THE WHITE HOUSE
 
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                May 4, 2009
 
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON INTERNATIONAL TAX POLICY REFORM
Grand Foyer
11:39 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Good morning, everybody.  Hope you all had a good weekend.
Let's begin with a simple premise:  Nobody likes paying taxes, particularly in times of economic stress.  But most Americans meet their responsibilities because they understand that it's an obligation of citizenship, necessary to pay the costs of our common defense and our mutual well-being.
And yet, even as most American citizens and businesses meet these responsibilities, there are others who are shirking theirs. And many are aided and abetted by a broken tax system, written by well-connected lobbyists on behalf of well-heeled interests and individuals.  It's a tax code full of corporate loopholes that makes it perfectly legal for companies to avoid paying their fair share.  It's a tax code that makes it all too easy for a number -- a small number of individuals and companies to abuse overseas tax havens to avoid paying any taxes at all.  And it's a tax code that says you should pay lower taxes if you create a job in Bangalore, India, than if you create one in Buffalo, New York.
Now, understand, one of the strengths of our economy is the global reach of our businesses.  And I want to see our companies remain the most competitive in the world.  But the way to make sure that happens is not to reward our companies for moving jobs off our shores or transferring profits to overseas tax havens.  This is something that I talked about again and again during the course of the campaign.  The way we make our businesses competitive is not to reward American companies operating overseas with a roughly 2 percent tax rate on foreign profits; a rate that costs -- that costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars a year.  The way to make American businesses competitive is not to let some citizens and businesses dodge their responsibilities while ordinary Americans pick up the slack.
Unfortunately, that's exactly what we're doing.  These problems have been highlighted by Chairmen Charlie Rangel and Max Baucus, by leaders like Senator Carl Levin and Congressman Lloyd Doggett.  And now is the time to finally do something about them. And that's why today, I'm announcing a set of proposals to crack down on illegal overseas tax evasion, close loopholes, and make it more profitable for companies to create jobs here in the United States.
For years, we've talked about ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and giving tax breaks to companies that create jobs here in America.  That's what our budget will finally do.  We will stop letting American companies that create jobs overseas take deductions on their expenses when they do not pay any American taxes on their profits.  And we will use the savings to give tax cuts to companies that are investing in research and development here at home so that we can jump start job creation, foster innovation, and enhance America's competitiveness.
For years, we've talked about shutting down overseas tax havens that let companies set up operations to avoid paying taxes in America.  That's what our budget will finally do.  On the campaign, I used to talk about the outrage of a building in the Cayman Islands that had over 12,000 business -- businesses claim this building as their headquarters.  And I've said before, either this is the largest building in the world or the largest tax scam in the world.
And I think the American people know which it is.  It's the kind of tax scam that we need to end.  That's why we are closing one of our biggest tax loopholes.  It's a loophole that lets subsidiaries of some of our largest companies tell the IRS that they're paying taxes abroad, tell foreign governments that they're paying taxes elsewhere -- and avoid paying taxes anywhere.  And closing this single loophole will save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars -- money that can be spent on reinvesting in America -- and it will restore fairness to our tax code by helping ensure that all our citizens and all our companies are paying what they should.
Now, for years, we've talked about stopping Americans from illegally hiding their money overseas, and getting tough with the financial institutions that let them get away with it.  The Treasury Department and the IRS, under Secretary Geithner's leadership and Commissioner Shulman's, are already taking far-reaching steps to catch overseas tax cheats -- but they need more support.
And that's why I'm asking Congress to pass some commonsense measures.  One of these measures would let the IRS know how much income Americans are generating in overseas accounts by requiring overseas banks to provide 1099s for their American clients, just like Americans have to do for their bank accounts here in this country.  If financial institutions won't cooperate with us, we will assume that they are sheltering money in tax havens, and act accordingly.  And to ensure that the IRS has the tools it needs to enforce our laws, we're seeking to hire nearly 800 more IRS agents to detect and pursue American tax evaders abroad.
So all in all, these and other reforms will save American taxpayers $210 billion over the next 10 years -- savings we can use to reduce the deficit, cut taxes for American businesses that are playing by the rules, and provide meaningful relief for hardworking families.  That's what we're doing.  We're putting a middle class tax cut in the pockets of 95 percent of working families, and we're providing a $2,500 annual tax credit to put the dream of a college degree or advanced training within the reach for more students.  We're providing a tax credit worth up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers to help more Americans own a piece of the American Dream and to strengthen the housing market.
So the steps I am announcing today will help us deal with some of the most egregious examples of what's wrong with our tax code and will help us strengthen some of these other efforts.  It's a down payment on the larger tax reform we need to make our tax system simpler and fairer and more efficient for individuals and corporations.
Now, it will take time to undo the damage of distorted provisions that were slipped into our tax code by lobbyists and special interests, but with the steps I'm announcing today we are beginning to crack down on Americans who are bending or breaking the rules, and we're helping to ensure that all Americans are contributing their fair share.
In other words, we're beginning to restore fairness and balance to our tax code.  That's what I promised I would do during the campaign, that's what I'm committed to doing as President, and that is what I will work with members of my administration and members of Congress to accomplish in the months and years to come.
Thanks very much, guys.
END                                         
11:46 A.M. EDT
 
THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                                                 May 1, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT CEREMONIAL SWEARING-IN
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS
AND COMMERCE SECRETARY GARY LOCKE

East Room

4:50 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  Please, everybody have a seat.  This is a big family here.  (Laughter.)  A bit like a wedding, you know.  (Laughter.)

We’re here this afternoon to formally fill out my Cabinet with my new Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius; and my Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke.  Secretary Sebelius and Secretary Locke were actually sworn in before today, but around here, we like to make sure we get it right.  (Laughter.)  I had to do it twice, and so now we make everybody do it twice.  (Laughter.)

When I announced Kathleen as my choice for HHS Secretary, I said that one of her responsibilities would be to make certain our nation is prepared for a pandemic.  What I didn’t expect was that a serious H1N1 flu outbreak would be her first assignment.  But it is.  And that’s why on Tuesday, only hours after being confirmed by the Senate, she was sworn in by my side in the Oval Office and then went straight to the Situation Room to get to work dealing with this emergency.

But managing crises is nothing new for Kathleen.  She has plenty of experience doing just that as governor of Kansas, and that expertise has enabled her to hit the ground running.  She’s been closely monitoring and carefully managing the situation, along with her Acting Director at the CDC, Dr. Richard Besser, and Secretary Janet Napolitano.  They’re making sure all federal agencies are coordinating their efforts and they’ll keep the American people updated over the days ahead.

Experts tell us this is a unique virus with the potential to have a great impact.  And as long as it remains a potentially grave threat we’re going to take it very seriously.  And obviously we hope the precautions we’re taking prove unnecessary, but better safe than sorry.  We will take every appropriate action to make sure that the American people are safe.

And if the flu outbreak isn’t enough, Secretary Sebelius has a lot of other challenges on her plate, from guaranteeing the safety of our nation’s food and drug supply to keeping America at the forefront of medical research, to helping to lead our effort to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care. 

As a former state insurance commissioner and governor, Kathleen has been on the front lines of our health care crisis.  And she shares my belief that if we’re going to cut costs for families and businesses, maintain quality, and improve the long-term economic health of our nation, we must realize that fixing what’s wrong with our health care system is no longer just a moral imperative -- it’s an economic and fiscal imperative.  If we want to make companies more competitive and reduce our budget deficits in the future, we need to tackle health care reform right now. 

The reform we’re talking about won’t focus on Democratic ideas or Republican ideas, but on ideas that work.  And that’s precisely the kind of commitment to bipartisan accomplishment that Kathleen embodies.  She is, after all, the daughter of a Democratic governor and the daughter-in-law of a Republican congressman.  Her father, who is here, former Ohio Governor John Gilligan -- I just want to acknowledge him -- where did he go?  There he is, right in front.  Give him a big round of applause.  (Applause.)  He and Kathleen make up the first father-daughter pair of governors in the United States.

But Kathleen has a -- forged a reputation for bipartisan problem solving in her own right.  Time and again, she bridged the partisan divide and worked with a Republican legislature to get things done for the people of Kansas.

Kathleen possesses the patience and understanding honed by nearly 35 years of marriage to her husband Gary Sebelius -- (laughter) -- the former "First Dude" of Kansas -- (laughter) -- the grace and good humor required to raise sons like Ned and John; and the kind of pragmatic wisdom you tend to find in a Kansan.  She’s already a tremendous asset to my Cabinet.  She has hit the ground running.  I look forward to working with her in the years to come.

Now, when I chose Gary Locke for my Commerce Secretary, I mentioned his own remarkable story.  More than 100 years ago, Gary’s grandfather left China on a steamship bound for America, and found work as a domestic servant in Washington State.  He raised a son -- Gary’s father, Jimmy -- who would go on to fight in World War II, return home and open a grocery store, and later raise a family of his own.

