English subtitles for clip: File:9-2-10- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Gibbs:
Good afternoon.

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Let me begin with one just quick
statement on Hurricane Earl.

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The President is closely
monitoring and aggressively

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preparing for the storm as it
continues to head toward the East Coast.

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On its current track, Hurricane
Earl could approach the coast of

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North Carolina by late tonight
or early Friday morning.

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Last night the President signed
a pre-landfall emergency

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declaration for the
state of North Carolina,

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ensuring the state has
what it needs beforehand.

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And FEMA has already moved teams
and supplies into states along

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the East Coast to provide
support and resources as needed.

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As you know, yesterday
Administrator Fugate provided

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the President with an update,
and FEMA is in close contact and

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coordination with the governors
and their teams up and down the

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eastern seaboard to ensure that
they have the support they need

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should the storm make landfall
later tonight or tomorrow.

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I do expect that the President
will speak with the FEMA

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administrator again today, and
we will let you know when that happens.

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Yes, ma'am.

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The Press:
The Mideast.

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Do you have any sort of update
to offer on how the talks are

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going so far?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me give you just a little bit from --

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well, obviously, as you all
know, the talks are ongoing.

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We expect that at some point, I
would say in the next hour or

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so, Senator Mitchell, our
special envoy for Middle East

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peace, will conduct a briefing
on what has transpired today.

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I would say that the President
was encouraged in his meetings

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yesterday by the very serious
attitude that each of the

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leaders brought about these
talks and about a long-term

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lasting peace for
the Middle East.

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All view this as a tremendously
important opportunity.

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I think you all saw the pictures
last evening and the powerful

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statements that were made by
the leaders in the Middle East.

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I would also say
that the President,

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as he did in the Rose
Garden yesterday afternoon,

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remind everyone that there
are still deep divisions.

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There are still years of
mistrust to overcome.

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That's not going to be wiped
away in one meeting or in one

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day, and we understand that.

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The failure, though -- the failure to try is not something

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the President wants to do.

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The Press:
It seems like one of those deep divisions that you speak of

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is Hamas.

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How does the administration
plan to deal with them?

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They don't recognize Israel.

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They're promising more attacks.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sorry --

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The Press:
Is there a plan for dealing with Hamas?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, why don't I defer questions about what transpired

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today in the talks until Senator
Mitchell has an opportunity to

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answer some of those questions
at the conclusion of the

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meetings today.

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All right?

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
Robert, a question about Christy Romer's remarks yesterday.

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She said -- I have it in front of me --

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"The only surefire ways for
policymakers to substantially

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increase aggregate demand in the
short run are for the government

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to spend more and tax less.

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In my view, we should be moving
forward in both fronts."

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That sounds like setting a
stage for a second stimulus.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me -- I'll be somewhat broad in my answer and a little

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-- let's go back to -- well, both what the President said and

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what I said on Monday.

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And I think the actions and the
steps that this administration

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has taken over the course
of the past two years --

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first and foremost,
the President is --

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and the team are
looking at ideas.

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And he enumerated some
of those parameters,

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including infrastructure.

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And certainly in terms
of cutting taxes,

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there's a bill pending before
the United States Senate that

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the President -- you've heard the President speak on many

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occasions that would, indeed, cut taxes on small business.

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I think if you look at -- if you go back to a year ago,

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outside of the Recovery Act, we pursued and the President signed

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legislation that enabled Cash for Clunkers.

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The President spoke in December
of last year about targeted

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measures that can be taken
to help the recovery.

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Those have included the
bipartisan HIRE Act,

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which helps cut taxes for
those that do add employees.

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We have expanded -- we've given states more money to ensure that

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things like teachers and firefighters weren't laid off.

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We've expanded and continued
unemployment insurance,

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and a small business bill
has passed the House.

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So look, we will continue to
look at and take steps that are,

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as I talked about on Monday,
that are targeted in nature,

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to help continue the recovery
and to help create an

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environment where the private
sector is adding jobs.

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The Press:
I think we are all aware of the steps that have been taken.

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What Dr. Romer seems to be
saying here is that a lot more

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spending needs to come to make
this economic recovery increase.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I would -- I'd point you to what the President said

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on Monday.

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I don't think that is -- I don't think that is -- I think --

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I would -- again, I would point you to what the President said

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is -- as ideas that are being looked at.

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And as I said here on Monday,
some big new stimulus plan is

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not in the offing.

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The Press:
How would you interpret, then, what she said?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I would interpret what she said to be very much in line

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with what the President
said on Monday.

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The Press:
Following on that, on jobs, what does the President expect out of

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the jobless numbers tomorrow?

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And has the economic team come
up with some of those new ideas

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that you talked about?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me take the second question first,

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and that is those meetings and
those discussions continue to take place.

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I'm not going to get ahead of
any of those ultimate decisions.

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It's probably -- well, it is not helpful for me to speculate on

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the jobs numbers.

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I say this for the benefit of
anybody that is watching --

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I do not know the numbers, I
will not know the numbers,

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just so anything that is said
in the next several minutes has

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nothing to do with my
knowledge about the numbers.

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I do that because everybody
gets nervous that if I make a

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comment, somehow
I knew the number.

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The Press:
There's an oil-production platform in the Gulf

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that's on fire.

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Does it present any of the
same problems of the BP rig?

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It's obviously not
under a moratorium.

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Do you know anything
more about the accident?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let me just say -- here's what I know before we

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came out here.

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This is a -- I'm told this is a production platform about 100

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miles off the coast.

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I am told the depth of
water is about 340 feet.

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So this is not a -- this is not a deepwater facility.

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As I understand it, the well
was not in active production.

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I will in some ways reiterate
what I think the Coast Guard has

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said in a statement
that they've released,

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and that is that they responded
to the preliminary reports of a

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fire onboard an oil
platform in the Gulf.

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The initial report that we
got were that 13 persons --

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13 people were on the platform.

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They are accounted for; one is
injured and is on his way out of

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that area.

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Two Coast Guard cutters,
multiple Coast Guard aircraft

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were en route.

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One Coast Guard helicopter
was on the scene.

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We will continue to gather
information as we respond.

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We obviously have response
assets ready for deployment

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should we receive reports
of pollution in the water.

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The Press:
Is the President convinced that the inspection of rigs in the

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Gulf of Mexico is
moving fast enough?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I have not gotten a recent update on that.

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I will try to get one.

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Obviously we have taken some -- we took a series of steps after

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the BP incident, primarily around deepwater drilling.

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Let me not go too much
further than what I have.

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And if the situation warrants,
we'll certainly update that.

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I will say the President was in
a meeting in the Situation Room.

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I don't know if
he's been notified.

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John Brennan, who
was in that meeting,

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does know about the incident.

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I just don't -- before somebody asks --

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I don't know whether or not --

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The Press:
What's the Sit Room meeting on?

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Mr. Gibbs:
It's a national security meeting --

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that John had or had not had a
chance to discuss that with the President.

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The Press:
So who would be in charge -- just following up on

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the Coast Guard?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I do not know who is on the scene, but you can --

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the Coast Guard obviously -- the production facility is located

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in federal waters.

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They are the ones
that are in response.

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I don't know if there's -- who the highest-ranking person is on the scene.

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The Press:
And just following up on the Middle East peace talks,

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what does the President see as
his role going forward now?

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Does he feel like he's
appropriately set the stage and

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now it's Secretary Clinton
who is taking the lead?

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And if there's additional
talks, say, hosted by Egypt,

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would the President be the
one who would be attending,

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or is he stepping back
now and letting --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't want to make any scheduling pronouncements.

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I'll do this in a couple ways.

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Obviously Secretary
Clinton has --

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is conducting and is the lead
on this as she conducts these

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meetings today.

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Obviously our special
envoy, George Mitchell,

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has spent a lot of time in the
region, as has the Secretary.

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Look, we have said this
from the very beginning,

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and as I mentioned
the other day,

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one of the very first things the
President did upon walking into

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the Oval Office that very first,
full morning was to make calls

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to leaders in the region, some
of whom obviously were here yesterday.

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I think this is
true historically,

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and that is when we are
actively involved and engaged,

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there's a better
chance for peace.

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That's been President Obama's
viewpoint and the whole team's viewpoint.

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So I can't speak to what
our involvement would be at

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different points in this -- leave that for a sort of

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situational discussion.

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But obviously we have over the
past many months been actively

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involved and engaged and will
continue to be actively involved

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and engaged, as the best
way to make progress,

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we have always felt, is to do
so the same way they're doing

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today, and that is to sit at
that table and have direct talks.

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The Press:
And does the President see this scenario differently and more

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optimistically than previous
administrations, A,

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because of more stability
in the West Bank,

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or because of the potential
mutual threat from Iran becoming nuclear?

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How does he see this as any
different than previous administrations?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, I'd say first and foremost,

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I think the President felt
that the meetings yesterday,

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as he said, were productive
and believed that each of the

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leaders was genuine and
serious about seeking peace.

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At the same time, we
understand that this is --

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as I said earlier, this is
something that has eluded generations.

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We're mindful of that.

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So we will stay engaged.

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We will do what is necessary,
and then we hope that each side

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will continue to take
steps necessary to make --

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build confidence and make
these talks productive.

