997
it really was almost
like a sermon.

746
00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:08,800
It was almost Obama-esque.

747
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:09,830
I mean, she had a parable.

748
00:38:09,834 --> 00:38:12,704
She talked about how she was
tempted to do one thing and

749
00:38:12,700 --> 00:38:13,670
learned to do another.

750
00:38:13,667 --> 00:38:14,167
Mr. Gibbs:
Right.

751
00:38:14,166 --> 00:38:15,896
The Press:
I mean, what was
his reaction to that?

752
00:38:15,900 --> 00:38:21,400
Mr. Gibbs:
He did not provide me
that reaction, but, again,

753
00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:26,700
I'm not doing this in his voice,
but I think very much -- I would

754
00:38:26,700 --> 00:38:30,000
not disagree with the fact that
-- which I think is what makes

755
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:34,170
the story so -- ultimately such
a powerful one is that -- and

756
00:38:34,166 --> 00:38:38,936
why, quite frankly, you could
understand that if you just read

757
00:38:38,934 --> 00:38:42,304
part of it or just see part of
it, you'd come to a different,

758
00:38:42,300 --> 00:38:44,530
albeit completely
wrong, conclusion.

759
00:38:44,533 --> 00:38:45,903
Yes, ma'am.

760
00:38:45,900 --> 00:38:47,870
The Press:
Robert, the Justice
Department's lawsuit against

761
00:38:47,867 --> 00:38:50,537
Arizona is getting
underway in court today.

762
00:38:50,533 --> 00:38:52,633
Obviously the federal argument
is based on preemption,

763
00:38:52,633 --> 00:38:55,463
but civil rights groups who are
suing say the law will lead to

764
00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:57,167
racial discrimination.

765
00:38:57,166 --> 00:38:58,696
Does the President
still agree with that?

766
00:38:58,700 --> 00:39:01,070
Does he still think
the law will lead to --

767
00:39:01,066 --> 00:39:03,466
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, I would
-- I'd point you to the

768
00:39:03,467 --> 00:39:06,637
Department of Justice that can
provide you more on the case

769
00:39:06,633 --> 00:39:10,803
that it will argue today.

770
00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:18,270
We cannot -- despite the
frustration of folks in Arizona,

771
00:39:18,266 --> 00:39:24,196
which is real and which
is understandable,

772
00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:30,970
you can't have 50 states
creating 50 different --

773
00:39:30,967 --> 00:39:34,137
the potential to create 50
different immigration laws.

774
00:39:34,133 --> 00:39:36,333
And that's the case that
the government will argue

775
00:39:36,333 --> 00:39:37,463
in court today.

776
00:39:37,467 --> 00:39:38,337
The Press:
Robert.

777
00:39:38,333 --> 00:39:39,133
Mr. Gibbs:
Peter.

778
00:39:39,133 --> 00:39:39,903
The Press:
Thank you.

779
00:39:39,900 --> 00:39:41,930
Is the matter closed, as far as
Secretary Vilsack is concerned,

780
00:39:41,934 --> 00:39:44,464
or is anyone from the White
House likely to speak to him

781
00:39:44,467 --> 00:39:49,697
about judgments that he's making
in firing a person based on

782
00:39:49,700 --> 00:39:50,870
reading into a two-minute video?

783
00:39:50,867 --> 00:39:55,137
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I would point you
to what he said yesterday.

784
00:39:55,133 --> 00:39:59,863
I think he was pretty clear on
how this would change the way he

785
00:39:59,867 --> 00:40:03,967
would do things in the future.

786
00:40:03,967 --> 00:40:11,997
I thought he was -- I thought
that was heartfelt and gracious.

787
00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:17,870
I think his words largely
speak for themselves on that.

788
00:40:17,867 --> 00:40:19,037
The Press:
Just to follow up.

789
00:40:19,033 --> 00:40:23,233
You said earlier the President
told Shirley Sherrod that

790
00:40:23,233 --> 00:40:25,633
Secretary Vilsack was
extremely sincere.

791
00:40:25,633 --> 00:40:27,563
Did the President
talk to Tom Vilsack?

