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[OS] Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 12/9/2011

Released on 2012-10-10 17:00 GMT

Email-ID 3475377
Date 2011-12-09 22:52:21

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release December 9, 2011



James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:56 P.M. EST

they refuse to go along with asking millionaires and billionaires, the
because they don't want to hurt job creators. That's their phrase; it's
what they go to every time they're asked about it.

And it's what you all write in your stories when you say, the
three days they got nothing. And there's a reason for that. Because, as
affected by this kind of request that millionaires and billionaires pay a
little bit more. That's just a fact.

it's bogus.

With that, I'll take your questions. (Laughter.)

Q Just saying. Just saying.


Q Copy editor Jay Carney. (Laughter.)

MR. CARNEY: Ben Feller.

decision on Boeing -- to drop that case -- I'm wondering if the
President's fingerprints are on that at all. In any way, did he directly
or indirectly influence that decision?

was not something the President was involved in.


ways to work together to preserve and create jobs, and in this case we're
glad there's a resolution.

Q The President is also lobbying senators on the defense bill as
it relates to the detainment of terrorism suspects. Obviously there's a
going, and what's his message on that?

position is the same as it has been. We're continuing to discuss this
with members of Congress. But our position has not changed.

I mean, it's very important that our counterterrorism folks have
flexibility in dealing with and doing their jobs effectively. And there's
a whole range of people in this field from previous administrations,
that that flexibility must be maintained.

Q So can you give us any update, as we're quickly running out of time

MR. CARNEY: Just that we're continuing in the effort.


Q Jay, what's the President's reaction to the agreement by most
European leaders in Brussels today?

MR. CARNEY: I knew if I called on Reuters that you'd ask me about
Europe. (Laughter.)

Yes. Sorry.

Q That's all right. What's your reaction? And what does the President

position hasn't changed. We are offering our advice and counsel. We have
his counterparts.

and we believe that they need to act conclusively and decisively to
resolve it. But there has been some progress, and that's a good thing.


MR. CARNEY: I haven't talked about that with him, so I'm not going to
comment on that at that level of specificity about it beyond what I've
built that is adequate to the task.

coming days about this?

to European leaders, including Chancellor Merkel, President Sarkozy and
calls might happen, I don't have that information for you at this time.


Q House Republican leaders have introduced a payroll extension with the

MR. CARNEY: I'm glad you asked about the House GOP payroll tax cut plan
because I have a statement here that I'll read to you:

"With only 22 days before taxes go up an average of $1,000 for 160 million
hardworking Americans, Republican leaders in Congress are still playing
the bipartisan agreement on spending cuts that we reached just a few
months ago, and makes harmful cuts to things like education that
strengthen middle-class security.

free pass to the wealthiest and big corporations by protecting their
loopholes and subsidies. Instead of working together to find a balanced
approach that will actually pass, Republican leaders in Congress are
introduce ideological issues into what should be a simple debate about
cutting taxes for the middle class.

-- quote, `Frankly, the fact that the President doesn't like it makes me

"This shouldn't be about scoring political points against the President --
it's not about him. This should be about cutting taxes for the middle
class. It's time for Congress to keep its word and do its job."

Q What about the payroll -- (laughter) --

Q Anything in there that the President could work with --

for the reasons I just explained.

I mean, it's what people hate about Congress. Oh, they work all summer,
they get to this deal, everybody says fine, we got a deal, it's a
compromise; it wasn't entirely what we should have gotten or could have
gotten, it wasn't the grand bargain, but Budget Control Act, sign it into
law. And ever since, all we've heard from some folks in Congress is, gee,
we ought to break that agreement; we didn't mean it. Let's go back on our

So that's a problem. And asking people -- asking middle-class
Americans, who need assistance with education or who benefit from key
you're trying to help with the middle-class tax cut to begin with. That's
everybody's organization here that does polling will tell you that
Americans really don't like reopening old -- like, let's go refight the
health care battle, let's go -- when we have 22 days before their taxes go
up. That's the battle that some in Congress want to have right now.

up $1,000 in 2012. That's what gives Washington a bad name.

Q So what happens now?

to be economically responsible and fair. So we'll continue to do that.
people, we certainly hope that that agreement is reached.