Gary worked his way through Yale with the help of scholarships and student loans, earned his law degree, and returned to Washington State to devote his life to public service.  And when he took the oath of office as governor of Washington, he did so in the state capitol building not one mile from the home where his grandfather worked as a servant all those years ago.  And that’s how I know Gary shares my deep, abiding belief in the American Dream -- because he’s lived it, too. 

He’s since proceeded to honor the family’s legacy with years of distinguished service as one of the nation’s most able and forward-thinking governors.  He worked to promote economic development and attract businesses to Washington that would create the jobs of the 21st century -- jobs in science and technology; agriculture and clean energy.  And I’m proud of what he and his team at the Department of Commerce are doing to help create conditions in which our workers can prosper, our businesses can compete and thrive, and our economy can grow. 

I want to thank his lovely wife, Mona, their adorable children, Emily, Dylan, and Madeline, for being here -- thank you, guys -- (laughter) -- and for the sacrifices they’ve made to send Gary from one Washington to another -- especially Emily, because I know it’s harder when you’re older.  (Laughter.)  And I’m grateful to Gary for his service, because I know how hard it is to be away from your family.

My Cabinet is now full of energetic innovators like Kathleen and Gary; a team of leaders who push the envelope every day because they know that whether the wind is in our face or at our backs, America does not settle -- we always march forward.  I am thrilled to have them by my side as we continue the work of turning our economy around and laying a new foundation for growth that delivers on the change the American people asked for, and the promise of a new and better day ahead.

So with that, I’m going to turn it over to another extraordinary member of my team, my Vice President, Joe Biden, to administer the oaths. 

Joe.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Mr. President.

(The oaths are administered.)  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Have a great weekend.  (Applause.)

END
5:00 P.M. EDT 

 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE
 
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                  May 1, 2009
 
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON JUSTICE DAVID SOUTER
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
THE PRESIDENT:  I just got off the telephone with Justice Souter.  And so I would like to say a few words about his decision to retire from the Supreme Court.
Throughout his two decades on the Supreme Court, Justice Souter has shown what it means to be a fair-minded and independent judge.  He came to the bench with no particular ideology.  He never sought to promote a political agenda.  And he consistently defied labels and rejected absolutes, focusing instead on just one task -- reaching a just result in the case that was before him.
He approached judging as he approaches life, with a feverish work ethic and a good sense of humor, with integrity, equanimity and compassion -- the hallmark of not just being a good judge, but of being a good person.
I am incredibly grateful for his dedicated service.  I told him as much when we spoke.  I spoke on behalf of the American people thanking him for his service.  And I wish him safe travels on his journey home to his beloved New Hampshire and on the road ahead.
Now, the process of selecting someone to replace Justice Souter is among my most serious responsibilities as President.  So I will seek somebody with a sharp and independent mind and a record of excellence and integrity.  I will seek someone who understands that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book.  It is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people's lives -- whether they can make a living and care for their families; whether they feel safe in their homes and welcome in their own nation.
I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles as an essential ingredient for arriving as just decisions and outcomes.  I will seek somebody who is dedicated to the rule of law, who honors our constitutional traditions, who respects the integrity of the judicial process and the appropriate limits of the judicial role.  I will seek somebody who shares my respect for constitutional values on which this nation was founded, and who brings a thoughtful understanding of how to apply them in our time.
As I make this decision, I intend to consult with members of both parties across the political spectrum.  And it is my hope that we can swear in our new Supreme Court Justice in time for him or her to be seated by the first Monday in October when the Court's new term begins.
                                          
END
 
THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                                            May 1, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT NATURALIZATION CEREMONY
FOR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS

East Room

1:27 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  This is a lot of fun.  This makes so much of the hard work we do worth it, to see this ceremony here today.  It is my honor and my personal pleasure to be the first to address you as my fellow Americans.  (Applause.)  And welcome to your White House.  (Applause.)  Now, I know this day carries a lot of meaning not only for you, but for your family members and your fellow service members who join you today.

Each of you has a unique story to tell about the journey that led you here.  You hail from every corner of the Earth -- from Southeast Asia to Central Europe, from West Africa to South America.  Some of you came to this country as young children, because your parents wanted to give you a better life in the land of opportunity.  Others traveled here as adults, enduring hardship and sacrifice, to provide for your own families.

But all of you have one thing in common:  You're here because you have not merely chosen to live in this country; you've chosen to serve this country.

You're here for the same reason that Jeonathan Zapata is here.  Jeonathan recently returned from serving as part of our efforts in Afghanistan.  He actually helped man the 400,000th aircraft landing aboard the USS Kitty Hawk.  And Jeonathan wanted to serve the country he considers his own -- even though he was not yet a citizen -- because America had been so good to him, from the time he came here from Nicaragua as a child.  "By serving in the military," Jeonathan says, "I can also give back to the U.S."

So, Jeonathan, I'd like you to stand.  (Applause.)

You're here for the same reason -- you can sit down now, Jeonathan -- (applause.)  You're here for the same reason that Chryshann Pierre is here.  Chryshann, where are you?  There you are.  (Applause.)  Chryshann is an Army Specialist returning from service in Iraq late last year.  Originally she joined the military because she wanted to provide stability for her three children.  But then she discovered something she did not expect: She loves being in the Army.  (Laughter.)  In fact, she even said that she loved basic training.  Chryshann, you've got to be pretty tough to love basic training.  (Laughter.)

You all have your own stories -- you can sit down, Chryshann -- (applause.) You all have your own stories of how you came to this country.  And you all have your own personal reasons for why you joined the military.  But in the service that you render, in the sacrifices that each of you have made and will continue to make, in the commitment you've shown to your adopted nation, you're part of a larger story -- America's story.

For more than two centuries, this nation has been a beacon of hope and opportunity -- a place that has drawn enterprising men and women from around the world who have sought to build a life as good as their talents and their hard work would allow.  And generation after generation of immigrants have come to these shores because they believe that in America all things are possible.

So you are not only living examples of that promise; you're also serving to defend that promise for future generations.  And your service reminds all of us that much of the strength of this country is drawn from those who have chosen to call it home.  It's not lost on me or anybody here today that at a time when we face an economic crisis born in many ways of irresponsibility, there are those who are actively pursuing greater responsibility.

And one person here today who fits that description well enough is Jeanne Ebongue Tapo -- right here.  She grew up in a poor family in Gabon, Africa, the daughter of a single mother raising five children by herself.  And Jeanne immigrated to the United States to provide for her family and to pursue her dream of becoming a dentist.  And that's why she joined the Navy.  And she hoped she'd have the opportunity to work and see the world and also earn her education.

And that's exactly what she has been able to do.  She has started college; she's had the chance to travel.  And even though she's had to make sacrifices to be apart from her loved ones, the people she's met in the Navy have become like a "family away from home."  And she's had the chance to be a part of what it feels like -- what feels like a small community and, at the same time, to be part of something much larger than herself.  So Jeanne, thank you.  (Applause.)

Despite all the -- all that she's faced, despite all the obstacles that she's overcome, Jeanne has made it her mission to serve others.  "At the end of the day," she said, "the only thing that matters is that I helped."

As our newest Americans, all of you remind us just how precious our citizenship is -- of how much it's worth and why it's worth protecting.  You all remind us that citizenship is not just a collection of rights, it's also a set of responsibilities; that America's success is not a gift, it is hard-won.  It depends on each of us doing our part.

So thank you all for your service.  I am extraordinarily proud of you.  And your nation is grateful to you.

So now it is also my privilege to present a distinguished American with an award in recognition of the many contributions of naturalized citizens like all of you.  It's called the "Outstanding American by Choice" Award.  It's given to -- it's given by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and it is my honor to award it to Peter Lemon.  And let me tell you a little bit about Peter.  Peter was just 19 years old, and a citizen for just seven years, when he and his platoon came under fire in the Tay Ninh Province of Vietnam.

Wounded by shrapnel from a mortar that exploded near his foxhole, Specialist Lemon kept fighting to protect his position against wave after wave of attack.  The battle raged for hours.  He was wounded a second time, and then a third.  But he refused to give up, even leaving his foxhole and exposed himself to enemy fire in order to continue to defend his fellow Rangers.

In fact, once the fight was over, Specialist Lemon refused to be evacuated until others had been taken to a field hospital. And Pete would spend a month in the hospital himself to recover from his injuries.  Soon after he returned home, he would be presented with the Medal of Honor by President Nixon. 

Today, Peter Lemon is a proud father and a proud veteran -- as well as an author and a filmmaker.  And he has devoted his time and energies to talking about what his own experiences have meant to him and what he has learned -- to encourage each and every one of us that the way to make the most of our talents is to make a difference in the lives of others.