792
00:40:27,567 --> 00:40:29,597
Mr. Gibbs:
The President spoke with
Secretary Vilsack last night.

793
00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:31,030
The Press:
Was the discussion --
did they talk at all

794
00:40:31,033 --> 00:40:32,203
about Vilsack's tenure?

795
00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:33,470
Did he offer to resign?

796
00:40:33,467 --> 00:40:34,567
Mr. Gibbs:
I know they spoke.

797
00:40:34,567 --> 00:40:35,797
I don't know -- sorry?

798
00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:37,030
I don't know what
they talked about.

799
00:40:37,033 --> 00:40:38,203
The Press:
Did he offer to resign?

800
00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:40,330
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I'm -- no, not
that I've been told, no.

801
00:40:40,333 --> 00:40:41,963
The Press:
On a completely different subject.

802
00:40:41,967 --> 00:40:43,097
Senators Nelson --

803
00:40:43,100 --> 00:40:44,400
Mr. Gibbs:
And I would say this --
I don't think there's any

804
00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:46,570
cause for him to do so.

805
00:40:46,567 --> 00:40:55,737
I think that Secretary Vilsack
is in charge of a department

806
00:40:55,734 --> 00:40:59,934
with a history of discrimination.

807
00:40:59,934 --> 00:41:04,964
That's why we're -- that's why
there was a settlement months

808
00:41:04,967 --> 00:41:08,667
ago in a longstanding
case on discrimination

809
00:41:08,667 --> 00:41:09,797
against black farmers.

810
00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:14,200
There have been discrimination
against female farmers,

811
00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:15,630
Native American farmers.

812
00:41:15,633 --> 00:41:21,833
That's -- this is a department
that has struggled with many

813
00:41:21,834 --> 00:41:24,034
of the demons that have been
struggled with in other parts

814
00:41:24,033 --> 00:41:25,263
of our society.

815
00:41:25,266 --> 00:41:31,366
And the Secretary believes and
has stated that there is a --

816
00:41:31,367 --> 00:41:34,967
there is and there should
be a zero-tolerance policy

817
00:41:34,967 --> 00:41:37,167
for discrimination.

818
00:41:37,166 --> 00:41:42,036
And I think the President
thinks he's doing good work.

819
00:41:42,033 --> 00:41:44,103
The Press:
But for the sake of argument, the Secretary engaged in

820
00:41:44,100 --> 00:41:46,530
discrimination this week
when he fired this woman.

821
00:41:46,533 --> 00:41:50,263
Mr. Gibbs:
And, again, as I said earlier, uttered words not often heard

822
00:41:50,266 --> 00:41:52,536
inside the glorious
District of Columbia,

823
00:41:52,533 --> 00:41:55,703
and that is "I'm
sorry, I made a mistake,

824
00:41:55,700 --> 00:42:00,830
I acted before I had the full
benefit of what had happened."

825
00:42:00,834 --> 00:42:06,304
I don't -- I think Secretary
Vilsack has been clear about

826
00:42:06,300 --> 00:42:14,100
the mistakes that he made
in -- over the past few days.

827
00:42:14,100 --> 00:42:17,730
The Press:
On a different subject, Senators Conrad and Nelson have called

828
00:42:17,734 --> 00:42:21,464
for the President to extend the Bush tax cuts on those making

829
00:42:21,467 --> 00:42:23,367
more than $200,000.

830
00:42:23,367 --> 00:42:24,267
Any reaction to that?

831
00:42:24,266 --> 00:42:25,766
Any rethinking of
that proposal --

832
00:42:25,767 --> 00:42:26,697
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

833
00:42:26,700 --> 00:42:29,300
Again, I would point you largely
to what I said yesterday.

834
00:42:29,300 --> 00:42:31,130
I think Secretary Geithner
has weighed on this today.

835
00:42:31,133 --> 00:42:35,433
And I look forward to Chip
asking many of those members

836
00:42:35,433 --> 00:42:37,403
how that's going to be paid for.

837
00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:38,730
Yes, ma'am.