American people at this time in our economic recovery.



Q The unemployment insurance extension is abbreviated under the
plan. Are you open to that?

MR. CARNEY: Well, I'm not going to negotiate the elements of what a
a good example of something that economists everywhere agree is highly
beneficial to economic growth in a time like this because that assistance
everybody agrees on that.

So why ask them -- shortchange those Americans who need that
to pay a little bit extra. I think that's just wrong-headed. I'm not
going to negotiate the details of a provision or take single provisions
out of this proposal and say this one's acceptable, that one's not. But I
think the principles here that are guiding the President are important to
economy and helping the American people.

Q But you're not saying absolutely not, it has to be 99 weeks. I
mean, is that an indication that you might --

MR. CARNEY: I know you want --

Q -- there might be wiggle room?

that the package altogether that we have that's a worthwhile compromise --

Q I'm just wondering if it's a nonstarter to be shorter than 99

MR. CARNEY: I'm not going to negotiate the individual elements. But
it is important that the overall package meet the standards the President
here actually has the maximum amount of benefit possible to the American
either totally extraneous or designed to refight old ideological battles
doesn't seem unreasonable to have a position like that.

Q On Russia real quick?


Q Prime Minister Putin said that Secretary Clinton -- he
essentially said that she incited unrest in Russia. He said that "gave a
signal." What did the President think of that and sort of in the context
of resetting relations with Russia?

here, I addressed this question yesterday, and our position hasn't
States and Russia have many common interests. That's why the President --
years and our relations have improved. And that's important, and we
continue to seek opportunities for cooperation with Russia based on mutual
respect and our common interest.

with Russian civil society and with -- and organizations that promote
surprise anyone around the world because that's a hard and fast position
of this administration and of this country.

So we are encouraged by President Medvedev's commitment to have the
Central Election Commission investigate all election violations and we
welcome his acknowledgment that the demonstrations in Moscow and in other
cities are part of the democratic process.

Cecilia. Welcome, Cecilia. How are you?

between the White House and agencies in decision-making processes like
these women's groups who were strong supporters of the President in 2008

there is communication between -- or there usually is communication
between the White House and an agency.

I don't have a list of communications between folks at the White
This was a decision made by Secretary Sebelius. It's also a decision that
he supports. And I think that's just -- that's the answer to the second
level of government, and especially that secretaries of agencies make and
none of them are easy. There are always arguments on all sides. That's
why they end up on a Secretary's desk or a President's desk.

supports it.



MR. CARNEY: Well, the administration obviously monitors these
his family.

Levinson's safe return should contact the FBI or his family, which has a
website at But this is an ongoing investigation,
and that's really all I can say about it.

Q Can I follow on --

Q As long as you come back to me, I'll let --



MR. CARNEY: I'm not sure what the basis of that question is, but I
don't have anything beyond what I said on Bob Levinson.

Q The one in Cuba and the one in Pakistan?

about Mr. Gross, and again with Mr. Levinson, that's all I can say.

we're looking at ways to pay for it. So the President -- I know we've

MR. CARNEY: Well, again, I'm not going to negotiate either/ors or
That's just bad policy and the President would not support that.

Q You mentioned principles at stake and I'm just curious now, I
tax cuts, which benefit the wealthiest Americans. You're now sort of --

MR. CARNEY: Give up on what? Here's the thing, it bears remembering
that last year the President and Congress reached an agreement that
including the ones for the wealthy.

economically, have their taxes raised substantially. That's a principle
he's applying in this case, too, to not wanting 160 million Americans to

standing on that principle if he's going to sign a payroll tax cut
extension that the Republicans will not include increasing taxes on

MR. CARNEY: First of all, you're projecting into the future something
that I have not said. All I have said is I'm not going to negotiate the
particulars of a potential agreement except to say that --

Q Why won't you say the President would veto --

forward is objectionable, not acceptable for a variety of reasons,
including that it violates the very budget agreement that we reached in
lowest level of non-defense discretionary spending since Eisenhower was
President, substantial discretionary spending cuts, and that he's not
very middle-class and working Americans who we're trying to help with this
tax cut and only would do that because Republicans refuse to ask
corporations to give up their subsidies or their loopholes or the
wealthiest to pay a little bit extra.