His experience is a testament to the men and women who have come to this country to build a better life for themselves and their families -- and who have, by their commitment and contribution, made America a much better place as well.

So it is my honor to present this "Outstanding American by Choice" Award to Peter Lemon.  Peter, will you please come here? (Applause.)

(The award is presented.)

One of you might win this someday.  You're already well on the way. 

END
1:34 P.M. EDT

THE WHITE HOUSE
 
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                    May 1, 2009
 
 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AFTER MEETING WITH HIS CABINET
 
Cabinet Room
12:37 P.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you, everybody.  It's been just over a week since we've learned about this novel strain of the flu virus that's now affected people in at least 11 countries -- or at least 11 of our states, as well as 11 other countries.  And throughout this process, my top priority has been the health and the safety of the American people.  And to that end, we've closely monitored the situation.
I am extraordinarily proud of the work that's been done by the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Department of Homeland Security and the CDC.  We've got Dr. Richard Besser here, as well as Janet Napolitano -- they've been really leading the charge.  We've now brought in the cavalry with Secretary Sebelius.
We're obviously focused on what needs to be done immediately, identifying and mitigating cases of H1N1 in the United States, pre-positioning antiviral treatments for those who are infected and making sure that they are distributed appropriately around the country, providing clear guidance as well as the best science for state and local officials as they move forward, and speak clearly to the American people as I did the evening of the news conference about the mitigation steps that they personally can take.
But we also need to prepare for the long term, since we know that these kinds of threats can emerge at any moment.  Even if it turns out that the H1N1 is relatively mild on the front end, it could come back in a more virulent form during the actual flu season.  And that's why we are investing in our public health infrastructure.  We've had discussions about the production of vaccines for -- in anticipation of the flu season.  And we've made sure that all our agencies here are coordinating, that they have appropriate action plans; that we, for example, are working with the Department of Education to provide clear guidelines for school closures; that we are working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for example, to ensure that businesses are supportive of their hourly workers who need to stay home but may be worried about losing their jobs because they don't have sick leave, making sure that they are cooperating in what is going to be an overarching effort; discussions with our Secretary of State, as well as our Ambassador to the United Nations about how we're going to respond to potential requests from other countries for assistance in dealing with this issue.
Overall I'm very pleased with the progress that we've made. I think that those who have been on top of this have done an extraordinary job.  I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to manage this effectively, but we still have more work to do, and I'm glad I've got such a great team doing it.  And I want to make clear to everybody -- and the reason I brought this Cabinet meeting together is that we are taking this very seriously and we will take every single step that's necessary to make sure that the American people are safe.
One last point I want to make, because this was actually raised during this meeting -- somebody asked, why is this different from other flus?  We don't know for certain that this will end up being more severe than other seasonal flus that we have had.  It's been noted I think before that you have over 36,000 die on average every year from seasonal flus; you've have 200,000 hospitalizations.
It may turn out that H1N1 is -- runs its course like ordinary flus, in which case we will have prepared and we won't need all these preparations.  The reason that people are concerned is -- the scientists are concerned -- is this is a new strain.  So what happens is, is that Americans and people around the world have not built up immunity in the same way that they've built up immunity to the seasonal flus that we're accustomed to. Those seasonal flus may change, mutate slightly from year to year, but they're all roughly in the same band.  When you have a new strain, then potentially our immune systems can't deal with it as effectively.  And there are indications that in Mexico, at least, what you saw were relatively young, healthy people die from these -- from the H1N1, rather than people whose immune system is already compromised -- older individuals, very small infants, and so forth.
So that's why we're taking it seriously.  We have not yet seen those same kinds of fatalities here in the United States among young, healthy people with non-compromising immune systems, but we want to make sure that we're preparing appropriately.
So I just want everybody to be clear that this is why this is a cause for concern, but not alarm.  We are essentially ensuring that in the worst-case scenario we can manage this appropriately, government working with businesses, individuals, and the private sector, and are containing an outbreak and so we can ultimately get through this.
So thank you very much, everybody.  Thank you, guys.  Have a great weekend.
Q    What are you looking for in a Supreme Court nominee?
Q    Can you comment on the news about Justice Souter?
THE PRESIDENT:  No Supreme Court questions. 
Q    No Supreme Court questions?  What are you looking for in a nominee?  (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT:  Have a great weekend, guys.
Q    You, too, Mr. President.
                                                        
END 
12:44 P.M. EDT
                     
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secrectary

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT KICK-OFF FOR WOUNDED WARRIOR SOLDIER RIDE
South Lawn
2:25 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) It's good weather for a race -- not too hot.
Thank you, Secretary Gates, for your introduction, and more importantly, for the extraordinary job you're doing as our Secretary of Defense. I want to thank Secretary Shinseki, who served our country with extraordinary valor and courage, who was wounded in Vietnam, and who's leading our efforts to create a 21st century VA.
I want to thank my friend, Tammy Duckworth, who lost her legs in Iraq, and never stopped serving her country when she came home. I got to know Tammy in my home state of Illinois, and I know that she is going to be a great Assistant Secretary of the VA. (Applause.)
And thanks to all of those at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, the VA, and the Pentagon who have joined us today, and for all that you do for our wounded warriors. Welcome to the White House.
There are heroes among us today -- men and women who served their country without falter, without fail; men and women who selflessly risked their lives on behalf of others, so that others might live. Soldiers like Sergeant Jeremiah Church, who was shot while defending his unit from an ambush in Iraq, but kept fighting until he lost consciousness. Soldiers like Sergeant First Class Rashe Hall, who, despite being badly wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade, repeatedly charged a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan so that his men might get to safety, then returned to give them first aid before receiving his own.
And soldiers like Staff Sergeant Dillon Behr from my home state of Illinois. While in Afghanistan last year, his unit came under heavy fire. Despite sustaining not one, but two life-threatening injuries, he held his position and fought for six and a half hours until he could no longer hold a weapon -- all so that American and Afghan troops might move to safety. Today, he's undergoing rehab at Walter Reed, and he's going to college as he pursues the next chapter in his life of service.
These men served with extraordinary bravery. They saved lives. And these men were awarded the Silver Star for Valor. They were there for their brothers and sisters in the United States Armed Forces no matter what. And that's the idea behind the Soldier Ride we're kicking off today.
Now, like a lot of great ideas, this one was conceived in a bar. (Laughter and applause.) A young bartender on Long Island named Chris Carney began talking about biking across the country to raise funds and awareness for returning troops and wounded warriors. And his boss said to him, "If you don't do it, I'll find somebody who will."
So Chris hopped on his bike for what became the first annual Soldier Ride. The next year, a couple of wounded warriors joined him. A year later, even more. Civilians started to ride along. Grateful Americans began lining the streets to cheer and show their support. More rides were added, and more money was raised.
And five years after that first ride, I'm honored to have 40 wounded warriors gathered here on the South Lawn to kick off the third annual "White House to the Lighthouse" Challenge. Over the next three days -- (applause) -- over the next three days these men and women, along with family and supporters, will ride from here to Annapolis on bicycles and in wheelchairs, raising money and awareness for others returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious injuries.
Keep in mind that today's riders once faced down the possibility that they might never have an active lifestyle again. Some are missing limbs, coping with nerve damage, living with Traumatic Brain Injury or blindness. Some have endured painful rehabilitation, some still are, and some have battles yet to come.
These wounded warriors didn't get to choose the direction their lives would take the instant they were injured. But now they choose to prove that life after injury isn't about what you can't do -- it's about what you can. They choose to keep their faith with the future. They choose to keep fighting for their brothers and sisters and show them that they're not alone.
We also remember that so many are supported by spouses and children, parents and siblings who suffered the absence of a loved one, and then stood by their side through their recovery. These military families are heroes, too. And they are a top priority for Michelle and me, and they will always have our support.
To anyone who's along their route this weekend, I ask you to go out there and cheer. Salute. Say thank you. And we'll do our part to support our troops, their families, and all who have worn the uniform of the United States of America -- because when it comes to their service and sacrifice, warm words and gestures are more than warranted, but they're not nearly enough.
Our veterans deserve the care they were promised and the benefits that they have earned. And as long as I'm Commander-in-Chief, that's what they'll get. (Applause.) Just as these wounded warriors are there for one another, this country is going to be there for them.
And now I'm going to blow a horn and get this thing started. (Applause.)
So who has got the horn? Oh, this is the official horn? Hair trigger, white button. All right. (Laughter.) Everybody -- let's make sure everybody is lined up properly. Everybody all set? I don't want to catch anybody off-guard here.
All right, on your mark, get set -- (the President blows the horn.) (Applause.)
END
2:31 P.M. EDT
THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady
___________________________________________________
Internal Transcript                            April 30, 2009

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AT A CONGRESSIONAL CLUB LUNCHEON

Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.