838
00:42:38,734 --> 00:42:42,864
The Press:
Robert, back on -- a
few questions on race and

839
00:42:42,867 --> 00:42:46,297
Ms. Sherrod.

840
00:42:46,300 --> 00:42:49,430
Do you think that
this whole situation,

841
00:42:49,433 --> 00:42:53,333
bringing out everything, the
discrimination that's happened

842
00:42:53,333 --> 00:42:55,733
in the Department of Agriculture
and what's happening with

843
00:42:55,734 --> 00:42:59,734
Ms. Sherrod, do you think that
that would push forward the

844
00:42:59,734 --> 00:43:04,404
issues of Cobell and Pigford for
there to be funding in Congress

845
00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:05,630
to happen soon?

846
00:43:05,633 --> 00:43:09,903
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I can't divine
what happens in the House

847
00:43:09,900 --> 00:43:10,970
and the Senate.

848
00:43:10,967 --> 00:43:11,997
I will say this.

849
00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:14,670
I think one of the reasons I
just gave Steve the answer I did

850
00:43:14,667 --> 00:43:18,667
is I don't think you need
this event to tell you that

851
00:43:18,667 --> 00:43:21,497
what happened at the
department was wrong.

852
00:43:21,500 --> 00:43:25,100
The Secretary didn't settle
this case as a result of what

853
00:43:25,100 --> 00:43:30,400
had happened here, but as a
result of what had happened.

854
00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:34,000
He made those
decisions long ago.

855
00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:36,070
The Press:
Fifteen years ago,
Pigford was awarded.

856
00:43:36,066 --> 00:43:40,136
It's taken 15 years and now
four deadlines for Congress

857
00:43:40,133 --> 00:43:41,133
-- this Congress --

858
00:43:41,133 --> 00:43:42,833
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, my guess is a lot
more than four deadlines

859
00:43:42,834 --> 00:43:46,434
have been missed over the
course of 15 years, April.

860
00:43:46,433 --> 00:43:50,003
And I daresay that
discrimination goes

861
00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:54,830
back a lot farther than
that period of time.

862
00:43:54,834 --> 00:43:59,364
Obviously the House and the
Senate are working through a

863
00:43:59,367 --> 00:44:02,497
number of issues on this,
and the President remains

864
00:44:02,500 --> 00:44:05,630
committed to ensuring that
that settlement is done.

865
00:44:05,633 --> 00:44:08,163
The Press:
You say "a teachable moment"
-- this is a teachable moment,

866
00:44:08,166 --> 00:44:10,066
and you don't necessarily
need a teacher,

867
00:44:10,066 --> 00:44:11,796
but it's a heart issue.

868
00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:13,930
President Clinton, when he
had the conversation on race,

869
00:44:13,934 --> 00:44:16,404
talked about the fact that
this was a heart issue,

870
00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:19,600
and sometimes trying to
navigate through heart issues,

871
00:44:19,600 --> 00:44:20,830
you may need someone.

872
00:44:20,834 --> 00:44:23,804
I mean, it's taken all this time
and we're still at a point where

873
00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:27,400
we're still dealing with
racism and discrimination.

874
00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:31,600
Mr. Gibbs:
We're going to be
dealing -- look,

875
00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:34,000
I think that's going to happen
for a long time, April.

876
00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:36,470
It's not going to -- I don't
-- the President of the United

877
00:44:36,467 --> 00:44:40,297
States, regardless of his race,
I don't think would come out

878
00:44:40,300 --> 00:44:44,130
here and tell you that as a
result of him or his election

879
00:44:44,133 --> 00:44:49,233
or his time here that racism
and discrimination will end.

880
00:44:49,233 --> 00:44:51,563
While I don't -- I can't imagine
anybody would want to see it

881
00:44:51,567 --> 00:44:57,237
continue, this is something that
this country has struggled with

882
00:44:57,233 --> 00:45:03,563
for a very, very long time
and will continue to do so.

883
00:45:03,567 --> 00:45:04,667
The Press:
And one last question --

884
00:45:04,667 --> 00:45:05,897
Mr. Gibbs:
But I will say this.

