White House Press Gaggle With Jay Carney

Aboard Air Force One

En Route Memphis, Tennessee 

10:30 A.M. EDT

     MR. CARNEY:  Good morning, everyone.  Welcome aboard Air Force One as we make our way to Memphis, Tennessee, where the President will deliver the commencement address at the Booker T. Washington High School, winner of the 2011 Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.

     While in Memphis, as you know the President will meet with family affected by the flooding, state and local officials, first responders and volunteers. 

     And with that, I will take your questions.

     Q    Jay, what is the President’s reaction to the violence along Israel’s borders and the violence and the killings of Palestinian protestors?

     MR. CARNEY:  Jim, we regret the loss of life, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those killed and wounded.  Israel, like all countries, has the right to prevent unauthorized crossings at its borders.  Its neighbors have a responsibility to prevent such activity.  We urge maximum restraint on all sides.

     We are also strongly opposed to the Syrian government’s involvement in inciting yesterday’s protests in the Golan Heights.  Such behavior is unacceptable and does not serve as a distraction from the Syrian government’s ongoing repression of demonstrators in its own country.

     Q    Does the President think that Assad is doing this in order to deflect attention from his own problems?

     MR. CARNEY:  Well, we certainly think that there’s a history of that and it seems apparent to us that that is an effort to distract attention from the legitimate expressions of protests by the Syrian people and from the harsh crackdown that the Syrian government has perpetrated against its own people.

     Q    — the degree to the incitement yesterday is sort of heightened as a result of the Arab Spring, I’m wondering if you could sort of put the President’s address on Thursday in the context of that and also in the context of this week with Abdullah and Netanyahu being in Washington.

     MR. CARNEY:  Well, obviously the President will deliver an address on the Middle East on Thursday and he will discuss, among several topics, the dramatic change we’ve seen in the Middle East and North Africa this year.  He will also discuss the Middle East peace process and the need for that process to continue and succeed.  Beyond that, I don’t want to preview too much of what he’s going to say.

     Q    What does the President think about what’s going on with Dominique Strauss-Kahn in New York?

     MR. CARNEY:  Well, we obviously won’t comment on a legal matter. I can say obviously that we — I think I have something here on that.  One minute, I thought I had something on it.  We remain — we note that the IMF has said that they have appointed an acting director and the IMF remains fully functional and we remain confident in the institution of the IMF and its ability to continue to execute its mission effectively.

     Q    Is the President worried that this will somehow hinder the efforts at securing certain packages for European countries that are —

     MR. CARNEY:  No, we’re confident that the IMF will continue to function effectively.

     Q    Given, though, that the situation in the Middle East and North Africa is still changing and evolving, is the speech going to sort of lay out where we are at this moment in time, the President’s sort of a broader vision for what he sees —

     MR. CARNEY:  I think the President will obviously address where we are in this remarkable period and will also address how he approaches the kind of historic change we’ve seen in the region and how — where he thinks we’re headed, both as the United States in terms of our policy towards the region and the region itself.

     Q    Along those lines, Jay, the departure of Senator Mitchell — former Senator Mitchell as a special envoy, does this signal a change in the approach that the President is going to take?  Is there going to be a new Cairo speech that kind of outlines his vision?

     MR. CARNEY:  No, not at all.  I think the President is very appreciative of Senator Mitchell’s remarkable service and effective service, and — but it does not signal any change in that regard.

     Q    Did the President watch the Endeavour launch?

     MR. CARNEY:  I think we were on Marine One.  We don’t have a — well, we did not watch it.

     Q    Does the President still think that —

Q    — area today?

     MR. CARNEY:  We are, as you know, meeting with first responders, families and others today, and that’s what we have on the schedule.

     Q    Does the President still think that we are in the midst of a new beginning with the Muslim world in terms of the relationship that the U.S. has?

     MR. CARNEY:  Well, I think that he does — I mean, he believes that the history, as he said, of — the future of that region will be written by the people of the region, and that what we’re seeing is an expression of long pent-up desire for greater freedom, greater prosperity, greater engagement in the political process in these countries.  And obviously that has an effect on our engagement as the United States with the region. 

He is optimistic.  It’s obviously a very fluid situation, and every country is different.  But he is optimistic about the potential for positive outcomes in the various countries in the region.

     Q    Can you preview the meetings with Abdullah and Prime Minister Netanyahu this week — will he discuss specifically steps —

     MR. CARNEY:  I think at each case they’ll discuss the events in the region as well as the prospects for progress in the Middle East peace process.

     Q    Will the President address the flooding in his remarks today at the school?  And what sort of updates has he been getting or receiving on the situation in Mississippi?

     MR. CARNEY:  Well, he’s been getting regular updates on the flooding in general, not just — I mean, with regard to the Mississippi River, and the effects — the impact it’s had down river, as you would say.  And I don’t want to preview his remarks on that.  I’ll do a readout of his meeting with the families and others, but beyond that, I don’t have a preview.