12:28 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you so much.  I want to thank Vicki for that kind and generous introduction.  I'd also like to thank Julie and Betty Ann who have chaired this event and everyone who has made today's event so very special.

I'd also like to acknowledge my escort, the handsome and gentle -- (laughter) -- Colonel Michael Colburn, who is the director of the United States Marine Band.  And I have to say, on behalf of my family, that the Marine Band has been just a tremendous resource for us.  They have such great range.  They can play everything from jazz to country, and they've made every event at the White House a special one.  And I want to give them another round of applause.  (Applause.)

It is truly an honor for me to be here with all of you today.  This is a very special and important occasion.  Over the last couple of months I've had a chance to meet many of you through the events we've had at the White House.  We've had Wednesday night socials and we've had several luncheons that Jill Biden and I have hosted at the White House.  And if I haven't met you yet, don't worry, your invitation is in the mail.  We're going to get to everybody, and we're going to do it again and again and again. 

We're going to be hosting these luncheons and socials every month because we really believe that this is the way you get to know one another -- not as agendas, not as parties, but you learn about one another as individuals.  And in these settings, we can find common ground. 

We have now been at the White House for 101 days.  (Applause.)  And as Vicki mentioned, I've been focusing on my personal priorities:  family first, community and service. 

And on the family track, just to let you know, because everyone always asks, that we've never been better.  The girls are happy and healthy.  They love their school.  They're making friends.  They're getting good grades.  (Laughter.)  They settled in on their typical week.  I feel like I've never left Chicago.  Soccer on Saturday -- yes, I'm on a soccer field all day -- (laughter) -- just like many of you.  Slumber parties -- we had about seven girls over, screaming and yelling.  (Laughter.)  And we're shuttling kids back and forth to play dates, just like usual, although now my mom does a little more of the shuttling than I do.  I'm glad to have her here. 

And as we're speaking of the First Grandmother, Mom is also doing well.  And many of you have been so important to her in reaching out.  She has a very full social life, so much so that sometimes we have to plan our schedule around her schedule.  (Laughter.) 

And the newest addition to the Obama family -- (laughter) -- the most famous member of the family, Bo Obama -- (laughter) -- is also doing well.  (Laughter.)  I have to say, he is the best puppy in the whole wide world.  I love him to death.  He is so sweet.  But he's still a puppy.  And I was just telling Jane (ph) that I -- what I -- she said, what time did you get ready?  I said I got up at 5:15 a.m. in the morning to walk my puppy.  (Laughter.)  That's how my day starts.  Even though the kids are supposed to do a lot of the work, I'm still up at 5:15 a.m. taking my dog out.  So for everyone who has a child asking for a puppy -- (laughter) -- you have to want the dog.  (Laughter.)   As I do.  I love my Bo.

And as a result of everything going so well, I've been able to turn my attention to some of the other issues I care about:  again, as Vicki said, supporting military families, work-life balance, healthy eating, planting that wonderful garden -- we had our first salad out of the garden; we're producing -- (laughter and applause) -- and one of my greatest passions, national and community service.

As a nation we're facing unprecedented challenges.  I don't think that anyone here would doubt that.  These are -- there are few times in our nation's history when the phrase "We're all in it together" really means something.  And now is one of those times.  We're all in this together.

But embedded in our nation's core values is a spirit of community, generosity and entrepreneurship.  I saw all throughout this campaign in every corner of the country a can-do attitude that says that no challenge is too great for the people in this nation. 

But service groups, and non-profits, faith-based organizations, philanthropists, corporations, government, individuals of all ages have had to play a role in moving this country forward.  The question that we have to ask ourselves now as individuals is "What will I do?  What am I willing to do in these times?"  Because these times are tough.

About 62 million people or a little over a quarter of U.S. citizens volunteer each year to help improve their community in some way.  And about $300 billion a year is donated to support the work of religious institutions, foundations and non-profits to further causes that make people healthier, that make neighborhoods safer, that make communities stronger.

Many of these beneficiaries have seen contributions dwindle this year and they're trying to do more with less as the needs of this country increase.  Thirty-six million Americans, including 12 million children, are living on the brink of hunger in this nation. 

Last month the USDA announced that the participation in the SNAP program, which was formerly known as Food Stamps, has reached the highest levels ever.  Nearly 32 million Americans received SNAP benefits in December 2008.  That's up 700,000 in that month, and almost 5 million more than the year before. 

So food banks are experiencing an average increase in demand of more than 30 percent year after year.  And that's why we chose, as one of our first joint service projects, to go to a food bank.  And I want to thank all of you who so generously gave of your time yesterday to join me at the Capital Area Food Bank.  Just so that you know and the whole group here knows what we did in those few hours, we packed 2,000 weekend food bags which will help ensure that 1,000 students who participate in the Capital Area Food Bank's "Food for Kids" program have enough to eat for the next two weeks.  So we have to give ourselves a round of applause.  (Applause.)  

And I'm happy to report that similar activities like the ones we did yesterday are taking place around the country where people are stepping up in so many unique ways.

In Colorado, for example, the Colorado State University campus has planted a "Garden of Eatin'."  They recently planted raspberries, strawberries, currants, and it will eventually produce everything from herbs and squash, to pumpkins, tomatoes and peppers.  And much of that produce is going to be donated to a local food bank, which is seeing that 35 percent increase in demand.

And in Des Moines, Iowa there's a Hope Ministries organization.  One day they woke up and realized that they had run out of eggs for the five kitchens that they operate.  And while they knew they could run out and make the purchase, it was going to be very expensive.  And out of the blue, "a miracle happened," which is how the director described it.  They got a call from a woman who owns a chicken farm about an hour away saying that she would donate it 66 dozen eggs.  And then the entire -- America's egg farmers industry stepped up, as well.  Across the country they will be donating more than 11 million eggs to food banks just this year.  (Applause.)

And our federal agencies are also responding.  On Saturday, May 9th, the letter carriers from around the country will lead the charge in the nation's largest single-day food drive.  They're asking everyone to leave nonperishable food donations in a bag next to your mailbox, and your postal carrier will pick them up when they deliver your mail.  The effort is called "Stamp Out Hunger," and last year over 73 million pounds of food were donated to food banks through this effort.

These stories prove that participating in national and community service is not just an escape for the wealthy or for kids who can afford to serve; it's an integral part of empowering everyone to make our communities stronger. 

And with the recent passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a bipartisan effort, we are now poised to usher in a new era of service in this nation.  The Serve America Act will allow more young people to help themselves pay for college by serving their communities, and will create more opportunities for older Americans to apply their years and decades of experience and wisdom to serve this country, as well. 

AmeriCorps will expand under the act from 75,000 slots to 250,000 slots in less than a decade. 

And we're going to focus this service towards solving today's most pressing challenges:  clean energy and health care, education and economic opportunity, the needs of veterans and families throughout this country.

So we have a real moment in history to once again come together to help our neighbors, our communities and to help our country.  And this is what I find so inspiring about this position, leading this nation as First Lady:  People in this country assume responsibility, knowing that each of us has something to contribute and something special to add to leading the way.   

And I hope that yesterday's event will be the first of many projects that we will all work on together.  As the spouses of the leaders of this great country, we are each role models in our neighborhoods.  People look up to us.  And by demonstrating that each of us has a role to play in moving this country forward, we can have a real impact on how this country responds to these challenges. 

And I know that each of us has a cause that we committed to.  So many of us are passionate, and working hard outside of our homes, and dedicating hours.  And I would like to find ways for us to support one another in our efforts, to think about ways that we can link arms within our states and our communities.

In order to do so, one of the things that I'm proposing and I'm presenting it to you all here now is that we develop a family service project based around the annual Congressional Picnic which will be held at the White House on June 25th.  We can bring our husbands and our wives, our children and our grandchildren together as we did yesterday and rally around a common cause. 

This would be a powerful message that we could send to people around the country; that they saw all of our families come together here in D.C.  Whether it's a food bank or a homeless shelter, there's so much need out there.  The projects are endless.  Just imagine what message that would send if we came together.

So I'm asking you now:  Put it on your calendar, bring your kids.  We'll work a little, we'll have a little barbeque, we'll get a lot of stuff done.  But I want to thank you all for all of the support that you've shown me, each and every one of you.  I feel the prayers.  I feel your encouragement.  Again, whether you're a member of the Democratic Party or not, whether you're in politics or not, our family feels your encouragement.  And we greatly appreciate every single kind word, every gesture that you've offered.  And I look forward to working with you all in the months and years to come.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END
12:43 P.M. EDT

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                         April 30, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AFTER MEETING WITH
DEFENSE SECRETARY GATES,
SENATOR McCAIN, SENATOR LEVIN,
REPRESENTATIVE SKELTON AND REPRESENTATIVE McHUGH

Oval Office

2:04 P.M. EDT 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, the main thing that I wanted to do was to thank the four leaders who are here -- Congressman Skelton and McHugh, and Senators Levin and McCain. 