885
00:45:05,900 --> 00:45:07,830
I don't think that
anybody can doubt, April,

886
00:45:07,834 --> 00:45:09,904
that each day and maybe
as a result of this we

887
00:45:09,900 --> 00:45:11,200
make a little progress.

888
00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:14,330
And I think that in and
of itself is probably the

889
00:45:14,333 --> 00:45:15,633
most important point.

890
00:45:15,633 --> 00:45:16,963
The Press:
One last question.

891
00:45:16,967 --> 00:45:19,467
In this town, many people have
said it's hard to turn down a

892
00:45:19,467 --> 00:45:22,767
President when he asks
you to take a position.

893
00:45:22,767 --> 00:45:24,697
Now, would this White House --

894
00:45:24,700 --> 00:45:26,300
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me just be clear.

895
00:45:26,300 --> 00:45:27,630
I think I was
asked this earlier,

896
00:45:27,633 --> 00:45:32,003
this was -- that was not
the point of this call,

897
00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:36,330
and the President wasn't
lobbying her to take a position.

898
00:45:36,333 --> 00:45:40,163
That's a conversation that she
-- I was asked yesterday, well,

899
00:45:40,166 --> 00:45:42,496
why is this happening with
the Secretary of Agriculture?

900
00:45:42,500 --> 00:45:44,800
Well, she worked for the
Secretary of Agriculture.

901
00:45:44,800 --> 00:45:45,800
That's her most --

902
00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:48,730
The Press:
But the President extended
that job offer to her as well,

903
00:45:48,734 --> 00:45:49,764
and again --

904
00:45:49,767 --> 00:45:51,067
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, let's be clear.

905
00:45:51,066 --> 00:45:55,266
The President -- I hate to
be nitpicky, but -- well,

906
00:45:55,266 --> 00:45:57,436
it's in the readout.

907
00:45:57,433 --> 00:46:00,603
The readout says that -- I
don't have it in front of me,

908
00:46:00,600 --> 00:46:03,970
but that based on the
experiences that you have and

909
00:46:03,967 --> 00:46:06,867
that -- this is an opportunity
to continue to -- if you want

910
00:46:06,867 --> 00:46:11,737
to, to continue to work for
progress on the issues that you

911
00:46:11,734 --> 00:46:13,204
know that are important to you.

912
00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:15,270
That's her decision.

913
00:46:15,266 --> 00:46:17,636
That's something that she
will discuss again with the

914
00:46:17,633 --> 00:46:21,103
department and will discuss,
I assume, if need be,

915
00:46:21,100 --> 00:46:22,270
with Secretary Vilsack.

916
00:46:22,266 --> 00:46:24,036
The Press:
But the hope is for
her to take that job?

917
00:46:24,033 --> 00:46:27,033
The Press:
You don't describe
that as lobbying?

918
00:46:27,033 --> 00:46:28,863
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't -- this
was not a "Hey, Shirley,

919
00:46:28,867 --> 00:46:30,037
take this job."

920
00:46:30,033 --> 00:46:32,903
This is -- again, that's not the
role that the call was designed

921
00:46:32,900 --> 00:46:34,630
for or that the --

922
00:46:34,633 --> 00:46:35,933
The Press:
Does he want her to take the job?

923
00:46:35,934 --> 00:46:38,004
The Press:
Yes, is the hope for
her to take that job?

924
00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:40,330
The Press:
I mean, Vilsack's office
emailed her a specific

925
00:46:40,333 --> 00:46:43,263
job offer this morning; they
have not heard back yet.

926
00:46:43,266 --> 00:46:45,466
President Obama is talking about
her continuing her good work --

927
00:46:45,467 --> 00:46:46,967
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, this is a decision
that Shirley should make

928
00:46:46,967 --> 00:46:48,667
and that Shirley is
most comfortable with.

929
00:46:48,667 --> 00:46:49,867
I think that's --

930
00:46:49,867 --> 00:46:51,197
The Press:
Is the hope for her
to take the job?

931
00:46:51,200 --> 00:46:52,430
Mr. Gibbs:
I think I just answered that.