Q If it's such an important principle, why doesn't the President
does not include a tax on millionaires?

has enunciated his principles very clearly. He's made clear what he will
not sign and what he will reject.

through the Senate. It's very important that the Congress get down to
serious business to ensure that they don't go home having to explain why
they just raised everybody's taxes. So the President is going to make --

businesses that would be affected by the increased tax on millionaires,
would the President then be willing to support Senator Claire McCaskill's
provision that would exempt that 1 percent of small businesses who would
be taxed additionally?

affected by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay a little bit more
is that that's including a broad definition of small businesses, which
businesses we're talking about.

On Main Street --

Q There are law firms that are filing as sub-chapter S's?

(Laughter.) I didn't take the accounting class.


Q When the President said yesterday kind of dismissively, "Ask
Osama and the 22 of 30 al Qaeda leaders who I've taken off the playing
field" in response to a question, was that game on? Was that the
beginning of the campaign?

answer from those gentlemen. (Laughter.)


Q Jay, I wasn't here yesterday, so I'm sorry if you covered this,
with the situation at Dover Air Force Base?

MR. CARNEY: I'll have to take that question. Not that I'm aware

Q But, I mean, you know what I'm talking about? The remains that
were incinerated --

MR. CARNEY: Yes, I know that -- I've seen the news reports. I
haven't discussed it with him. I don't know that the White House is
taking action. I certainly think the Department of Defense is probably
taking questions on this matter.


contribution to the IMF beyond giving advice or beyond a common
commitment, which was agreed on --

MR. CARNEY: Our position hasn't changed, which is that the IMF has
substantial resources and that American taxpayers are not going to have to
make any more commitments to the IMF.

Ken, and then Wendell.

statement pressing for the immediate release of Liu Xiaobo and for the
Chinese government to release his wife from house arrest and stop
harassing her. Will the President make such a statement?

MR. CARNEY: I'll have to take that question. I have not seen that

Wendell, and then Chris.

clear he doesn't like the idea of attaching the Keystone XL pipeline to
the payroll tax cut. So I'm interested to know why you won't just issue a
veto threat on that.

MR. CARNEY: The President said -- I think the President's language


MR. CARNEY: Well, I personally don't issue veto threats, I don't
President's words. And I would make -- the broader point here is, why do
Republicans think they're doing President Obama a favor by going along
their constituents to try to exact a political price by adding extraneous
things to what should be a very simple matter? Do you want Americans'

"Frankly, the fact that the President doesn't like it makes me like it
even more" -- which suggest that maybe President Obama should come out and
say, "I'm against investment in education, I'm against investment in
infrastructure, I'm not for the payroll tax cut" -- because then maybe
Republicans would support those things.

discussed yesterday aid that Putin calls "meddling" in his country's
million buy us?

MR. CARNEY: I haven't examined the particular programs here. I know
efforts to help democratic organizations and democracy around the world,
out for and work for democracy around the world. We think it's the right
thing. We think that --

Q Does that mean providing aid to opposition groups in Russia?

specifics of the programs here. All we're about here -- and this -- I
support for democracy and holding those who participate in the democratic
which is that they have to support the democratic process, renounce
violence, vow to protect minority rights, and then participate in
elections, because we believe that democracy is a good thing.


appreciation of its currency. Given that President Obama recently met
that his words may have fallen on deaf ears?

MR. CARNEY: I don't have anything new to say about that. We
be our position, and it's something that we raise with Chinese officials
had with Chinese leaders on his recent trip.

So, beyond that, I don't have anything new for you on it.

Q In light of these reports, will the administration take any
actions in the days, weeks --

MR. CARNEY: Again, I don't have anything new for you on it, Kristen.

figures that we've seen -- the unemployment rate that's dropped to 8.6

MR. CARNEY: We don't overreact to good news or bad news; we work on
been growing; over 21 straight months it's been creating private sector
that's why the President is so focused on the provisions of the American
Jobs Act, why he's so focused on getting the payroll tax cut extended to
ensure that Americans don't have their taxes go up on January 1st, and why
that have not succeeded thus far, including investments in infrastructure
to put teachers back in the classroom.