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The Press:
Does he believe that the mutual --

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potential mutual threat by a
nuclear Iran is helping bring

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these two sides together?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, we have always maintained that peace was in the

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best interest of each of
these entities involved,

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regardless of anything
else in the Middle East.

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I think that was true when the
President first came in and

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certainly is true and is
governing our actions today.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
The numbers for members of Congress have gone through the

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floor in recent weeks,
for the Democrats.

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Why do you think that is?

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And why hasn't the President
done more during the recess in

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August basically to
try to shore them up?

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It looks like they're
in a terrible spot.

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The numbers for
members of Congress --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Which numbers?

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The Press:
The polling numbers for people who are running for office.

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Democrats' numbers have
nosedived during the month of August.

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Mr. Gibbs:
You sound like a radio guy when you're doing the -- nosedive --

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The Press:
I could give you a chart, but you get the idea.

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00:13:31,433 --> 00:13:36,703
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, look, we are -- the President will continue to make

238
00:13:36,700 --> 00:13:40,600
a very active case for the steps that the administration has

239
00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,900
taken and why we have to continue to move forward on that path.

240
00:13:44,900 --> 00:13:45,370
Bill, I --

241
00:13:45,367 --> 00:13:46,437
The Press:
He didn't do much during August.

242
00:13:46,433 --> 00:13:47,133
Why not?

243
00:13:47,133 --> 00:13:55,963
Mr. Gibbs:
I will say this, Bill, the President has been fairly active

244
00:13:55,967 --> 00:13:59,367
in both campaigning
and in raising money.

245
00:13:59,367 --> 00:14:03,197
What the President is helping
the Democratic National

246
00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,270
Committee do is something
that the Democratic National

247
00:14:05,266 --> 00:14:08,966
Committee has never done
in supporting Senate and

248
00:14:08,967 --> 00:14:10,697
congressional candidates.

249
00:14:10,700 --> 00:14:13,700
And it's something
we'll continue to do.

250
00:14:13,700 --> 00:14:15,670
The Press:
What is it that they've never done?

251
00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:16,597
Mr. Gibbs:
The level of support.

252
00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:17,570
The Press:
Oh.

253
00:14:17,567 --> 00:14:18,567
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

254
00:14:18,567 --> 00:14:19,937
The Press:
Robert, following up on what Ann was saying about the economy,

255
00:14:19,934 --> 00:14:22,534
not about the numbers tomorrow,
but the snapshot that we got

256
00:14:22,533 --> 00:14:25,063
today of the new
unemployment claims down,

257
00:14:25,066 --> 00:14:28,096
but also productivity
down and labor costs up --

258
00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:30,870
what does that snapshot tell you
about the state of the recovery?

259
00:14:30,867 --> 00:14:35,797
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think -- let me give you an answer that's not

260
00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:40,100
necessarily based on one unemployment claims report today

261
00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:44,230
because I am somewhat hesitant to get into what are always

262
00:14:44,233 --> 00:14:49,403
going to be the week-to-week swings of unemployment claims.

263
00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:55,170
I think it is safe to say that
we are in a markedly different

264
00:14:55,166 --> 00:14:59,136
and better position than we were
a year or a year and a half ago.

265
00:14:59,133 --> 00:15:01,533
Our economy is expanding.

266
00:15:01,533 --> 00:15:07,103
We've created about 600,000
private sector jobs throughout

267
00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:10,900
the course of this year.

268
00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:13,530
As I have said earlier and I
think as the President has said,

269
00:15:13,533 --> 00:15:17,403
there's no question that the
trajectory of that recovery

270
00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,270
based on events,
particularly in Greece,

271
00:15:21,266 --> 00:15:26,236
have changed that trajectory
from where we were at some point

272
00:15:26,233 --> 00:15:28,333
in the spring.

273
00:15:28,333 --> 00:15:32,433
We have to continue to be
mindful of whatever steps might

274
00:15:32,433 --> 00:15:35,263
be necessary to
continue that recovery.

275
00:15:35,266 --> 00:15:35,896
The Press:
What are those?

276
00:15:35,900 --> 00:15:40,170
What do you do to turn it around
or get it going in a stronger,

277
00:15:40,166 --> 00:15:41,296
higher trajectory?

278
00:15:41,300 --> 00:15:44,470
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, that's some of the discussions that the economic

279
00:15:44,467 --> 00:15:45,237
team is having.

280
00:15:45,233 --> 00:15:48,433
And I'd point you to what the
President said in the Rose

281
00:15:48,433 --> 00:15:50,203
Garden about that on Monday.

282
00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:51,500
The Press:
Okay, and one other thing on FEMA.

283
00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:55,470
You said FEMA is moving teams
along the East Coast and supplies.

284
00:15:55,467 --> 00:15:58,367
Can you give us more details
on where and what supplies?

285
00:15:58,367 --> 00:16:03,597
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, let me get a comprehensive list and we'll send it around to

286
00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,870
you at the end of this.

287
00:16:05,867 --> 00:16:09,197
The Press:
You just said and the President said on Monday that you all are

288
00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:12,970
considering a range of new items
on the economy to try to turn

289
00:16:12,967 --> 00:16:14,437
things around.

290
00:16:14,433 --> 00:16:17,103
Assuming time is of the essence,
can you give us a sense of how

291
00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:19,070
soon you might roll
some of these out,

292
00:16:19,066 --> 00:16:21,136
and whether you would do
it piece by piece or --

293
00:16:21,133 --> 00:16:26,003
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know that those -- obviously they're still doing

294
00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:27,070
meetings and discussions on this.

295
00:16:27,066 --> 00:16:29,296
I don't have any
scheduling updates.

296
00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:31,500
The Press:
Would you agree that it's something that you'd rather do

297
00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:32,630
sooner rather than later?

298
00:16:32,633 --> 00:16:34,763
Or is it a matter of -- would you do it piece by piece?

299
00:16:34,767 --> 00:16:35,697
Or do you want to roll out --

300
00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:38,600
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I think the final decisions would have to be made

301
00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,130
before I'd have a good
understanding to be able to talk

302
00:16:41,133 --> 00:16:41,963
about it.

303
00:16:41,967 --> 00:16:45,037
The Press:
Given that so much of recovery has to do with confidence and

304
00:16:45,033 --> 00:16:46,763
how people feel
about the economy,

305
00:16:46,767 --> 00:16:50,067
can you talk about what your
strategy is in terms of how to

306
00:16:50,066 --> 00:16:53,136
talk about the economy,
tempering the balance between

307
00:16:53,133 --> 00:16:56,263
being realistic but also
trying to convey confidence?

308
00:16:56,266 --> 00:16:58,596
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think you've heard the President --

309
00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,500
I would point to what the
President said in his speech to

310
00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:12,300
the nation on Iraq, that we are
and always have been a very

311
00:17:12,300 --> 00:17:13,230
special country.

312
00:17:13,233 --> 00:17:18,333
We are in charge
of our own destiny.

313
00:17:18,333 --> 00:17:20,233
I think you've heard the
President over the past many

314
00:17:20,233 --> 00:17:23,733
weeks talk about the
steps that we've taken,

315
00:17:23,734 --> 00:17:25,964
and the fact that if
you look at, again,

316
00:17:25,967 --> 00:17:30,367
where we were at the end of 2008
and even the first quarter or so

317
00:17:30,367 --> 00:17:34,437
in 2009, we've made some
important progress.

318
00:17:34,433 --> 00:17:36,933
But there's important
progress yet to make.

319
00:17:36,934 --> 00:17:40,234
That's why the President
continues to look at ideas that

320
00:17:40,233 --> 00:17:44,933
might help create an environment
for more private sector hiring.

321
00:17:44,934 --> 00:17:48,734
That's why we'll continue to
look at and make investments

322
00:17:48,734 --> 00:17:53,604
that are important in creating
the jobs of the future.

323
00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,830
I think you'll hear the
President talk about a

324
00:17:56,834 --> 00:18:04,164
combination of that, expressing
confidence that we are headed in

325
00:18:04,166 --> 00:18:08,496
the right direction, albeit
not as quickly as anybody,

326
00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:10,300
including the President,
would like to see.

327
00:18:10,300 --> 00:18:13,000
The Press:
Would the President tell people they should save right now

328
00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,030
because we're in a trying time?

329
00:18:15,033 --> 00:18:18,733
Or they should spend because
the economy is strong and it's helpful --

330
00:18:18,734 --> 00:18:24,204
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think the President would say that --

331
00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,930
I'm not going to get into
individual purchasing decisions.

332
00:18:26,934 --> 00:18:33,364
I think the President would say
that we are making progress,

333
00:18:33,367 --> 00:18:41,637
that our economy is stronger
than it's been in a while.

334
00:18:41,633 --> 00:18:44,233
And we have to continue to be
mindful of and try to make

335
00:18:44,233 --> 00:18:48,403
progress on making that -- making this recovery one that's

336
00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:49,100
even stronger.

337
00:18:49,100 --> 00:18:51,800
There's no doubt,
Savannah, there are --

338
00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:56,870
the depths of what we entered
are unlike anything that we've

339
00:18:56,867 --> 00:18:59,497
experienced since
the Great Depression.

340
00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:03,970
And we've got a big hole to fill
and a lot of jobs to create to

341
00:19:03,967 --> 00:19:08,637
put the people that are -- that want to work fully back to work.