932
00:46:52,433 --> 00:46:56,563
The Press:
Robert, Andrew Breitbart
has been pretty unrepentant

933
00:46:56,567 --> 00:46:57,867
in this instance.

934
00:46:57,867 --> 00:47:02,267
Today, he spoke with CBS and he
said the administration threw

935
00:47:02,266 --> 00:47:03,936
her under the bus.

936
00:47:03,934 --> 00:47:07,704
Last night on CNN, Ms. Sherrod
suggested that she might

937
00:47:07,700 --> 00:47:09,230
consider a libel suit.

938
00:47:09,233 --> 00:47:11,303
Do you think that there ought
to be consequences for Andrew

939
00:47:11,300 --> 00:47:13,730
Breitbart for what
he did in this?

940
00:47:13,734 --> 00:47:16,664
Mr. Gibbs:
I bet there -- both in this
town and in many towns across

941
00:47:16,667 --> 00:47:20,167
the country, there
are very good lawyers.

942
00:47:20,166 --> 00:47:22,036
The Press:
Is that sort of an endorsement of --

943
00:47:22,033 --> 00:47:23,133
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, no, no.

944
00:47:23,133 --> 00:47:24,563
(laughter)

945
00:47:24,567 --> 00:47:28,937
Look, I said earlier that
something that is not uttered in

946
00:47:28,934 --> 00:47:32,564
this town and probably
not uttered enough is,

947
00:47:32,567 --> 00:47:34,737
"I'm sorry and I
made a mistake."

948
00:47:34,734 --> 00:47:42,634
Now, everybody has to look in
the mirror and live with their

949
00:47:42,633 --> 00:47:45,233
own conscience about what
was done and what they've

950
00:47:45,233 --> 00:47:48,663
done to rectify that.

951
00:47:48,667 --> 00:47:53,067
This is an individual who has
I think on several different

952
00:47:53,066 --> 00:47:56,196
occasions come up with different
ideas about what the video was

953
00:47:56,200 --> 00:47:58,200
or wasn't supposed to be.

954
00:47:58,200 --> 00:48:02,170
And I'll let news organizations
discuss their airing of it and

955
00:48:02,166 --> 00:48:04,796
the way they reacted to it.

956
00:48:04,800 --> 00:48:07,700
I'm not going to speak
for him or for them.

957
00:48:07,700 --> 00:48:09,670
But I think the administration
has taken responsibility

958
00:48:09,667 --> 00:48:10,767
for its actions.

959
00:48:10,767 --> 00:48:15,837
And do I think this episode
would be a more teachable moment

960
00:48:15,834 --> 00:48:18,064
if he apologized to her?

961
00:48:18,066 --> 00:48:19,536
Absolutely.

962
00:48:19,533 --> 00:48:20,863
Sam -- or do you have one more?

963
00:48:20,867 --> 00:48:21,937
The Press:
Yes, one more.

964
00:48:21,934 --> 00:48:23,734
You mentioned before that the
President talked about his book

965
00:48:23,734 --> 00:48:25,204
with Ms. Sherrod.

966
00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:26,730
Which part?

967
00:48:26,734 --> 00:48:29,504
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, I don't -- Glenn,
they didn't get that detailed.

968
00:48:29,500 --> 00:48:34,400
He simply said that -- I think
they both had -- she had talked

969
00:48:34,400 --> 00:48:38,500
about and he had written
about experiences that in

970
00:48:38,500 --> 00:48:40,230
some ways were similar.

971
00:48:40,233 --> 00:48:41,763
Sam.

972
00:48:41,767 --> 00:48:43,637
The Press:
Earlier this month,
the President and Senate

973
00:48:43,633 --> 00:48:45,463
Democrats agreed to
pursue three bills,

974
00:48:45,467 --> 00:48:46,937
three pieces of
legislation on the economy.

975
00:48:46,934 --> 00:48:49,034
It looks like two are
going to be in the books.

976
00:48:49,033 --> 00:48:51,103
The third one is this
small business tax cuts.

977
00:48:51,100 --> 00:48:52,670
You've mentioned
it a couple times,

978
00:48:52,667 --> 00:48:54,337
but it's largely
flown below the radar.