The GAO last year looked at 95 major acquisitions in the Defense Department and found that we had $295 billion worth of overruns and wasteful spending -- $295 billion.  And as Secretary Gates has said, every dollar that's wasted because of inappropriate no-bid contracts and waste and abuse, that's a dollar that could be going to help our -- protect our troops, advance our national security, keep the American people safe.

These four leaders have put together a procurement reform package that is long overdue.  They've shown extraordinary courage and extraordinary leadership in moving it forward.  It's fully bipartisan.  It has the support of the Department of Defense, and it has my full support. 

And so I'm eager to get this legislation on my desk before Memorial Day, so that we can start getting on track to spending all our money wisely -- not just in the Defense Department, but as I've said, if we can crack this nut, as tough as it is, it gives us further momentum to continue to make the changes in our budget that can start assuring taxpayers that their money is being well spent, and in the process, it means that we're going to be spending our money in ways that are more likely to keep the American people safe.

So I just want to thank these legislators.  They have the full support of the White House moving forward.  And as part of this, I also just want to mention I think that Secretary Gates has done a tremendous job with the budget that he's crafted going forward in reflecting some of the same principles -- that we spend our money where it's needed based on national security interests, and not based on politics.  And I'm going to be urging everybody to take a hard, close look at the reforms that Secretary Gates has proposed.  I think it's part and parcel of the overall attempt at gaining efficiency and improving out national security.

So, thank you, gentlemen, for the great work you're doing. 

Thank you, guys.

END
2:07 P.M. EDT

 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Grand Foyer
12:08 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hey, guys. I know you haven't seen enough of me lately, so -- (laughter.)
One month ago, I spoke about some of the problems that have led to the crisis in the auto industry, and about what would be required to ensure that General Motors and Chrysler emerged from their current troubles stronger and more competitive. My team will continue working with General Motors as they strengthen their business plan and move towards restructuring that's consistent with the principles that I've laid out.
And today, after consulting with my Auto Task Force, I can report that the necessary steps have been taken to give one of America's most storied automakers, Chrysler, a new lease on life.
This is a company that has a particular claim on our American identity. It's a company founded in the early years of the American automobile industry; a company that helped make the 20th century an American Century; and that came to embody, along with the two other members of the Big Three, the ingenuity, the industriousness, and the indomitable spirit of the American people.
Chrysler has not only been an icon of America's auto industry and a source of pride for generations of American workers; it's been responsible for helping build our middle class, giving countless Americans the chance to provide for their families, sending their kids to college, saving for a secure retirement. It's what hundreds of thousands of autoworkers and suppliers and dealers and their families rely on to pay their bills in communities across our industrial Midwest and across our country.
It's been a pillar of our industrial economy, but, frankly, a pillar that's been weakened by papering over tough problems and avoiding hard choices. For too long, Chrysler moved too slowly to adapt to the future, designing and building cars that were less popular, less reliable, and less fuel-efficient than foreign competitors. That's part of what has brought us to a point where they sought taxpayer assistance.
But as I've said from the start, we simply cannot keep this company, or any company, afloat on an endless supply of tax dollars. My job, as President, is to ensure that if tax dollars are being put on the line, they are being invested in a real fix that will make Chrysler more competitive.
That's why I rejected the original restructuring plan that Chrysler offered last month. It was clear that if we put tax dollars in that plan, it would be a bad deal for American taxpayers and would not put the company on a viable path. But it's also clear that if Chrysler was able to form a partnership with the international car company Fiat, there was a chance Chrysler could have a bright future.
After consulting with my Auto Task Force, industry experts, and financial advisors, I decided to give Chrysler and Fiat 30 days to reach an agreement. And the standard I set was high -- I challenged them to design a plan that would protect American jobs, American taxpayers, and the future of a great American car company. But over the past month, seemingly insurmountable obstacles have been overcome, and Chrysler's most important stakeholders -- from the United Auto Workers to Chrysler's largest lenders, from its own -- from its former owners to its suppliers -- have agreed to make major sacrifices.
So, today, I am pleased to announce that Chrysler and Fiat have formed a partnership that has a strong chance of success. It's a partnership that will save more than 30,000 jobs at Chrysler, and tens of thousands of jobs at suppliers, dealers and other businesses that rely on this company.
It's a partnership that the federal government will support by making additional loans that are consistent with what I outlined last month. As part of their agreement, every dime of new taxpayer money will be repaid before Fiat can take a majority ownership stake in Chrysler. In addition, considering Chrysler's extensive operations in Canada, the government of Canada is also committing resources to ensure that Chrysler has a chance to succeed, and we're working closely with them.
It's a partnership that will give Chrysler a chance not only to survive, but to thrive in a global auto industry. Fiat has demonstrated that it can build the clean, fuel-efficient cars that are the future of the industry, and as part of this agreement, Fiat has already agreed to transfer billions of dollars in cutting-edge technology to Chrysler to help them do the same. Fiat is also committed to working with Chrysler to build new fuel-efficient cars and engines right here in America.
Now, this partnership was only possible because of unprecedented sacrifices on the part of Chrysler's stakeholders, who are willing to give something up so that this company -- and all of the men and women whose livelihoods depend on it -- might see a better day. Chrysler's management, and in particular, its CEO, Robert Nardelli, have played a positive and constructive role throughout this process. The United Auto Workers, who had already made painful concessions, agreed to further cuts in wages and benefits; cuts that will help Chrysler survive, making it possible for so many workers to keep their jobs and about 170,000 retirees and their families to keep their health care.
Several major financial institutions, led by J.P. Morgan, agreed to reduce their debt to less than one-third of its face value to help free Chrysler from its crushing obligations. The German automaker, Daimler, agreed to give up its stake in Chrysler and contribute to the company's pension plan, further easing Chrysler's financial burden. And countless Americans across our country will be making major sacrifices, as well, as a result of plans to consolidate dealers, brands, and product lines.
While many stakeholders made sacrifices and worked constructively, I have to tell you some did not. In particular, a group of investment firms and hedge funds decided to hold out for the prospect of an unjustified taxpayer-funded bailout. They were hoping that everybody else would make sacrifices, and they would have to make none. Some demanded twice the return that other lenders were getting. I don't stand with them. I stand with Chrysler's employees and their families and communities. I stand with Chrysler's management, its dealers, and its suppliers. I stand with the millions of Americans who own and want to buy Chrysler cars. I don't stand with those who held out when everybody else is making sacrifices. And that's why I'm supporting Chrysler's plans to use our bankruptcy laws to clear away its remaining obligations so the company can get back on its feet and onto a path of success.
No one should be confused about what a bankruptcy process means. This is not a sign of weakness, but rather one more step on a clearly charted path to Chrysler's revival. Because of the fact that the UAW and many of the banks, the biggest stakeholders in this whole process have already aligned, have already agreed, this process will be quick. It will be efficient. It's designed to deal with those last few holdouts, and it will be controlled. It will not disrupt the lives of the people who work at Chrysler or live in communities that depend on it. And it will not affect the ability of American consumers to buy a Chrysler, or to get it serviced and repaired. It's a process that has the full support of Chrysler's key stakeholders and the full backing of the United States government. And I have every confidence that Chrysler will emerge from this process stronger and more competitive.
I know that there are some who will insist that bankruptcy, even for these limited purposes, is a step that should not have been taken. But it was unsustainable to let enormous liabilities remain on Chrysler's books, and it was unacceptable to let a small group of speculators endanger Chrysler's future by refusing to sacrifice like everyone else. So I recognize that the path we're taking is hard. But as is often the case, the hard path is the right one.
The path we're taking also involves steps to shore up financing, because we cannot have viable car companies without strong car financing companies. It's now clear that Chrysler Financial -- the institution that finances Chrysler cars and dealers -- would on its own require an unacceptably large stream of taxpayer money to remain viable -- and that's something I refuse to provide. And that is why, as part of this agreement, GMAC, an independent bank holding company that finances General Motors, has agreed to finance new Chrysler sales. We will be providing additional capital to GMAC to help unlock our frozen credit markets and free up lending so that consumers can get auto loans and dealers can finance their inventories; a measure that will help stabilize not only our auto market, but the broader economy, as well. And tomorrow, the Small Business Administration will be announcing it is expanding eligibility for some loans to include more suppliers and dealers, including RV dealers.
So these are some of the steps that we're taking to make it easier for Americans to buy a car. If you are considering buying a car, I hope it will be an American car. I want to remind you that if you decide to buy a Chrysler, your warrantee will be safe -- because it is backed by the United States government. And to further boost demand for autos, we are working to accelerate the purchase of a federal fleet, and we're also working with Congress on fleet modernization legislation that can provide a credit to consumers who turn in old cars and purchase cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars.
As pleased as I am about today's announcement and about the opportunity Chrysler has to remake itself, we know that far too many Americans in far too many communities are still struggling, as a result of layoffs not only at plants that produce cars, but at the businesses that produce the parts that go into them and at the dealers that sell and repair them. And that's why, as I discussed the last time we gathered here to talk about autos, I've named Ed Montgomery to be the Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. Ed will be traveling to Michigan next week with representatives from all the key government agencies represented here, reaching out to our hardest-hit areas, cutting through red tape, ensuring that the full resources of the federal government are getting to the workers, the families, and communities that need it the most.
Now, these are challenging times for America's auto industry and for the American people. But I am confident that if we as a nation can act with the same sense of shared sacrifice and shared purpose that's been shown by so many of Chrysler's stakeholders, if we can embrace the idea that we're all in it together -- from the union hall to the boardroom to the halls of Congress -- then we will succeed not only with Chrysler, we will not only see our American auto industry rise again, but we will rebuild our entire economy and make the 21st century another American Century.
We have made great progress. We can make great American cars. Chrysler and GM are going to come back. And I am very confident that we're going to be able to make once again the U.S. auto industry the best auto industry in the world.
And I want to thank my entire auto team who worked so diligently on what I consider to be a much better outcome than it looked like we were going to see 30 days ago.
Thank you very much, everybody.
END
12:20 P.M. EDT
THE WHITE HOUSE
 