342
00:19:08,633 --> 00:19:10,463
And that's what the
President's goal obviously is.

343
00:19:10,467 --> 00:19:12,997
The Press:
And then real quick, GM put off its IPO and road show until

344
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,030
after the election.

345
00:19:14,033 --> 00:19:16,203
I wonder if the White House or
the administration had anything

346
00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:17,730
to do with that timing decision?

347
00:19:17,734 --> 00:19:27,064
Mr. Gibbs:
The White House is not involved in and not going to discuss IPO

348
00:19:27,066 --> 00:19:32,636
based on regulators watching
what people do and say around IPOs.

349
00:19:32,633 --> 00:19:33,603
Jonathan.

350
00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,700
The Press:
Let me come at this economic question a different way.

351
00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:39,830
Congress is going to be back in
Washington in a week and a half.

352
00:19:39,834 --> 00:19:43,534
Beside the small business bill,
what is on the President's

353
00:19:43,533 --> 00:19:48,063
must-do list before they're
back out and campaigning?

354
00:19:48,066 --> 00:19:49,636
Because they don't
have a lot of time.

355
00:19:49,633 --> 00:19:50,533
Mr. Gibbs:
No, they don't.

356
00:19:50,533 --> 00:19:54,803
And I know you caveated by
saying you assume small business.

357
00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,270
But I -- this is something the President has talked a lot about.

358
00:19:58,266 --> 00:20:01,496
I'm going to spend another 30
seconds doing it one more time

359
00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:09,530
because I -- what this town does a lot is, okay,

360
00:20:09,533 --> 00:20:12,533
I know what you're doing now,
but what are you going to do next.

361
00:20:12,533 --> 00:20:15,263
I point out that the article
that I held up here just the

362
00:20:15,266 --> 00:20:18,166
other day -- small businesses have delayed their hiring

363
00:20:18,166 --> 00:20:21,696
decisions, small businesses have delayed their expansion

364
00:20:21,700 --> 00:20:23,530
decisions, small businesses have delayed their investment

365
00:20:23,533 --> 00:20:26,603
decisions, waiting to see what the Senate will do on the small

366
00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:27,770
business bill.

367
00:20:27,767 --> 00:20:31,137
So I don't want to discount that
the engine of our economy --

368
00:20:31,133 --> 00:20:34,533
as the President said, 60% of the job losses come from small business.

369
00:20:34,533 --> 00:20:38,203
There are some concrete steps
that we can and should take when

370
00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,570
Congress does come back in a
week and a half to change that.

371
00:20:41,567 --> 00:20:50,067
Obviously the President is
mindful of the tax cuts for the

372
00:20:50,066 --> 00:20:52,966
middle class that expire
at the end of the year,

373
00:20:52,967 --> 00:20:58,567
and the President will fight to
ensure that those middle-class

374
00:20:58,567 --> 00:20:59,897
tax cuts are protected.

375
00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:03,670
I think that is something that
we'll obviously have a fairly

376
00:21:03,667 --> 00:21:07,467
robust discussion on, not just
in the remaining weeks of

377
00:21:07,467 --> 00:21:13,397
Congress but throughout the
election and maybe after the election.

378
00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,400
The Press:
From what I understand, Nancy Pelosi is worried that as the

379
00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:21,630
tax cut debate goes on this fall
in the Senate that the White

380
00:21:21,633 --> 00:21:28,103
House will cave to pressures
from some moderate Democrats to

381
00:21:28,100 --> 00:21:30,570
just extend all the tax
cuts for another year.

382
00:21:30,567 --> 00:21:33,367
Can you reassure her of that?

383
00:21:33,367 --> 00:21:35,937
Mr. Gibbs:
I like that you're my Nancy Pelosi go-between, Jonathan.

384
00:21:35,934 --> 00:21:39,064
(laughter)

385
00:21:39,066 --> 00:21:42,936
I will reiterate what we've
said throughout this debate,

386
00:21:42,934 --> 00:21:49,234
and that is the President
believes that the tax cuts for

387
00:21:49,233 --> 00:21:52,303
those in the middle class
should be maintained,

388
00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:54,730
they should be kept.

389
00:21:54,734 --> 00:22:03,234
The money that would be spent to
keep those tax breaks for people

390
00:22:03,233 --> 00:22:05,933
that make more than
$250,000 a year --

391
00:22:05,934 --> 00:22:11,634
and let's be clear that the
majority of the money that would

392
00:22:11,633 --> 00:22:14,263
be spent next year on
maintaining those tax cuts are

393
00:22:14,266 --> 00:22:18,436
for people that make more than
a million dollars a year -- okay?

394
00:22:18,433 --> 00:22:22,603
That is a statistical fact.

395
00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:31,500
There are -- if the Republicans are bent on spending an

396
00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:38,430
additional $35 billion, I think there are many economists and

397
00:22:38,433 --> 00:22:41,503
certainly the Congressional Budget Office has looked at many

398
00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:43,970
ways that could stimulate the economy --

399
00:22:43,967 --> 00:22:47,437
extending the tax cuts
for the wealthiest,

400
00:22:47,433 --> 00:22:49,933
those that are making
that million dollars,

401
00:22:49,934 --> 00:22:54,264
is the least stimulative
way to impact our economy.

402
00:22:54,266 --> 00:22:59,096
So we are focused first and
foremost and only on extending

403
00:22:59,100 --> 00:23:00,830
tax cuts for the middle class.

404
00:23:00,834 --> 00:23:02,134
The Press:
And one quick question --

405
00:23:02,133 --> 00:23:04,063
Mr. Gibbs:
Please relay that back to the Speaker.

406
00:23:04,066 --> 00:23:04,866
(laughter)

407
00:23:04,867 --> 00:23:05,597
The Press:
All right.

408
00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,870
You've got a bunch
of openings --

409
00:23:07,867 --> 00:23:10,997
new chairman of the CEA,
Consumer Financial Protection

410
00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,700
Agency, Comptroller
of the Currency.

411
00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:17,330
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sorry, Jonathan, the CEA thing is not going to

412
00:23:17,333 --> 00:23:18,463
work out, but --

413
00:23:18,467 --> 00:23:19,667
(laughter)

414
00:23:19,667 --> 00:23:21,467
The Press:
God, if you were even thinking about that --

415
00:23:21,467 --> 00:23:24,737
Mr. Gibbs:
Amy was supposed to tell you that before the

416
00:23:24,734 --> 00:23:26,134
briefing started.

417
00:23:26,133 --> 00:23:27,833
The Press:
Do you have timing on any of these --

418
00:23:27,834 --> 00:23:28,434
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

419
00:23:28,433 --> 00:23:33,133
As I said earlier in the week,
I didn't expect that CEA and

420
00:23:33,133 --> 00:23:34,503
Consumer would be
done this week.

421
00:23:34,500 --> 00:23:36,230
It's not.

422
00:23:36,233 --> 00:23:40,903
Obviously Dr. Romer's
tenure concludes tomorrow.

423
00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:46,100
I do not have a timeline
for those two openings.

424
00:23:46,100 --> 00:23:47,030
Mark.

425
00:23:47,033 --> 00:23:50,733
The Press:
Robert, can you say what the NSC meeting is about today?

426
00:23:50,734 --> 00:23:54,004
Mr. Gibbs:
A series of national security issues.

427
00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:54,630
The Press:
Routine?

428
00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:55,703
Or urgent?

429
00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:59,430
Mr. Gibbs:
Some -- no, I would not -- I don't want to get

430
00:23:59,433 --> 00:24:00,363
everybody nervous.

431
00:24:00,367 --> 00:24:04,097
It's not a -- it's something that the President does fairly regularly.

432
00:24:04,100 --> 00:24:06,070
The Press:
Robert, in his speech on Tuesday night,

433
00:24:06,066 --> 00:24:09,996
President Obama said that there
could be patriots on both sides

434
00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:11,570
of the Iraq issue.

435
00:24:11,567 --> 00:24:15,237
Does he believe there could be
patriots on both sides of health

436
00:24:15,233 --> 00:24:18,833
care issue, government
spending, taxes and the like?

437
00:24:18,834 --> 00:24:19,504
Mr. Gibbs:
Sure.

438
00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:22,330
I mean, look, first, inherent
in your question, Mark,

439
00:24:22,333 --> 00:24:24,863
is that I don't think that if the -- I don't --

440
00:24:24,867 --> 00:24:27,397
the President is not going to
question the patriotism of those

441
00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,700
that have a different
view than him.

442
00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:33,100
I don't -- that's never been -- they may have policy

443
00:24:33,100 --> 00:24:35,230
disagreements, but I don't think,

444
00:24:35,233 --> 00:24:39,963
based on those disagreements -- at least the President would not

445
00:24:39,967 --> 00:24:43,167
make the argument that somebody is more or less patriotic based

446
00:24:43,166 --> 00:24:46,796
on the fact that they share his position on a certain policy issue.

447
00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,530
The Press:
But he accuses Republicans of game-playing,

448
00:24:49,533 --> 00:24:51,703
of holding issues hostage.

449
00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:53,470
I mean, that certainly
casts a dispersion --

450
00:24:53,467 --> 00:24:54,637
Mr. Gibbs:
That's true, too.

451
00:24:54,633 --> 00:24:56,933
The Press:
Well, can you have it both ways?