     Q    Jay, there’s some — been downgrading on the economic growth numbers from 3.3 to 2.8 today.  Any reaction to that and how that affects a long-term view for the recovery?

     MR. CARNEY:  Well, I don’t have any reaction to the specific prognoses, except to say that we obviously focus very much, the President is, on continuing to do the things that promote economic growth.  Obviously the growth that we’ve seen in the wake of the contraction has been very positive and beneficial.  We are doing everything we can to ensure stronger growth, including investing in those programs that will — and those areas that will allow us to grow and thrive economically and create jobs.  But there’s nothing that matters more to him than that.

     Q    Any worries about gas-price-driven inflation?

     MR. CARNEY:  Well, we obviously focus very much on the impact that higher gas prices have had on family budgets.  The President has spoken to this and continues to monitor that.  He understands that for families that are, like the country, emerging out of a very tough economic time, and those who still are struggling, the sharp rise in prices at the pump is — it was and is a very unwelcome development.  And he’s very focused on that.

     And obviously, I’ll note, as you all probably wrote about,  the decision to speed up some of the leasing and the decisions he made to expand in development, oil development, in the United States is part of his long-term commitment to make sure that we produce as much oil as possible, safely and responsibly in this country.  And that’s part of that goal, to reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

     Q    I believe that today was the day the debt limit was supposed to hit.  Is there any statement from the White House?  And has the President made any calls over the weekend for the budget —

     MR. CARNEY:  I don’t have anything on any calls he might have made.  But it is true that we are now in that period where we have essentially some cushion provided by the extraordinary measures the Treasury Secretary is able to take, as previous Treasury Secretaries have taken in a situation like this.  But it is a reminder that we need to have a vote to lift the debt ceiling because the consequences of not doing so would be quite serious, indeed.  And those who suggest otherwise are whistling past the graveyard.  It is a foolish thing to suggest that we could somehow as the United States of America default on our obligations and that it would not have seriously negative consequences if we suddenly stop paying our bills on a third of our obligations.

     Q    Jay, will the President take up AIPAC’s invitation to speak to them before he leaves for Europe?

     THE PRESIDENT:  The President will address AIPAC on Sunday morning, May 22nd, to stress the importance of the U.S.-Israeli relationship.

     Q    On the debt limit, what has the President’s involvement been in the Gang of Six talks?

     MR. CARNEY:  We have been in regular consultations with those members of Congress who are approaching this issue seriously and looking at the need to address it in a balanced way.  And that includes members of gangs and those who are unaffiliated with gangs.  So I hope that’s vague enough for you. But obviously we’ve been in consultations with those members who are seriously interested in this issue.

     And we see this — just to address the broader point — the President views the current situation as an opportunity.  Some of you who’ve been in my office have heard me say for a long time that this President is committed to doing something significant and serious about our long-term deficit and debt problem and this is an opportunity to address that.  That’s why he did the fiscal commission; that’s why he laid out his plan; and that’s why he asked the Vice President to oversee these negotiations. 

And he really thinks that this is an opportunity for the President, for Republicans and Democrats, to come together, find some common ground, and do something about a problem that we all recognize, which is that we need to reduce our deficit and our long-term debt in order to ensure that we have the kind of economic vitality in the 21st century that will allow us to win the future.

Q    If he’s addressing AIPAC on Sunday, does that mean that the speech on Thursday will have less on the Mid-East peace process?  Would he be saving that —

MR. CARNEY:  No, the major speech of the week is Thursday.  I think — I would not expect a major policy speech on Sunday.  I think he looks forward to talking about the unshakeable bond between the Israelis and the Americans and the importance of that relationship.

All right, anything else?  Great.  Thanks, guys.

Q    Thank you.

Biden and Kerry: Israel and America Inextricably Linked

Jonathan Bronstein, Talk Radio News Service

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In the wake of backlash over President Obama's decision to have diplomatic talks with Iran, high level Democrats are assuring the public that the U.S. commitment to Israel is as strong as ever.

But, "One enduring essential principle that will not change--United States support for Israel,” said Vice President Joe Biden to a standing ovation of more than 6,000 people at the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee's annual convention.

“The path we have been on in recent years has not produced peace and security for Israel and Palestinians, nor will they produce these results,” Biden said. “Because peace has not occurred, does not mean that it cannot occur."

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who also spoke at the event, supports the Obama Administration’s policy with Israel. “You can count on Vice President Biden and President Obama in the future,” he said.

Kerry tried to calm fears about Obama’s decision to engage in open discussions with Iran because he believed that the previous administration’s strategy with the Middle Eastern country failed, and that a change is warranted. But, if diplomacy fails, hardline sanctions will be sure to follow, Kerry said.

Since December 2008, foreign criticism of Israel reached new levels. Israel decided to retaliate against Hamas by launching a full military incursion into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Government maintains that the action was an attempt to halt hundreds of rockets that are launched over Israeli borders by militant groups in neighboring countries.

“I heard of (Israeli) children in the second grade who had spent literally everyday of their lives never 15 seconds from danger/ Fifteen seconds... No child should live that way,” said Kerry to the audience.