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                              April 30, 2009
 
NEWS CONFERENCE BY THE PRESIDENT
 
April 29, 2009
East Room
8:01 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT:  Please be seated.  Before we begin tonight, I just want to provide everyone with a few brief updates on some of the challenges we're dealing with right now.
First, we are continuing to closely monitor the emergency cases of the H1N1 flu virus throughout the United States.  As I said this morning, this is obviously a very serious situation, and every American should know that their entire government is taking the utmost precautions and preparations.  Our public health officials have recommended that schools with confirmed or suspected cases of this flu strongly consider temporarily closing.  And if more schools are forced to close, we've recommended that both parents and businesses think about contingency plans if their children do have to stay home.
I've requested an immediate $1.5 billion in emergency funding from Congress to support our ability to monitor and track this virus and to build our supply of antiviral drugs and other equipment, and we will also ensure that those materials get to where they need to be as quickly as possible.
And finally, I've asked every American to take the same steps you would take to prevent any other flu:  Keep your hands washed; cover your mouth when you cough; stay home from work if you're sick; and keep your children home from school if they're sick.
We'll continue to provide regular updates to the American people as we receive more information, and everyone should rest assured that this government is prepared to do whatever it takes to control the impact of this virus.
The second thing I'd like to mention is how gratified I am that the House and the Senate passed a budget resolution today that will serve as an economic blueprint for this nation's future.  I especially want to thank Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi, all the members of Congress who worked so quickly and effectively to make this blueprint a reality.
This budget builds on the steps we've taken over the last 100 days to move this economy from recession to recovery and ultimately to prosperity.  We began by passing a Recovery Act that has already saved or created over 150,000 jobs and provided a tax cut to 95 percent of all working families.  We passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for 11 million American children whose parents work full-time.  And we launched a housing plan that has already contributed to a spike in the number of homeowners who are refinancing their mortgages, which is the equivalent of another tax cut.
But even as we clear away the wreckage of this recession, I've also said that we can't go back to an economy that's built on a pile of sand:  on inflated home prices and maxed-out credit cards; on over-leveraged banks and outdated regulations that allow recklessness of a few to threaten the prosperity of all.
We have to lay a new foundation for growth, a foundation that will strengthen our economy and help us compete in the 21st century.  And that's exactly what this budget begins to do.  It contains new investments in education that will equip our workers with the right skills and training, new investments in renewable energy that will create millions of jobs and new industries, new investments in health care that will cut costs for families and businesses, and new savings that will bring down our deficit.
I also campaigned on the promise that I would change the direction of our nation's foreign policy -- and we've begun to do that as well.  We've begun to end the war in Iraq, and we forged with our NATO allies a new strategy to target al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  We have rejected the false choice between our security and our ideals by closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and banning torture without exception.  And we've renewed our diplomatic efforts to deal with challenges ranging from the global economic crisis to the spread of nuclear weapons.
So I think we're off to a good start.  But it's just a start.  I'm proud of what we've achieved, but I'm not content.  I'm pleased with our progress, but I'm not satisfied.  Millions of Americans are still without jobs and homes, and more will be lost before this recession is over.  Credit is still not flowing nearly as freely as it should.  Countless families and communities touched by our auto industry still face tough times ahead.  Our projected long-term deficits are still too high.  And government is still not as efficient as it needs to be.  We still confront threats ranging from terrorism to nuclear proliferation as well as pandemic flu.  And all this means you can expect an unrelenting, unyielding effort from this administration to strengthen our prosperity and our security -- in the second hundred days, and the third hundred days, and all the days after that.
You can expect us to work on health care reform that will bring down costs while maintaining quality as well as energy legislation that will spark a clean energy revolution. 
I expect to sign legislation by the end of this year that sets new rules of the road for Wall Street -- rules that reward drive and innovation as opposed to short-cuts and abuse.  And we will also work to pass legislation that protects credit card users from unfair rate hikes and abusive fees and penalties. 
We'll continue scouring the federal budget for savings and target more programs for elimination, and we will continue to pursue procurement reform that will greatly reduce the no-bid contracts that have wasted so many taxpayer dollars. 
So we have a lot of work left to do.  It's work that will take time and it will take effort.  But the United States of America, I believe, will see a better day.  We will rebuild a stronger nation.  And we will endure as a beacon for all those weary travelers beyond our shores who still dream that there's a place where all this is possible. 
I want to thank the American people for their support and their patience during these trying times, and I look forward to working with you in the next hundred days and the hundreds days after that, all the hundreds of days to follow, to make sure that this country is what it can be. 
And with that, I will start taking some questions and I'll start with you, Jennifer.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  With the flu outbreak spreading and worsening, can you talk about whether you think it's time to close the border with Mexico, and whether -- under what conditions you might consider quarantining, when that might be appropriate?
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, as I said, this is a cause for deep concern, but not panic.  And I think that we have to make sure that we recognize that how we respond -- intelligently, systematically, based on science and what public health officials have to say -- will determine in large part what happens.
I've consulted with our public health officials extensively on a day-to-day basis, in some cases, an hour-to-hour basis.  At this point they have not recommended a border closing.  From their perspective it would be akin to closing the barn door after the horses are out, because we already have cases here in the United States.  We have ramped up screening efforts, as well as made sure that additional supplies are there on the border so that we can prepare in the eventuality that we have to do more than we're doing currently.
But the most important thing right now that public health officials have indicated is that we treat this the same way that we would treat other flu outbreaks, just understanding that because this is a new strain we don't yet know how it will respond.  So we have to take additional precautions -- essentially, take out some additional insurance.  That's why I asked for an additional $1.5 million, so that we can make sure that everything is in place should a worst-case scenario play out.
I do want to compliment Democrats and Republicans who worked diligently back in 2005 when the bird flu came up.  I was part of a group of legislators who worked with the Bush administration to make sure that we had beefed up our infrastructure and our stockpiles of antiviral drugs like Tamiflu.  And I think the Bush administration did a good job of creating the infrastructure so that we can respond.  For example, we've got 50 million courses of antiviral drugs in the event that they're needed.
So the government is going to be doing everything that we can.  We're coordinating closely with state and local officials. Secretary Napolitano at the Department of Homeland Security, newly installed Secretary Sebelius of Health and Human Services, our Acting CDC Director -- they are all on the phone on a daily basis with all public health officials across the states to coordinate and make sure that there's timely reporting, that if as new cases come up that we are able to track them effectively, that we're allocating resources so that they're in place.
The key now I think is to make sure that we are maintaining great vigilance, that everybody responds appropriately when cases do come up.  And individual families start taking very sensible precautions that can make a huge difference.  So wash your hands when you shake hands.  Cover your mouth when you cough.  I know it sounds trivial, but it makes a huge difference.  If you are sick, stay home.  If your child is sick, keep them out of school.  If you are feeling certain flu symptoms, don't get on an airplane.  Don't get on any system of public transportation where you're confined and you could potentially spread the virus.
So those are the steps that I think we need to take right now.  But understand that because this is a new strain, we have to be cautious.  If this was a strain that we were familiar with, then we might have to -- then I think we wouldn't see the kind of alert levels that we're seeing, for example, with the World Health Organization.  Okay?
Deb Price of Detroit News.  Where's Deb? 
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  On the domestic auto industry, have you determined that bankruptcy is the only option to restructure Chrysler?  And do you believe that the deep cuts and plant closings that were outlined this week by General Motors are sufficient?
THE PRESIDENT:  Let me speak to Chrysler first because the clock is ticking on Chrysler coming up with a plan.  I am actually very hopeful, more hopeful than I was 30 days ago, that we can see a resolution that maintains a viable Chrysler auto company out there.  What we've seen is the unions have made enormous sacrifices, on top of sacrifices that they had previously made.  You've now seen the major debt holders come up with a set of potential concessions that they can live with.  All that promises the possibility that you can get a Fiat-Chrysler merger and that you have an ongoing concern.
The details have not yet been finalized so I don't want to jump the gun, but I'm feeling more optimistic than I was about the possibilities of that getting done.
With respect to GM, we're going to have another 30 days -- they're still in the process of presenting us with their plans.  But I've always said that GM has a lot of good product there and if they can get through these difficult times and engage in some of the very difficult choices that they've already made, that they can emerge a strong, competitive, viable company.