452
00:24:56,934 --> 00:25:05,104
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let's take, for instance, what the President said on

453
00:25:05,100 --> 00:25:07,830
Monday about the
small business bill.

454
00:25:07,834 --> 00:25:10,404
The President asked the
Republican Party to end the

455
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:15,930
blockade on needed and necessary
aid for small businesses.

456
00:25:15,934 --> 00:25:21,464
What I think is somewhat
undeniable is they've held up that bill.

457
00:25:21,467 --> 00:25:27,197
I don't -- if the Republicans are proud of holding that bill

458
00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:29,230
up, I don't think they should have any problem with the

459
00:25:29,233 --> 00:25:31,433
President mentioning that they're holding that bill up.

460
00:25:31,433 --> 00:25:34,633
I do think that's somewhat if
not markedly different from

461
00:25:34,633 --> 00:25:38,203
questioning their patriotism
for holding up the bill,

462
00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,170
which I don't think you'll
hear the President do.

463
00:25:41,166 --> 00:25:45,166
The Press:
And on a lighter note, any comment from the President on

464
00:25:45,166 --> 00:25:48,236
the reviews of the
new Oval Office dĂŠcor?

465
00:25:48,233 --> 00:25:49,333
(laughter)

466
00:25:49,333 --> 00:25:56,933
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not heard him give a review on the reviews.

467
00:25:56,934 --> 00:25:57,864
I don't know --

468
00:25:57,867 --> 00:25:59,637
The Press:
Was he involved in picking the color scheme?

469
00:25:59,633 --> 00:26:01,033
(laughter)

470
00:26:01,033 --> 00:26:04,033
Mr. Gibbs:
I will tell you, Mark, that is not something --

471
00:26:04,033 --> 00:26:08,363
I know you'll be surprised
that I was not consulted stylistically.

472
00:26:08,367 --> 00:26:10,037
The Press:
Are you officially neutral?

473
00:26:10,033 --> 00:26:11,263
(laughter)

474
00:26:11,266 --> 00:26:12,536
The Press:
Actually, you would match very well.

475
00:26:12,533 --> 00:26:13,363
(laughter)

476
00:26:13,367 --> 00:26:16,097
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm trying for one more day in the summer,

477
00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:19,230
so don't read
anything into my suit.

478
00:26:19,233 --> 00:26:20,003
(laughter)

479
00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:21,200
The Press:
Great headline in the Style section --

480
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:22,100
"The Audacity of Taupe."

481
00:26:22,100 --> 00:26:23,630
(laughter)

482
00:26:23,633 --> 00:26:25,003
Mr. Gibbs:
I think I heard Burton say that first,

483
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:29,100
so I don't know if he got some
sort of a credit on that.

484
00:26:29,100 --> 00:26:29,830
Julianna.

485
00:26:29,834 --> 00:26:33,304
The Press:
The rig explosion today -- it is in shallow water,

486
00:26:33,300 --> 00:26:39,870
but would it have any impact on the current deepwater drilling moratorium?

487
00:26:39,867 --> 00:26:41,267
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I know of.

488
00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:44,266
And I say that largely because
obviously we are still trying to

489
00:26:44,266 --> 00:26:48,766
gather information about the
events that are happening at

490
00:26:48,767 --> 00:26:51,537
that site right now.

491
00:26:51,533 --> 00:26:53,503
I think obviously there is a
process at the Department of

492
00:26:53,500 --> 00:27:00,670
Interior around the existing
deepwater moratorium.

493
00:27:00,667 --> 00:27:03,397
Hard to match those two issues
up based on the fact that we

494
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,000
don't know a ton at the moment.

495
00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,370
The Press:
You don't know if the President has been briefed on this yet,

496
00:27:08,367 --> 00:27:09,897
but is it possible that --

497
00:27:09,900 --> 00:27:12,130
Mr. Gibbs:
My sense is that Brennan will likely have told him at the end

498
00:27:12,133 --> 00:27:13,533
of that meeting, but I don't
know that for sure yet.

499
00:27:13,533 --> 00:27:20,763
The Press:
But the current investigation into the Deepwater Horizon

500
00:27:20,767 --> 00:27:23,897
explosion, is it possible that
that could be brought in --

501
00:27:23,900 --> 00:27:27,070
does this raise new concerns
about shallow-water drilling?

502
00:27:27,066 --> 00:27:27,796
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me do this.

503
00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,930
Let me get -- I will go back and get as much of an update as we

504
00:27:30,934 --> 00:27:34,834
can throughout the day and see
if any of that changes.

505
00:27:34,834 --> 00:27:37,004
I don't -- at this point, based on what we know,

506
00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:38,600
I don't want to
marry those two up.

507
00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:40,070
I will double-check today.

508
00:27:40,066 --> 00:27:42,636
The Press:
So tomorrow is Dr. Romer's last day.

509
00:27:42,633 --> 00:27:45,063
The White House had said that
you had hoped to fill that

510
00:27:45,066 --> 00:27:47,766
vacancy by her last day.

511
00:27:47,767 --> 00:27:51,497
With the jobs report tomorrow,
with the economic team trying --

512
00:27:51,500 --> 00:27:55,770
working to come up with
new measures, is there --

513
00:27:55,767 --> 00:28:00,497
is it at all significant that
there is a void now on the economic --

514
00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:03,030
Mr. Gibbs:
No -- look, obviously there are --

515
00:28:03,033 --> 00:28:11,363
we have a pretty full and robust
team that will meet with the

516
00:28:11,367 --> 00:28:15,967
President in about 15 minutes.

517
00:28:15,967 --> 00:28:20,467
Obviously as soon as we have
an announcement on a CEA

518
00:28:20,467 --> 00:28:22,197
replacement we'll let you know.

519
00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,730
The Press:
Will there be an acting director in the interim?

520
00:28:24,734 --> 00:28:25,934
Mr. Gibbs:
There could be.

521
00:28:25,934 --> 00:28:29,634
But again, I don't -- none of those, that I know of,

522
00:28:29,633 --> 00:28:31,003
none of those final decisions have been made.

523
00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:32,100
The Press:
And then one last question.

524
00:28:32,100 --> 00:28:35,370
Larry Summers and Tom Donilon
are going to China next week.

525
00:28:35,367 --> 00:28:37,467
Could you talk on
what's on the agenda,

526
00:28:37,467 --> 00:28:39,067
what's the purpose
of that visit?

527
00:28:39,066 --> 00:28:43,196
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me -- I think we're going to put out some stuff on that in a

528
00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,130
little bit, so let me wait for that.

529
00:28:46,133 --> 00:28:47,203
The Press:
Robert --

530
00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:48,830
The Press:
It's you or Mitchell.

531
00:28:48,834 --> 00:28:49,864
Mr. Gibbs:
What's that?

532
00:28:49,867 --> 00:28:51,367
The Press:
It's you or Mitchell.

533
00:28:51,367 --> 00:28:54,037
Mr. Gibbs:
I understand what you've chosen there, Bill.

534
00:28:54,033 --> 00:28:56,903
I don't take it personally.

535
00:28:56,900 --> 00:28:59,500
The Press:
Robert, you've said both that there's --

536
00:28:59,500 --> 00:29:02,170
no new big stimulus plans are in
the offing; on the other hand,

537
00:29:02,166 --> 00:29:05,296
the economic team is
looking for new ideas.

538
00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:09,570
Has the President come to any
conclusions about whether any

539
00:29:09,567 --> 00:29:11,837
new policy initiatives, other
than the ones that are stalled

540
00:29:11,834 --> 00:29:14,604
in the Senate, could affect the
economy between now and Labor Day?

541
00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:16,000
Just some basic --

542
00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,130
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, that's -- let me, first of all,

543
00:29:18,133 --> 00:29:20,433
in that first part, when I say --

544
00:29:20,433 --> 00:29:22,963
inherent in the first part of your question is,

545
00:29:22,967 --> 00:29:26,597
as I said and as the President said on Monday,

546
00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,730
we are mindful of, as I listed earlier,

547
00:29:29,734 --> 00:29:33,734
targeted measures that can or
should be taken in order to

548
00:29:33,734 --> 00:29:39,134
continue a trajectory
of recovery.

549
00:29:39,133 --> 00:29:42,863
Obviously, again, Mara, those
meetings are ongoing in

550
00:29:42,867 --> 00:29:46,467
identifying and looking at a
whole host of those ideas.

551
00:29:46,467 --> 00:29:49,037
The Press:
I guess what I'm confused about is, I mean,

552
00:29:49,033 --> 00:29:50,363
the meetings are ongoing.

553
00:29:50,367 --> 00:29:52,237
The economy has been
stalling for a while.

554
00:29:52,233 --> 00:29:56,633
You have a very short
time frame here.

555
00:29:56,633 --> 00:29:59,503
Isn't there some sense of
urgency about getting new

556
00:29:59,500 --> 00:30:01,300
targeted initiatives if
you're going to have some?

557
00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:02,270
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me speak broadly.

558
00:30:02,266 --> 00:30:04,596
There's been a sense of urgency
about the economy since the

559
00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:09,130
moment we walked in here.

560
00:30:09,133 --> 00:30:12,233
Look, I think we have had to and
we've taken some extraordinary

561
00:30:12,233 --> 00:30:20,503
steps to ensure that a recession
did not become the next Great Depression.