It's why he will continue to push for and will urge Republicans to take up
reduction, because it's the right thing to do for our economy and will put
this economy on solid ground for the future.

notwithstanding, we have a lot of work to do.


abuses overseas, Perry issued a statement saying, "It's an example of the
President being at war with people of faith." And there's a widely spread
TV ad circulating on the web in which Perry says, "There's something wrong
can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school."

Does the President object to these accusations that his LGBT advocacy is
inconsistent with principles of faith?

MR. CARNEY: I'm fairly certain the President is not even aware of those
accusations. And I think that I'll limit my comment on the struggling
state of some presidential campaigns.

will also say that our record on LGBT issues is one that we're very proud


Q Back to Europe for a second. The President yesterday acknowledged
made a point of saying there's a shorter-term crisis in the markets that
to have signaled that it's not yet willing to step in in a decisive way,
in terms of shoring up the firewall you alluded to.

So I'm just wondering -- the President sounded frustrated with that. Is

MR. CARNEY: Well, we've made clear, and he's made clear, that he believes

with the problem conclusively and decisively.

Leadership in difficult economic times, with daunting economic challenges,

But it needs to be done. And that's why he has offered his advice and
counsel, that's why he is in regular contact with his European
counterparts, that's why Secretary Geithner has been in Europe this week
counterparts, as well as other officials across our government. And we'll
towards a conclusive and decisive solution to this.

whether they'll muster the political will to confront it. Has he seen
evidence that they're mustering political will?

continued steps that are necessary to finish the job.

Yes, and then Mark.

neither that nor the Feinstein compromise amendment that allowed it to
Does the President believe or think that the military or the
citizens arrested on American soil for an indefinite period of time
without trial?

MR. CARNEY: I feel like we have addressed this issue, but I don't
have anything for you right now. I know it's not in the SAP, but this is
years, prior to my assuming the role here.

Q If Congress is considering this issue right now in legislation,
he has to --

established, especially as regards the limits on the flexibility of our
professionals in dealing -- in carrying out their job. But I'm not going
to get more broad than where we've been on this specific piece of

Q But it seems like one of the most fundamental, constitutional

MR. CARNEY: And what I'm telling you is that this question has been
addressed broadly. I don't have anything to say to you from this podium
about it right now. I've been looking at the legislation and the
statement of administration policy with regards to it, things that we've


Q Just to follow up on Wendell's question, when the President said
the payroll tax cut, can we -- does "reject" mean "veto"? Some of our
colleagues said it did, and it's not clear to me.

MR. CARNEY: "Reject" means reject.

Q Does it mean veto?

MR. CARNEY: He thinks it's rejection-worthy.

Q Of a veto?

MR. CARNEY: Look, it's not going to -- Senator Reid has said this
thing has no chance in the Senate, so it's not -- there's not a viable
that should be part of a process that's enshrined in many decades of
precedent over at the State Department, the proper reviews that are
impacts are taken into consideration -- and that's important.

Q Thanks, Jay.

Q Week ahead?

12, 2011:

On Monday, the President looks forward to welcoming Iraqi Prime
start a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the
United States and Iraq. The President honors the sacrifices and
friendship, as we end America's war in Iraq.

On Tuesday, the President will conduct interviews with local
middle-class families next year.


Q Both of them?

definitively end America's war in Iraq this month, the President wanted to
forces and their families everywhere. The President will speak about the
enormous sacrifices and achievements of the brave Americans who served in
from Fort Bragg and their families have provided remarkable service to our
country through their deployments to Iraq.

On Thursday, the President will attend meetings here at the White

And on Friday, the President will deliver remarks at the biennial
convention of the Union for Reform Judaism.

That's your week ahead.

I heard that they might lay a wreath at Arlington.

my reading -- my mellifluous reading of the week ahead.

Q Thank you.

MR. CARNEY: Thanks, guys.

Q And next Saturday, departure for Honolulu?

MR. CARNEY: Are you asking for odds?

Q I am asking.

MR. CARNEY: We'll see. It's up to Congress, isn't it?

Q Thanks, Jay.

END 2:36 P.M. EST