Kerry is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and pledged to do everything in his power “to ensure that the $30 billion in security assistance that Congress pledged to Israel is delivered in full.”

Kerry and Biden presented a challenge to Israel: that the country needs to work toward a workable, long lasting and sustainable peace.

Biden believes that any peace is a “show-me plan,” that each side must make efforts to demonstrate their dedication for the process to continue.

Biden said that the building of Israeli settlements must be stopped and that Palestinians must be given freedom of movement so the young people see hope, and do not join Hamas.

But peace must be sought from Paestinians and Israelis. “You cannot make peace out of one side of their mouth and preach hate out of another,” said Kerry, adding that Palestinian geography books should be realistic by including Israel on the map.

Last day of AIPAC conference sees Obama, Clinton

AIPAC, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, held the last day of its annual conference today in Washington D.C. With a week of speakers that has seen Republican candidate for President Senator John McCain and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, today was capped off with Republican Leader of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Majority Leader of the Senate Harry Reid (D-Nev.) - and those were just the warm up speakers. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and presumptive democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) closed out the day with extended speeches.

Obama started with "we are among friends," and continued with "as president, I will never compromise when it comes to Israel's security." Obama also spoke on the issue of identity. He relayed his story of trying to find what to identify with as a child to the struggle of Israel, who over sixty years ago were struggling to find themselves and a place in the world, as Obama was when he was a child. He said he and Israel have found themselves and now partake in a working, strong relationship.

Obama also said Iran poses the greatest military threat to Israel. His goal is to eliminate this threat. He also said that Iraq is unstable, and this is jeopardizing the security of Israel. He said he will stand up for the right for Israel to defend itself in the United Nations and in the world, and that security for Israel is "non-negotiable."

The other speakers responded with similar speeches in their support for Israel and the necessity of the continued U.S.-Israel relationship, along with the threat Iran poses to Israel and the United States as it pursues nuclear weapons. Clinton said Obama will be a "good friend to Israel," and that the country needs a fresh start from the "wrong direction" President Bush moved the country in.

Rice would meet Iranian counterpart

Emphatic US support for the State of Israel was reiterated by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference. Secretary Rice declared that the United States’ special relationship with Israel stems from a mutual appreciation of ideals like a free press, democracy, and tolerance, saying that conspiracy arguments concerning the US, Israel, and AIPAC are entirely inaccurate. Rice firmly said that Israel has no better friend than the United States.

Though she admitted it to be an ambitious goal, Rice said the she hopes agreements reached at the peace summit held in Annapolis, Md. will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of the year. For this to occur, Rice said that Hamas must relinquish its fundamentalist actions while the US and Israel support the growing number of Palestinians that, according to Rice, are acting in the true interests of the Palestinian people. Rice added that a sovereign, peaceful Palestine is in the policy interests of both the United States and Israel.

Rice spoke at length about the need to engage in productive diplomacy , a gathering with means and incentives, with Iran. Rice restated the Bush administration’s stance that no effective diplomacy can take place until Iran disbands its nuclear research program. Rice said a state that denies the Holocaust and sponsors fundamentalist organizations cannot have access to a nuclear arsenal. Rice said she would be willing to meet with Iranian officials, including her Iranian counterpart, if this occured and questioned Tehran’s resistance to act.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) preceeded Secretary Rice’s statements. Sen. McConnell said that Iran must cut its ties with “murderous non-state actors” if it wants to be respected within the international community. Eli Amir spoke via satellite from Jerusalem about his experience as a Jewish refugee from Baghdad and urged AIPAC to consider in greater detail the experience of Jewish refugees from Arab countries. Amir said that after Israel’s independence, nearly the same number of Palestinians left Israel for Arab countries as the number of Jews who came to Israel from Arab countries, adding that both sides of refugee crises must be considered

Obama campaign responds to McCain’s attacks on his stance on labeling terrorist organizations

The Obama campaign held a conference call with Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Senior Foreign Policy Adviser Denis McDonough to respond to John McCain’s address to The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPCA). McDonough said McCain asserted that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) does not support labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp as a terrorist organization. McDonough said Obama had co-sponsored the Senate Iran Counter-Proliferation Act to “make that point clear” that the group is a terrorist organization, which he still supports today.

McDonough said McCain is trying to run on the Democratic tradition of a strong foreign policy and strong support for Israel, but that his series of policy choices will have the opposite impact. He said there is very little difference in what McCain outlined at the conference and what President Bush undertook the last eight years.

McDonough also said that Obama opposed keeping troops in Iraq and adding a mission countering the Iranian influence inside Iraq. He said Obama is concerned about threats posed to troops in Iraq as a result of support provided by Iranian entities.

Schiff said Obama gave a “stirring speech” to the AIPAC in the past, and will use his chance to address the committee this week to amplify his policy, objectives, and steadfast commitment to Israel. He said Obama will set out his own vision without distortion from the McCain campaign.