562
00:30:20,500 --> 00:30:27,300
Obviously we are mindful that -- as I think I said this the other

563
00:30:27,300 --> 00:30:31,030
day, that we are -- we do not want to see --

564
00:30:31,033 --> 00:30:33,463
this is not a purely
academic exercise.

565
00:30:33,467 --> 00:30:37,137
So obviously, as Jonathan
mentioned, Congress is soon --

566
00:30:37,133 --> 00:30:39,633
will soon be back
in town, and --

567
00:30:39,633 --> 00:30:40,833
The Press:
Not for very long.

568
00:30:40,834 --> 00:30:45,834
Mr. Gibbs:
No, not for very long, but obviously I anticipate that some

569
00:30:45,834 --> 00:30:47,334
of those decisions
will get made --

570
00:30:47,333 --> 00:30:49,363
will be made before
that happens.

571
00:30:49,367 --> 00:30:50,967
The Press:
And just to follow up on a specific piece of that.

572
00:30:50,967 --> 00:30:53,867
You said that the Republicans were -- are hell bent on --

573
00:30:53,867 --> 00:30:56,137
that wasn't your exact words,
on adding $35 million --

574
00:30:56,133 --> 00:30:59,563
on $35 million to the deficit.

575
00:30:59,567 --> 00:31:01,837
There are more targeted ways
to do that that are more

576
00:31:01,834 --> 00:31:05,164
stimulative than extending
the tax cuts for the rich.

577
00:31:05,166 --> 00:31:09,996
How open is the President
to a payroll tax holiday for

578
00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:14,000
employers and/or employees as
one of those targeted things?

579
00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,700
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I'm just going to say, Mara,

580
00:31:16,700 --> 00:31:21,630
that obviously the team is
looking at a whole host of issues.

581
00:31:21,633 --> 00:31:24,103
I don't think it makes sense for
me to get into what those are or

582
00:31:24,100 --> 00:31:25,330
might be individually.

583
00:31:25,333 --> 00:31:28,363
The Press:
Is the President tomorrow going to make any public statements

584
00:31:28,367 --> 00:31:29,867
about the job numbers?

585
00:31:29,867 --> 00:31:31,837
Mr. Gibbs:
I believe that's the case, yes.

586
00:31:31,834 --> 00:31:35,464
The Press:
And some Dems seem to be worried that the President doesn't seem

587
00:31:35,467 --> 00:31:38,637
focused enough on the
economy and creating jobs.

588
00:31:38,633 --> 00:31:40,903
What do you say to those
Democrats who have those concerns?

589
00:31:40,900 --> 00:31:42,270
Mr. Gibbs:
Like who?

590
00:31:42,266 --> 00:31:46,066
The Press:
Democrats I've talked to, Democratic aides on the Hill who

591
00:31:46,066 --> 00:31:48,596
say that they feel like the
President isn't focused enough.

592
00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:51,730
This week, of course, was
dominated by foreign policy mostly.

593
00:31:51,734 --> 00:31:55,734
He inserted some comments about
the economy in his Iraq speech.

594
00:31:55,734 --> 00:31:57,764
But those are some of the
concerns that I'm hearing.

595
00:31:57,767 --> 00:32:03,597
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, again, I don't know who exactly you talked to but,

596
00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:08,000
again, this President has been
focused on dealing with the

597
00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:11,700
economic problems that we faced
the moment we came in here.

598
00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:17,300
We faced a housing crisis, a
crisis in financial stability.

599
00:32:17,300 --> 00:32:19,230
Eight million jobs
had been lost;

600
00:32:19,233 --> 00:32:24,763
the economy was contracting.

601
00:32:24,767 --> 00:32:27,697
For years, while productivity
was up, paychecks were not.

602
00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:31,370
The President has had to deal
with each and every one of those issues.

603
00:32:31,367 --> 00:32:35,137
We've made progress on
reducing foreclosures.

604
00:32:35,133 --> 00:32:38,233
We have gone from an economy
that was contracting to one

605
00:32:38,233 --> 00:32:39,503
that's expanding.

606
00:32:39,500 --> 00:32:43,830
We've gone from an economy that
was shedding jobs to an economy

607
00:32:43,834 --> 00:32:45,934
that is creating jobs.

608
00:32:45,934 --> 00:32:51,364
So we have taken
the necessary steps,

609
00:32:51,367 --> 00:32:55,997
many of them extraordinary in
changing the direction of our economy.

610
00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:00,700
And the President will continue
to dedicate more time to that

611
00:33:00,700 --> 00:33:03,430
than anything else
on his schedule.

612
00:33:03,433 --> 00:33:08,263
I will say this, because the
President is giving a speech on

613
00:33:08,266 --> 00:33:11,096
Iraq does not mean that the
President isn't dealing with the

614
00:33:11,100 --> 00:33:15,730
economy, just like when there
is something to deal with in

615
00:33:15,734 --> 00:33:18,564
foreign policy or
in the economy,

616
00:33:18,567 --> 00:33:21,497
it doesn't mean he's not dealing
with something internationally.

617
00:33:21,500 --> 00:33:25,070
I mean, what comes with this job is -- well, I'll say this.

618
00:33:25,066 --> 00:33:29,336
I have only worked here since
sometime in the afternoon of the

619
00:33:29,333 --> 00:33:32,533
20th of January 2009.

620
00:33:32,533 --> 00:33:35,503
I've yet to come here where
somebody greeted me at the door

621
00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:40,630
and said, good news, there's
only one problem today.

622
00:33:40,633 --> 00:33:44,503
Trust me, every morning I pull
up in hopes that someone does

623
00:33:44,500 --> 00:33:45,830
greet me like that.

624
00:33:45,834 --> 00:33:48,434
I don't anticipate
that it will happen.

625
00:33:48,433 --> 00:33:51,233
The Press:
Robert, one more on the economy and the measures that

626
00:33:51,233 --> 00:33:52,233
you're contemplating.

627
00:33:52,233 --> 00:33:55,033
Without getting into specifics,
has the President looked at the

628
00:33:55,033 --> 00:33:58,303
numbers, which do show a pretty
dramatic slowdown in the

629
00:33:58,300 --> 00:34:01,270
recovery, and said, we need
something dramatic here?

630
00:34:01,266 --> 00:34:03,596
Is something dramatic needed?

631
00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:06,730
Mr. Gibbs:
I think the President continues to ask the economic team for

632
00:34:06,734 --> 00:34:12,734
what ideas they believe
can help the economy now.

633
00:34:12,734 --> 00:34:18,704
Look, we have seen -- look, I mean,

634
00:34:18,700 --> 00:34:21,170
part of this obviously is there's no doubt,

635
00:34:21,166 --> 00:34:24,066
as I said earlier, that the
economic growth trajectory is

636
00:34:24,066 --> 00:34:26,936
not what it was in the spring.

637
00:34:26,934 --> 00:34:32,864
That's what the President
has asked folks to look at.

638
00:34:32,867 --> 00:34:35,097
Some of these -- some of the measures that we see,

639
00:34:35,100 --> 00:34:37,100
and it's why I didn't want to
talk specifically about one

640
00:34:37,100 --> 00:34:41,300
week's unemployment claims -- if you look at car --

641
00:34:41,300 --> 00:34:44,070
if you were to open the paper
today and look at car sales,

642
00:34:44,066 --> 00:34:45,866
car sales today
are compared to --

643
00:34:45,867 --> 00:34:48,667
they usually do
year-to-year comparisons.

644
00:34:48,667 --> 00:34:51,737
GM car sales down 28%
or whatever they were.

645
00:34:51,734 --> 00:34:55,004
Those are comparisons to last
August when Cash for Clunkers

646
00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:59,030
was there, when we were selling
cars not at a rate of 11 or 11.5

647
00:34:59,033 --> 00:35:01,033
million a year, but
at 14 million a year,

648
00:35:01,033 --> 00:35:04,403
which is obviously what
we would strive to get to,

649
00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:06,130
but not where we
are economically.

650
00:35:06,133 --> 00:35:10,933
So certainly the President has
throughout the past many weeks

651
00:35:10,934 --> 00:35:16,464
kept up to speed and up to date
on the latest economic data.

652
00:35:16,467 --> 00:35:18,997
Some of it has shown,
as I said, there's --

653
00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:24,870
while there's a
change in growth,

654
00:35:24,867 --> 00:35:29,167
you look at something like
yesterday where I think it's --

655
00:35:29,166 --> 00:35:33,166
without divining everything that
happens in the stock market,

656
00:35:33,166 --> 00:35:37,466
that you had a pretty big
rally fueled largely on a

657
00:35:37,467 --> 00:35:39,837
manufacturing index that
showed, for instance,

658
00:35:39,834 --> 00:35:44,064
employment at a rate that folks
hadn't seen on that index since

659
00:35:44,066 --> 00:35:47,836
the early 1980s.

660
00:35:47,834 --> 00:35:51,934
The Press:
It sounds like a no, that the data doesn't require something

661
00:35:51,934 --> 00:35:53,104
dramatic or eye-catching?

662
00:35:53,100 --> 00:35:58,730
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, I do not anticipate something that rivals the

663
00:35:58,734 --> 00:36:01,704
extraordinary measures that the
President has already taken.