And that's my goal in this whole process.  I would love to get the U.S. government out of the auto business as quickly as possible.  We have a circumstance in which a bad recession compounded some great weaknesses already in the auto industry, and it was my obligation, and continues to be my obligation, to make sure that any taxpayer dollars that are in place to support the auto industry are aimed not at short-term fixes that continue these companies as wards of the state, but rather institutes the kind of restructuring that allows them to be strongly competitive in the future.  I think we're moving in that direction. 
The last point -- you asked about Chrysler bankruptcy.  It was the prudent and appropriate thing for Chrysler to do to engage in the filings that they -- that received some notice a while back, because they had to prepare for possible contingencies.  It's not yet clear that they're going to have to use it.  The fact that the major debt holders appear ready to make concessions means that even if they ended up having to go through some sort of bankruptcy, it would be a very quick type of bankruptcy and they could continue operating and emerge on the other side in a much stronger position.
So my goal is to make sure that we've got a strong, viable, competitive auto industry.  I think some tough choices are being made.  There's no denying that there's significant hardship involved, particularly for the workers and the families in these communities, and we're going to be coming behind whatever plan is in place to make sure that the federal government is providing as much assistance as we have to ensure that people are landing back on their feet, even as we strengthen these core businesses.
Jake.  Where's Jake?  There he is.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  You've said in the past that waterboarding, in your opinion, is torture.  Torture is a violation of international law and the Geneva conventions.  Do you believe that the previous administration sanctioned torture?
THE PRESIDENT:  What I've said -- and I will repeat -- is that waterboarding violates our ideals and our values.  I do believe that it is torture.  I don't think that's just my opinion; that's the opinion of many who've examined the topic.  And that's why I put an end to these practices.  I am absolutely convinced it was the right thing to do -- not because there might not have been information that was yielded by these various detainees who were subjected to this treatment, but because we could have gotten this information in other ways, in ways that were consistent with our values, in ways that were consistent with who we are.
I was struck by an article that I was reading the other day, talking about the fact that the British during World War II, when London was being bombed to smithereens, had 200 or so detainees. And Churchill said, we don't torture -- when the entire British -- all of the British people were being subjected to unimaginable risk and threat.  And the reason was that Churchill understood you start taking shortcuts, and over time that corrodes what's best in a people.  It corrodes the character of a country.
And so I strongly believe that the steps that we've taken to prevent these kinds of enhanced interrogation techniques will make us stronger over the long term, and make us safer over the long term, because it will put us in a position where we can still get information -- in some cases, it may be harder, but part of what makes us, I think, still a beacon to the world, is that we are willing to hold true to our ideals even when it's hard, not just when it's easy.
At the same time, it takes away a critical recruitment tool that al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations have used to try to demonize the United States and justify the killing of civilians.  And it makes us -- it puts us in a much stronger position to work with our allies in the kind of international coordinated intelligence activity that can shut down these networks.
So this is a decision that I am very comfortable with.  And I think the American people over time will recognize that it is better for us to stick to who we are, even when we're taking on a unscrupulous enemy. 
Okay.  I'm sorry.
Q    -- administration sanction torture?
THE PRESIDENT:  I believe that waterboarding was torture.  And I think that the -- whatever legal rationales were used, it was a mistake. 
Mark Knoller.
Q    Thank you, sir.  Let me follow up, if I may, on Jake's question.  Did you read the documents recently referred to by former Vice President Cheney and others, saying that the use of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques not only protected the nation, but saved lives?  And if part of the United States were under imminent threat, could you envision yourself ever authorizing the use of those enhanced interrogation techniques?
THE PRESIDENT:  I have read the documents.  Now, they haven't been officially declassified and released, and so I don't want to go into the details of them.  But here's what I can tell you -- that the public reports and the public justifications for these techniques -- which is that we got information from these individuals that were subjected to these techniques -- doesn't answer the core question, which is:  Could we have gotten that same information without resorting to these techniques?  And it doesn't answer the broader question:  Are we safer as a consequence of having used these techniques?
So when I made the decision to release these memos and when I made the decision to bar these practices, this was based on consultation with my entire national security team, and based on my understanding that ultimately I will be judged as Commander-in-Chief on how safe I'm keeping the American people.  That's the responsibility I wake up with and it's the responsibility I go to sleep with.
And so I will do whatever is required to keep the American people safe, but I am absolutely convinced that the best way I can do that is to make sure that we are not taking shortcuts that undermine who we are.  And there have been no circumstances during the course of this first hundred days in which I have seen information that would make me second-guess the decision that I've made.
Chuck Todd.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I want to move to Pakistan. Pakistan appears to be at war with the Taliban inside their own country.  Can you reassure the American people that, if necessary, America could secure Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and keep it from getting into the Taliban's hands or, worst-case scenario, even al Qaeda's hands?
THE PRESIDENT:  I'm confident that we can make sure that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is secure -- primarily, initially, because the Pakistani army I think recognizes the hazards of those weapons falling into the wrong hands.  We've got strong military to military consultation and cooperation.  I am gravely concerned about the situation in Pakistan not because I think that they're immediately going to be overrun and the Taliban would take over in Pakistan; more concerned that the civilian government there right now is very fragile and don't seem to have the capacity to deliver basic services -- schools, health care, rule of law, a judicial system that works for the majority of people.  And so as a consequence it is very difficult for them to gain the support and the loyalty of their people.
So we need to help Pakistan help Pakistanis.  And I think that there's a recognition increasingly on the part of both the civilian government there and the army that that is their biggest weakness.
On the military side you're starting to see some recognition just in the last few days, that the obsession with India as the mortal threat to Pakistan has been misguided, and that their biggest threat right now comes internally.  And you're starting to see the Pakistan military take much more seriously the armed threat from militant extremists.
We want to continue to encourage Pakistan to move in that direction.  And we will provide them all the cooperation that we can.  We want to respect their sovereignty, but we also recognize that we have huge strategic interests, huge national security interests in making sure that Pakistan is stable and that you don't end up having a nuclear armed militant state.
Q    But in a worst-case scenario --
THE PRESIDENT:  I'm not going to engage --
Q    -- military, U.S. military could secure this nuclear --
THE PRESIDENT:  I'm not going to engage in hypotheticals of that sort.  I feel confident that that nuclear arsenal will remain out of militant hands.  Okay?
Jeff Mason.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  One of the biggest changes you've made in the first 100 days regarding foreign policy has had to do with Iraq.  But due to the large scale -- this large-scale violence there right now, does that affect the U.S. strategy at all for withdrawal and could it affect the timetable that you've set out for troops?
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, I think it's important to note that although you've seen some spectacular bombings in Iraq that are a legitimate cause of concern, civilian deaths, incidents of bombings, et cetera, remain very low relative to what was going on last year, for example.  And so you haven't seen the kinds of huge spikes that you were seeing for a time.  The political system is holding and functioning in Iraq.
Part of the reason why I called for a gradual withdrawal as opposed to a precipitous one was precisely because more work needs to be done on the political side to further isolate whatever remnants of al Qaeda in Iraq still exist.  And I'm very confident that with our commander on the ground, General Odierno, with Chris Hill, our new ambassador having been approved and already getting his team in place, that they are going to be able to work effectively with the Maliki government to create the conditions for an ultimate transfer after the national elections.
But there's some serious work to do on making sure that how they divvy up oil revenues is ultimately settled; what the provincial powers are and boundaries; the relationship between the Kurds and the central government; the relationship between the Shia and the Kurds; are they incorporating effectively Sunnis, Sons of Iraq into the structure of the armed forces in a way that's equitable and just.  Those are all issues that have not been settled the way they need to be settled.  And what we've done is we've provided sufficient time for them to get that work done.  But we've got to keep the pressure up, not just on the military side, but on the diplomatic and development sides, as well.
Chip Reid.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  On Senator Specter's switch to the Democratic Party, you said you were thrilled.  I guess nobody should be surprised about that.  But how big a deal is this, really?  Some Republicans say it is huge.  They believe it's a game changer.  They say that if you get the 60 votes in the Senate, that you will be able to ride roughshod over any opposition, and that we're on the verge of, as one Republican put it, one-party rule.  Do you see it that way?  And also, what do you think his switch says about the state of the Republican Party?