979
00:48:54,333 --> 00:48:56,433
Should we expect the President
to be more visible --

980
00:48:56,433 --> 00:48:57,733
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

981
00:48:57,734 --> 00:48:58,964
The Press:
-- and more active than --

982
00:48:58,967 --> 00:49:00,437
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I mean, look, I will
say that the President has

983
00:49:00,433 --> 00:49:02,363
done a number of events
on small business.

984
00:49:02,367 --> 00:49:05,437
He's done a number of events
on the increase in credit.

985
00:49:05,433 --> 00:49:08,363
We discussed yesterday the
comments that the Fed Chairman

986
00:49:08,367 --> 00:49:10,997
had made, and one of the Fed
Chairman's comments from last

987
00:49:11,000 --> 00:49:15,800
week was that we need to get
more credit to small business.

988
00:49:15,800 --> 00:49:20,030
We hear a lot of talk on
Capitol Hill, rightly so,

989
00:49:20,033 --> 00:49:22,503
about helping small business.

990
00:49:22,500 --> 00:49:26,800
The Senate will have an
opportunity, as I understand it,

991
00:49:26,800 --> 00:49:33,670
in a standalone amendment to
vote for providing necessary and

992
00:49:33,667 --> 00:49:36,437
needed capital to community
banks to lend to small

993
00:49:36,433 --> 00:49:39,333
businesses in communities
all over this country to

994
00:49:39,333 --> 00:49:40,663
create jobs.

995
00:49:40,667 --> 00:49:43,267
And I said to Chip earlier
that governing is about

996
00:49:43,266 --> 00:49:45,766
making choices.

997
00:49:45,767 --> 00:49:49,237
It was about choices this week
when you had to decide whether

998
00:49:49,233 --> 00:49:55,263
you're for or you're against
extending unemployment benefits

999
00:49:55,266 --> 00:49:58,366
for those that have lost their
jobs as a result of the greatest

1000
00:49:58,367 --> 00:50:02,237
economic downturn in our life
-- in many of our lifetimes.

1001
00:50:02,233 --> 00:50:05,133
People had to make a choice
about whether they were for

1002
00:50:05,133 --> 00:50:10,603
the rules that governed Wall
Street in September of 2008,

1003
00:50:10,600 --> 00:50:12,370
or whether we think there
ought to be a new set of

1004
00:50:12,367 --> 00:50:14,297
rules going forward.

1005
00:50:14,300 --> 00:50:16,630
And it is likely either
later this week or next week,

1006
00:50:16,633 --> 00:50:20,133
people are going to get to
decide whether we should have --

1007
00:50:20,133 --> 00:50:22,903
give more capital to small
businesses to lend -- or to

1008
00:50:22,900 --> 00:50:25,370
banks to lend to small
businesses to create jobs,

1009
00:50:25,367 --> 00:50:26,397
or not.

1010
00:50:26,400 --> 00:50:27,930
They're very simple choices.

1011
00:50:27,934 --> 00:50:30,164
They will illuminate many of the
choices I think that voters will

1012
00:50:30,166 --> 00:50:32,336
get an opportunity
to make in November.

1013
00:50:32,333 --> 00:50:33,233
The Press:
Should we expect to see, I mean,

1014
00:50:33,233 --> 00:50:37,533
the same kind of visibility and
aggressiveness we've seen on --

1015
00:50:37,533 --> 00:50:39,163
probably not on
financial reform,

1016
00:50:39,166 --> 00:50:40,536
but at least on
the unemployment?

1017
00:50:40,533 --> 00:50:42,333
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think the President was
pretty aggressive on financial

1018
00:50:42,333 --> 00:50:45,063
reform, I think the President
laid out clearly what was at

1019
00:50:45,066 --> 00:50:46,866
stake in unemployment benefits,

1020
00:50:46,867 --> 00:50:49,597
and I expect that he'll do so
as we get closer to the vote

1021
00:50:49,600 --> 00:50:50,830
on small businesses.

1022
00:50:50,834 --> 00:50:51,934
Thanks, guys.