664
00:36:01,700 --> 00:36:03,100
Yes, ma'am.

665
00:36:03,100 --> 00:36:04,370
The Press:
May I follow up?

666
00:36:04,367 --> 00:36:08,597
You do seem to be laying the
ground for modest changes.

667
00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,970
Peter Orszag said if you
extended over 10 years all the

668
00:36:11,967 --> 00:36:15,137
2001, 2003, it would
cost $700 billion.

669
00:36:15,133 --> 00:36:17,463
But arguably, if you
only do it for one year,

670
00:36:17,467 --> 00:36:19,237
it costs $70 billion.

671
00:36:19,233 --> 00:36:21,663
Is that affordable?

672
00:36:21,667 --> 00:36:24,137
Mr. Gibbs:
Are you talking about for the upper end,

673
00:36:24,133 --> 00:36:25,063
or are you talking about --

674
00:36:25,066 --> 00:36:25,936
The Press:
All.

675
00:36:25,934 --> 00:36:26,564
Mr. Gibbs:
All of them.

676
00:36:26,567 --> 00:36:30,967
Again, let's take -- I think if you break out one year of --

677
00:36:30,967 --> 00:36:33,937
I think if you were to extend
the upper-end tax cuts for next

678
00:36:33,934 --> 00:36:37,134
year, I think the price
tag is $35 billion.

679
00:36:37,133 --> 00:36:39,463
The Press:
Okay, so that's even --

680
00:36:39,467 --> 00:36:41,667
The Press:
Would he veto a bill that has them in it, by the way?

681
00:36:41,667 --> 00:36:43,137
Mr. Gibbs:
I wouldn't get into a hypothetical like that.

682
00:36:43,133 --> 00:36:46,403
The President does not support
extending the tax cuts for those

683
00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:50,530
that make, on average, about
a million dollars a year.

684
00:36:50,533 --> 00:36:56,803
Those are -- again, I think it's pretty safe to say --

685
00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:58,500
I don't think I'm being
malicious to the Republican

686
00:36:58,500 --> 00:37:02,800
argument -- that they're concerned about spending, right?

687
00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:08,570
That does not seem to
necessarily carry over to tax

688
00:37:08,567 --> 00:37:13,997
cuts for those that make
a million dollars a year.

689
00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:19,200
The President believes that we
should focus our tax relief on

690
00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:23,370
the middle class,
certainly, one,

691
00:37:23,367 --> 00:37:28,067
because we can't afford to make
reckless economic decisions to

692
00:37:28,066 --> 00:37:30,596
extend tax cuts for people that
weren't asking for them and

693
00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:32,030
didn't need them.

694
00:37:32,033 --> 00:37:35,203
And secondly, even if you did
want to do something like that,

695
00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:38,900
there are, as I said
earlier, far more --

696
00:37:38,900 --> 00:37:43,530
far better ways, far more
stimulative ways to impact the economy.

697
00:37:43,533 --> 00:37:49,133
The Press:
And just one -- I'm sorry -- just to follow up on a question

698
00:37:49,133 --> 00:37:51,863
by Mara about a payroll tax holiday.

699
00:37:51,867 --> 00:37:55,337
When you mentioned new hires
incentives, that expires.

700
00:37:55,333 --> 00:37:59,733
But would you be in favor of an
additional extension of that?

701
00:37:59,734 --> 00:38:02,664
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, the team is looking at a range of ideas.

702
00:38:02,667 --> 00:38:05,737
I, for a lot of reasons, don't
want to get into each individual one.

703
00:38:05,734 --> 00:38:06,534
Peter.

704
00:38:06,533 --> 00:38:07,233
The Press:
Thank you, Robert.

705
00:38:07,233 --> 00:38:09,363
In his Iraq speech, the
President mentioned that the

706
00:38:09,367 --> 00:38:12,597
economic recovery is a
central preoccupation.

707
00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:16,830
How are Americans to know that
that is his primary concern?

708
00:38:16,834 --> 00:38:21,704
Does he need to -- in terms of the way he prioritizes his time,

709
00:38:21,700 --> 00:38:26,000
can he show Americans that
the economy is his primary preoccupation?

710
00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:29,700
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I don't -- having been here since the beginning,

711
00:38:29,700 --> 00:38:33,630
there isn't an issue that the
President has spent more time on

712
00:38:33,633 --> 00:38:37,363
than the economy, than
on the economic recovery,

713
00:38:37,367 --> 00:38:39,967
than on financial stability,
than on housing, than on --

714
00:38:39,967 --> 00:38:43,797
I don't think there's
any doubt about that.

715
00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:44,670
The Press:
If I could follow up.

716
00:38:44,667 --> 00:38:47,797
But when Americans see the
President travel abroad,

717
00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:50,100
when Americans see
him take a vacation --

718
00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:52,000
not that he doesn't
deserve vacations,

719
00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:53,100
as do many people
in this room --

720
00:38:53,100 --> 00:38:54,270
(laughter)

721
00:38:54,266 --> 00:38:58,236
-- but might they draw the conclusion --

722
00:38:58,233 --> 00:38:59,633
Mr. Gibbs:
That's an interesting way of phrasing it.

723
00:38:59,633 --> 00:39:01,533
The Press:
Surely the people in the first two rows.

724
00:39:01,533 --> 00:39:03,163
(laughter)

725
00:39:03,166 --> 00:39:04,196
But don't they --

726
00:39:04,200 --> 00:39:05,330
Mr. Gibbs:
Careful, careful.

727
00:39:05,333 --> 00:39:06,563
Getting into row warfare.

728
00:39:06,567 --> 00:39:07,267
(laughter)

729
00:39:07,266 --> 00:39:10,066
The Press:
Might they draw conclusions that it's not the kind of --

730
00:39:10,066 --> 00:39:12,866
it's maybe -- they don't necessarily see the things

731
00:39:12,867 --> 00:39:15,897
you're talking about, how the President multitasks?

732
00:39:15,900 --> 00:39:25,200
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, again -- I'm trying to think of an example that

733
00:39:25,200 --> 00:39:29,170
would help illuminate -- I mean, let's take for instance --

734
00:39:29,166 --> 00:39:31,836
I think everybody would say
getting our policy right in

735
00:39:31,834 --> 00:39:33,664
Afghanistan is very important.

736
00:39:33,667 --> 00:39:38,937
I think that is of concern
to many in this country.

737
00:39:38,934 --> 00:39:42,904
When the President was
undergoing 13 different two- to

738
00:39:42,900 --> 00:39:47,370
three-hour meetings on that, the
notion that somehow that's the

739
00:39:47,367 --> 00:39:49,437
only thing he was doing -- again,

740
00:39:49,433 --> 00:39:55,133
I can hardly wait for the day in which there's only one problem,

741
00:39:55,133 --> 00:39:58,133
there's only one meeting, it's only on one topic.

742
00:39:58,133 --> 00:39:59,903
It's not true today.

743
00:39:59,900 --> 00:40:04,500
The President is -- will come from the Situation Room,

744
00:40:04,500 --> 00:40:07,200
I think the schedule says
he's going to eat lunch,

745
00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:14,000
which he should do, and then he
goes into an economic meeting.

746
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:20,400
So, again, that's not to say -- it's just hard for me to I guess

747
00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:24,530
craft into words exactly the fact that, again, he --

748
00:40:24,533 --> 00:40:29,803
there are pressing
problems domestically.

749
00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:32,400
The President obviously is the
Commander-in-Chief and has to

750
00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:34,970
make decisions about
our foreign policy.

751
00:40:34,967 --> 00:40:38,997
But, Peter, having been
here from the beginning,

752
00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,900
there is not an issue or set of
issues the President has spent

753
00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:46,230
more time on than dealing with
the economic situation that we

754
00:40:46,233 --> 00:40:50,233
walked into the 20th
of January 2009.

755
00:40:50,233 --> 00:40:53,863
The Press:
Has the President made any plans on how he'll commemorate 9/11,

756
00:40:53,867 --> 00:40:57,067
and is a trip to Ground
Zero a possibility?

757
00:40:57,066 --> 00:41:01,266
Mr. Gibbs:
I do not have -- I have not looked at the block ahead.

758
00:41:01,266 --> 00:41:03,136
Let me go do that.

759
00:41:03,133 --> 00:41:04,763
I honestly don't know
the answer to that.

760
00:41:04,767 --> 00:41:08,337
The Press:
Is it -- I mean, are you looking at a number of places?

761
00:41:08,333 --> 00:41:09,803
He'll stay here or go abroad?

762
00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:14,470
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me go look at the block so I don't --

763
00:41:14,467 --> 00:41:16,667
so I have some
information on that.

764
00:41:16,667 --> 00:41:17,467
April.

765
00:41:17,467 --> 00:41:23,797
The Press:
Robert, on jobs, Gallup just came out with a poll on August

766
00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:28,600
underemployed numbers, said
the numbers went up from 18.4%

767
00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:33,930
to 18.6% -- underemployed meaning those without full-time work.

768
00:41:33,934 --> 00:41:40,304
Is that included in what the
President is trying to do to get

769
00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:42,200
people back to work?

770
00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:43,500
And talk to me about how.

771
00:41:43,500 --> 00:41:46,130
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I think, again, creating --

772
00:41:46,133 --> 00:41:50,003
what you have seen happen in
this economy is productivity has

773
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:55,970
increased; what -- temporary work has increased,

774
00:41:55,967 --> 00:42:00,797
meaning employers have taken the steps of adding hours but not

775
00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:04,230
necessarily adding additional full-time workers.

776
00:42:04,233 --> 00:42:08,833
There are any number
of people that,

777
00:42:08,834 --> 00:42:14,004
in the monthly employment
survey, are included in --

778
00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:18,070
would be included in a group of
people that would like to work

779
00:42:18,066 --> 00:42:21,336
more if they could.

780
00:42:21,333 --> 00:42:24,203
That's why you
typically hear that --

781
00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:26,300
that's why, typically,
on a day like tomorrow,

782
00:42:26,300 --> 00:42:30,770
you'll hear an unemployment
number and an underemployment

783
00:42:30,767 --> 00:42:34,467
number -- those that would like to have additional work but

784
00:42:34,467 --> 00:42:35,737
can't find it.

785
00:42:35,734 --> 00:42:42,964
Obviously those are just as much
a focus as those that don't have

786
00:42:42,967 --> 00:42:47,437
work and need it, because
inherent in solving either of --

787
00:42:47,433 --> 00:42:50,663
inherent in dealing with either
of those two groups is greater

788
00:42:50,667 --> 00:42:56,797
full-time employment and that's
certainly what the President and

789
00:42:56,800 --> 00:42:58,270
the team are looking through.

790
00:42:58,266 --> 00:43:02,196
The Press:
And also, on this platform -- this production platform

791
00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:05,200
explosion, would you talk to me about how and why Justice is

792
00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:07,270
involved in this right now?

793
00:43:07,266 --> 00:43:08,666
Mr. Gibbs:
Why Justice is involved?

794
00:43:08,667 --> 00:43:11,197
The Press:
I understand Justice is looking into this,

795
00:43:11,200 --> 00:43:12,730
they're investigating this --

796
00:43:12,734 --> 00:43:14,464
Mr. Gibbs:
April, I don't have any information on that.

797
00:43:14,467 --> 00:43:18,997
The information I got
was from the Coast Guard.

798
00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:22,570
So I will go back and
see if there are --

799
00:43:22,567 --> 00:43:24,767
if there's Justice involvement
in what's happened today.

800
00:43:24,767 --> 00:43:27,837
The Press:
And is the administration concerned at all by the fact

801
00:43:27,834 --> 00:43:32,934
that Mariner Energy has links
to BP when this whole situation happened?

802
00:43:32,934 --> 00:43:39,764
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I don't want to make any broad statements on today's --

803
00:43:39,767 --> 00:43:42,437
on what I know about today's
incident when I came out here.

804
00:43:42,433 --> 00:43:44,663
Let me go back -- I think I said I'd go back and look and just

805
00:43:44,667 --> 00:43:47,767
get a better or fuller update throughout the day and see

806
00:43:47,767 --> 00:43:49,797
what's going on.

807
00:43:49,800 --> 00:43:50,570
Margaret.

808
00:43:50,567 --> 00:43:51,297
The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

809
00:43:51,300 --> 00:43:54,530
I wanted to return to the
subject of the Mideast peace

810
00:43:54,533 --> 00:43:59,803
process and try to flesh out
which calls the President has

811
00:43:59,800 --> 00:44:04,130
made, especially
for Arab support,

812
00:44:04,133 --> 00:44:06,833
beyond obviously
Egypt and Jordan.

813
00:44:06,834 --> 00:44:10,664
Specifically, has he been in
contact with Saudi leaders,

814
00:44:10,667 --> 00:44:12,637
Kuwaitis, Moroccans, Qataris?

815
00:44:12,633 --> 00:44:15,003
Can you tell us who he's talked
to and what their feedback has been?

816
00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:17,830
Mr. Gibbs:
I believe he has talked with King Abdullah recently.

817
00:44:17,834 --> 00:44:21,064
I don't know the -- I can get the exact date of that and --

818
00:44:21,066 --> 00:44:23,436
The Press:
I think a readout on that would actually be really helpful.

819
00:44:23,433 --> 00:44:28,033
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me -- what's today?

820
00:44:28,033 --> 00:44:31,633
It would have happened earlier
in the week, so let me --

821
00:44:31,633 --> 00:44:33,433
The Press:
Prior to everyone's arrival?

822
00:44:33,433 --> 00:44:38,533
Mr. Gibbs:
I think that -- if I'm not mistaken, on --

823
00:44:38,533 --> 00:44:40,103
Monday was the 31st, right?

824
00:44:40,100 --> 00:44:41,300
They all sort of blur together.

825
00:44:41,300 --> 00:44:46,470
I believe that they spoke
on Air Force One on Monday.

826
00:44:46,467 --> 00:44:49,097
But I will -- let me go see if there's a readout of it.

827
00:44:49,100 --> 00:44:51,700
The Press:
Since his meetings yesterday, since his bilats yesterday,

828
00:44:51,700 --> 00:44:54,800
and in the course of today
where presumably he will --

829
00:44:54,800 --> 00:44:57,200
when he talks with George
Mitchell and get a readback on

830
00:44:57,200 --> 00:45:02,230
what's going on -- do you expect ongoing telephone calls to leaders --

831
00:45:02,233 --> 00:45:02,963
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me do this.

832
00:45:02,967 --> 00:45:06,937
Let me get a better answer to
that based on discussing with

833
00:45:06,934 --> 00:45:10,734
him after he's had a chance to
talk with Senator Mitchell.

834
00:45:10,734 --> 00:45:16,464
Look, obviously both Secretary
Clinton and Senator Mitchell

835
00:45:16,467 --> 00:45:20,897
have been deeply, deeply
involved in this,

836
00:45:20,900 --> 00:45:23,630
so let me include what their
activity might be as well.

837
00:45:23,633 --> 00:45:24,603
Yes, ma'am.

838
00:45:24,600 --> 00:45:25,600
The Press:
Thank you, Robert.

839
00:45:25,600 --> 00:45:28,230
Just to follow up on that,
the Arab Peace Initiative,

840
00:45:28,233 --> 00:45:31,633
which Jordan's King Abdullah
mentioned last night,

841
00:45:31,633 --> 00:45:35,763
is an initiative that Saudi
King Abdullah put together.

842
00:45:35,767 --> 00:45:39,167
Was he at all -- was he invited to attend these talks,

843
00:45:39,166 --> 00:45:40,766
or was he consulted beforehand?

844
00:45:40,767 --> 00:45:46,997
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, again, I believe they spoke Monday or Tuesday.

845
00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:48,670
I'm going to go -- let me go back and find --

846
00:45:48,667 --> 00:45:49,867
and we will try to find a --

847
00:45:49,867 --> 00:45:52,467
The Press:
-- that would just be a day before the talks

848
00:45:52,467 --> 00:45:53,337
would take place --

849
00:45:53,333 --> 00:46:00,533
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me get a better readout on exactly what was said and what

850
00:46:00,533 --> 00:46:01,533
might have transpired.

851
00:46:01,533 --> 00:46:03,133
The Press:
But you don't know if he was invited to --

852
00:46:03,133 --> 00:46:05,533
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know directly the answer to that but let me find out.

853
00:46:05,533 --> 00:46:06,103
Yes, ma'am.

854
00:46:06,100 --> 00:46:07,000
The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

855
00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:09,470
Do you have any details
about the dinner last night?

856
00:46:09,467 --> 00:46:12,697
The Israelis released that Prime
Minister Netanyahu gave some

857
00:46:12,700 --> 00:46:17,730
gift of peace to the President.

858
00:46:17,734 --> 00:46:21,764
Mr. Gibbs:
There was -- I don't know how to describe it.

859
00:46:21,767 --> 00:46:24,267
I'll go back and -- it was in the Oval,

860
00:46:24,266 --> 00:46:27,396
in the outer Oval last night, so I can go back and look at what

861
00:46:27,400 --> 00:46:28,730
that gift was.

862
00:46:28,734 --> 00:46:30,604
The Press:
Just a couple things.

863
00:46:30,600 --> 00:46:33,930
One, to clarify, you said -- this is a different track than

864
00:46:33,934 --> 00:46:36,504
Mara took -- you said that some big new stimulus plan is not in

865
00:46:36,500 --> 00:46:39,800
the offing, but the economic team is looking at a host of issues.

866
00:46:39,800 --> 00:46:42,630
That host of issues -- the exception is a big stimulus?

867
00:46:42,633 --> 00:46:45,763
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, I think it's just safe to characterize --

868
00:46:45,767 --> 00:46:48,537
I'll characterize it today
the way I characterized it on

869
00:46:48,533 --> 00:46:50,963
Monday, and I think the way the
President characterized it on

870
00:46:50,967 --> 00:46:56,637
Monday, and that is targeted
ideas to continue to spur the

871
00:46:56,633 --> 00:47:01,103
recovery and create an
environment for private sector hiring.

872
00:47:01,100 --> 00:47:05,770
The Press:
So something even resembling what we saw when you all first

873
00:47:05,767 --> 00:47:07,267
came to office is off the table?

874
00:47:07,266 --> 00:47:10,796
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not been in a meeting where that's been discussed.

875
00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:12,000
The Press:
And then the other thing I wanted to ask was,

876
00:47:12,000 --> 00:47:14,600
Bill mentioned the polling
numbers in a nosedive,

877
00:47:14,600 --> 00:47:15,600
as he put it.

878
00:47:15,600 --> 00:47:16,930
Does the White House believe
the President can arrest those

879
00:47:16,934 --> 00:47:19,534
numbers, or at least help?

880
00:47:19,533 --> 00:47:21,963
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I will say this.

881
00:47:21,967 --> 00:47:25,897
I think the President -- I'd go back to one of the answers I

882
00:47:25,900 --> 00:47:28,870
gave Bill, which is the unprecedented amount of effort

883
00:47:28,867 --> 00:47:34,167
and support that the DNC is providing to congressional

884
00:47:34,166 --> 00:47:38,166
candidates, to each of the Senate and congressional committees.

885
00:47:38,166 --> 00:47:43,236
Look, I don't -- we saw this last year.

886
00:47:43,233 --> 00:47:50,033
This is -- I think the President will help make the case,

887
00:47:50,033 --> 00:47:54,163
but I don't -- I do not anticipate that --

888
00:47:54,166 --> 00:48:00,366
look, go back and look at
polling from 2009 about --

889
00:48:00,367 --> 00:48:04,567
in a lot of these races, there
are issues that are not going to

890
00:48:04,567 --> 00:48:08,867
be decided either in support of
or opposition to the President.

891
00:48:08,867 --> 00:48:10,297
Bill.

892
00:48:10,300 --> 00:48:12,730
The Press:
Robert, for the last four days, Glenn Beck has criticized the

893
00:48:12,734 --> 00:48:16,104
President for believing
in liberation theology,

894
00:48:16,100 --> 00:48:19,130
which he calls a Marxist
form of Christianity.

895
00:48:19,133 --> 00:48:19,903
I've got two questions.

896
00:48:19,900 --> 00:48:21,600
One, does the President,
to your knowledge,

897
00:48:21,600 --> 00:48:24,030
even know what
liberation theology is?

898
00:48:24,033 --> 00:48:26,403
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know the answer to that.

899
00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:34,670
I will say this, Bill, a crude
paraphrasing of an old quote,

900
00:48:34,667 --> 00:48:38,597
and that is people are
entitled to their own opinion,

901
00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:41,770
as ill-informed as it may be,
but they're not entitled to

902
00:48:41,767 --> 00:48:42,937
their own facts.

903
00:48:42,934 --> 00:48:48,064
The President is a committed
mainstream Christian.

904
00:48:48,066 --> 00:48:54,166
I don't -- I have no evidence that would guide me as to what

905
00:48:54,166 --> 00:48:58,336
Glenn Beck would have any genuine knowledge as to what the

906
00:48:58,333 --> 00:49:00,503
President does or does not believe.

907
00:49:00,500 --> 00:49:01,700
The Press:
When is he going back to church?

908
00:49:01,700 --> 00:49:03,830
The Press:
So this Marxist form of Christianity --

909
00:49:03,834 --> 00:49:09,704
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I can only imagine where Mr. Beck conjured that from.

910
00:49:09,700 --> 00:49:10,770
Kirk.

911
00:49:10,767 --> 00:49:12,037
The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

912
00:49:12,033 --> 00:49:16,833
Would the President be pleased
if on Election Day people say --

913
00:49:16,834 --> 00:49:19,804
people base their vote on
whether they're better off --

914
00:49:19,800 --> 00:49:22,930
if they're better off on
Election Day than when

915
00:49:22,934 --> 00:49:25,434
then-Senator Obama was elected?

916
00:49:25,433 --> 00:49:29,063
Mr. Gibbs:
I think that's one of the measures that people will

917
00:49:29,066 --> 00:49:31,736
generally use.

918
00:49:31,734 --> 00:49:37,304
I think that -- this may not be true for every person,

919
00:49:37,300 --> 00:49:40,100
obviously, but there are -- I think, Kirk,

920
00:49:40,100 --> 00:49:47,030
if you look at where our economy will likely be November the 2nd

921
00:49:47,033 --> 00:49:54,233
of 2010 and where it was that beautiful November day in 2008,

922
00:49:54,233 --> 00:49:56,933
they're very different places.

923
00:49:56,934 --> 00:50:00,364
Again, we'll do a little
of the jobs numbers --

924
00:50:00,367 --> 00:50:02,267
I don't know the jobs numbers -- that's why --

925
00:50:02,266 --> 00:50:04,636
The Press:
Do you know the jobs numbers?

926
00:50:04,633 --> 00:50:05,933
(laughter)

927
00:50:05,934 --> 00:50:07,364
Mr. Gibbs:
I can't tell you.

928
00:50:07,367 --> 00:50:11,437
I think I used this statistic
earlier in the briefing,

929
00:50:11,433 --> 00:50:19,063
that we've created 600,000
private sector jobs in this year alone.

930
00:50:19,066 --> 00:50:20,836
To take your point of
comparison, in the previous --

931
00:50:20,834 --> 00:50:26,404
in the last six months of
2008, we lost 3 million jobs.

932
00:50:26,400 --> 00:50:30,130
So I think -- I don't think there's any doubt there's been a

933
00:50:30,133 --> 00:50:31,333
change in that trajectory.

934
00:50:31,333 --> 00:50:33,563
I will say this, Kirk -- and I think I've said this on a number

935
00:50:33,567 --> 00:50:37,167
of answers today -- that is not satisfying to the President

936
00:50:37,166 --> 00:50:40,236
because obviously our economy has to grow more,

937
00:50:40,233 --> 00:50:44,403
we have to add more to the rolls of the employed and take them

938
00:50:44,400 --> 00:50:46,230
out of the rolls of the unemployed.

939
00:50:46,233 --> 00:50:49,733
And the President understands
because he is among those that

940
00:50:49,734 --> 00:50:53,504
is frustrated that it is not
happening as quickly as he would

941
00:50:53,500 --> 00:50:57,130
like it to, as he understands
that the depth of the hole that

942
00:50:57,133 --> 00:51:02,433
we're in is unlike anything
we've faced in a long, long time.

943
00:51:02,433 --> 00:51:02,933
Yes, sir.

944
00:51:02,934 --> 00:51:04,334
The Press:
One other thing, too.

945
00:51:04,333 --> 00:51:09,103
You've undoubtedly heard some
commentators second-guess the

946
00:51:09,100 --> 00:51:14,100
choice of using the Oval
as the forum, the venue,

947
00:51:14,100 --> 00:51:16,000
for the speech.

948
00:51:16,000 --> 00:51:19,330
Why was that chosen as opposed
to giving the same sort of

949
00:51:19,333 --> 00:51:20,303
speech at Fort Bliss?

950
00:51:20,300 --> 00:51:24,070
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I obviously was involved in part of

951
00:51:24,066 --> 00:51:28,066
that decision.

952
00:51:28,066 --> 00:51:34,466
I think there are very few
issues that if you look back to

953
00:51:34,467 --> 00:51:38,497
the spring of 2003 that have
played a bigger role in our

954
00:51:38,500 --> 00:51:43,670
recent history than our -- than the war in Iraq.

955
00:51:43,667 --> 00:51:50,737
I think that is -- a tremendous number of men and women served

956
00:51:50,734 --> 00:51:52,134
in Iraq.

957
00:51:52,133 --> 00:51:56,763
A tremendous number were killed
and have been injured as a

958
00:51:56,767 --> 00:52:00,097
result of their
participation in that.

959
00:52:00,100 --> 00:52:02,730
I think the President believed
that the milestone that we

960
00:52:02,734 --> 00:52:07,764
marked on Tuesday, the change in
our mission away from a combat

961
00:52:07,767 --> 00:52:11,937
role and one to a
role of assistance,

962
00:52:11,934 --> 00:52:16,904
should be marked in many of the
same ways that President Bush

963
00:52:16,900 --> 00:52:21,030
marked it in announcing
the beginning of combat.

964
00:52:21,033 --> 00:52:24,433
And I will say this, if -- I read --

965
00:52:24,433 --> 00:52:26,533
obviously read a
number of stories.

966
00:52:26,533 --> 00:52:33,663
There was an AP story that
quoted a number of soldiers that

967
00:52:33,667 --> 00:52:39,297
are happy that we have made a
transition in a country where

968
00:52:39,300 --> 00:52:44,630
some of them served once,
twice, three, four times.

969
00:52:44,633 --> 00:52:52,263
I think it was important that
those that spent their time in

970
00:52:52,266 --> 00:52:55,996
Iraq -- some who left friends in Iraq --

971
00:52:56,000 --> 00:53:00,330
deserved the national thanks
of their Commander-in-Chief.

972
00:53:00,333 --> 00:53:01,303
The Press:
Sorry, one more.

973
00:53:01,300 --> 00:53:03,200
George Mitchell says there's
going to be another round of

974
00:53:03,200 --> 00:53:05,200
talks, the 14th and the 15th.

975
00:53:05,200 --> 00:53:06,570
Is the President going
to play a role in that?

976
00:53:06,567 --> 00:53:08,797
Is he going to invite some
of the principals back here?

977
00:53:08,800 --> 00:53:09,870
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me double-check on the schedule.

978
00:53:09,867 --> 00:53:10,497
Thanks, guys.