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, I think very highly of Arlen Specter.  I think he's got a record of legislative accomplishment that is as good as any member of the Senate.  And I think he's always had a strong independent streak.  I think that was true when he was a Republican; I think that will be true when he's a Democrat.  He was very blunt in saying I couldn't count on him to march lockstep on every single issue.  And so he's going to still have strong opinions, as many Democrats in the Senate do.  I've been there.  It turns out all the senators have very strong opinions.  And I don't think that's going to change.
I do think that having Arlen Specter in the Democratic caucus will liberate him to cooperate on critical issues like health care, like infrastructure and job creation; areas where his inclinations were to work with us, but he was feeling pressure not to.  And I think the vote on the Recovery Act was a classic example.  Ultimately he thought that was the right thing to do, and he was fiercely berated within his own party at the time for having taken what I considered to be a very sensible step.  So I think it's overall a positive.
Now, I am under no illusions that suddenly I'm going to have a rubber-stamp Senate.  I've got Democrats who don't agree with me on everything -- and that's how it should be.  Congress is a coequal branch of government.  Every senator who's there, whether I agree with them or disagree with them, I think truly believes that they are doing their absolute best to represent their constituencies.  And we've got regional differences and we've got some parts of the country that are affected differently by certain policies, and those have to be respected and there's going to have to be compromise and give and take on all of these issues.
I do think that, to my Republican friends, I want them to realize that me reaching out to them has been genuine.  I can't sort of define bipartisanship as simply being willing to accept certain theories of theirs that we tried for eight years and didn't work and the American people voted to change.  But there are a whole host of areas where we can work together. 
And I've said this to people like Mitch McConnell.  I said, look, on health care reform, you may not agree with me that we should have a public plan -- that may be philosophically just too much for you to swallow.  On the other hand, there are some areas, like reducing the cost of medical malpractice insurance where you do agree with me.  If I'm taking some of your ideas -- and giving you credit for good ideas -- the fact that you didn't get a hundred percent can't be a reason every single time to oppose my position.  And if that is how bipartisanship is defined -- a situation in which, basically, wherever there are philosophical differences I have to simply go along with ideas that have been rejected by the American people in a historic election, we're probably not going to make progress. 
If, on the other hand, the definition is that we're open to each other's ideas, there are going to be some differences, the majority will be probably be determinative when it comes to resolving just hard-core differences that we can't resolve, but there's a whole host of other areas where we can work together, then I think we can make progress.
Q    Is the Republican Party in the desperate straits that Arlen Specter seems to think it is?
THE PRESIDENT:  You know, politics in America changes very quickly and I'm a big believer that things are never as good as they seem and never as bad as they seem.  You're talking to a guy who was 30 points down in the polls during a primary in Iowa, so -- so I never -- I don't believe in crystal balls.  I do think that our administration has taken some steps that have restored confidence in the American people that we're moving in the right direction, and that simply opposing our approach on every front is probably not a good political strategy.
Ed Henry.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.   In a couple of weeks you're going to be giving the commencement at Notre Dame and, as you know, this has caused a lot of controversy among Catholics who are opposed to your position on abortion.  As a candidate you vowed that one of the very first things you wanted to do was sign the freedom of choice act, which, as you know, would eliminate federal, state, and local restrictions on abortion.  And at one point in the campaign when asked about abortion and life, you said that it was "above my pay grade."  Now that you've been President for a hundred days, obviously your pay grade is a little higher than when you were a senator -- (laughter) -- do you still hope that Congress quickly sends you the freedom of choice act so you can sign it?
THE PRESIDENT:  You know, my view on abortion I think has been very consistent.  I think abortion is a moral issue and an ethical issue.  I think that those who are pro-choice make a mistake when they -- if they suggest -- and I don't want to create straw men here, but I think there are some who suggest that this is simply an issue about women's freedom and that there's no other considerations.  I think, look, this is an issue that people have to wrestle with, and families and individual women have to wrestle with.
The reason I'm pro-choice is because I don't think women take that position casually.  I think that they struggle with these decisions each and every day, and I think they are in a better position to make these decision ultimately than members of Congress or a President of the United States -- in consultation with their families, with their doctors, with their clergy.  So that's been my consistent position.
The other thing that I said consistently during the campaign is I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that result in women feeling compelled to get an abortion or at least considering getting an abortion, particularly if we can reduce the number of teen pregnancies, which has started to spike up again.  And so I've got a task force within the Domestic Policy Council in the West Wing of the White House that is working with groups both in the pro-choice camp and in the pro-life camp to see if we can arrive at some consensus on that.
Now, the freedom of choice act is not my highest legislative priority.  I believe that women should have the right to choose, but I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on.  And that's where I'm going to focus.
Jeff Zeleny.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  During these first 100 days, what has surprised you the most about this office, enchanted you the most about serving this in office, humbled you the most and troubled you the most?
THE PRESIDENT:  Let me write this down.  (Laughter.)
Q    Surprised, troubled --
THE PRESIDENT:  I've got -- what was the first one?
Q    Surprised.
THE PRESIDENT:  Surprised.
Q    Troubled.
THE PRESIDENT:  Troubled.
Q    Enchanted.
THE PRESIDENT:  Enchanted?  Nice.  (Laughter.)
Q    And humbled.
THE PRESIDENT:  And what was the last one, humbled?
Q    Humbled.  Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Okay.  (Laughter.)  Surprised.  I am surprised compared to where I started, when we first announced for this race, by the number of critical issues that appear to be coming to a head all at the same time.  You know, when I first started this race, Iraq was a central issue, but the economy appeared on the surface to still be relatively strong.  There were underlying problems that I was seeing with health care for families and our education system and college affordability and so forth, but obviously I didn't anticipate the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
And so the typical President I think has two or three big problems; we've got seven or eight big problems.  And so we've had to move very quickly, and I'm very proud of my team for the fact that we've been able to keep our commitments to the American people to bring about change while, at the same time, managing a whole host of issues that had come up that weren't necessarily envisioned a year and a half ago.
Troubled?  I'd say less troubled, but sobered by the fact that change in Washington comes slow; that there is still a certain quotient of political posturing and bickering that takes place even when we're in the middle of really big crises.  I would like to think that everybody would say, you know what, let's take a timeout on some of the political games, focus our attention for at least this year and then we can start running for something next year.  And that hasn't happened as much as I would have liked.
Enchanted?  (Laughter.)  Enchanted.  I will tell you that when I meet our servicemen and women -- "enchanted" is probably not the word I would use.  (Laughter.)  But I am so profoundly impressed and grateful to them for what they do.  They're really good at their job.  They are willing to make extraordinary sacrifices on our behalf.  They do so without complaint.  They are fiercely loyal to this country.  And the more I interact with our servicemen and women, from the top brass down to the lowliest private, I'm just -- I'm grateful to them. 
Humbled by the -- humbled by the fact that the presidency is extraordinarily powerful but we are just part of a much broader tapestry of American life.  And there are a lot of different power centers, and so I can't just press a button and suddenly have the bankers do exactly what I want, or turn on a switch and suddenly Congress falls in line.  And so what you do is to make your best arguments, listen hard to what other people have to say, and coax folks in the right direction. 
This metaphor has been used before, but the ship of state is an ocean liner, it's not a speed boat.  And so the way we are constantly thinking about this issue of how to bring about the changes that the American people need is to say, if we can move this big battleship a few degrees in a different direction, we may not see all the consequences of that change a week from now or three months from now, but 10 years from now or 20 years from now, our kids will be able to look back and say, that was when we started getting serious about clean energy; that's when health care started to become more efficient and affordable, that's when we became serious about raising our standards in education.
And so I have a much longer time horizon than I think you do when you're a candidate or if you're listening, I think, to the media reportage on a day-to-day basis. 
And I'm humbled, last, by the American people, who have shown extraordinary patience and I think a recognition that we're not going to solve all these problems overnight.
Okay.  Lori Montenegro.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Mr. President, when you met with the Hispanic caucus a few weeks ago, reports came out that the White House was planning to have a forum to talk about immigration and bring it to the forefront.  Going forward, my question is, what is your strategy to try to have immigration reform?  And are you still on the same timetable to have it accomplished in the first year of your presidency?  And also I'd like to know if you're going to reach out to Senator John McCain, who is Republican and in the past has favored immigration reform?
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we reach out to Senator McCain on a whole host of issues.  He has been a leader on immigration reform; I think he has had the right position on immigration reform, and I would love to partner with him and others on what is going to be a critical issue.  We've also worked with Senator McCain on what I think is a terrific piece of legislation that he and Carl Levin have put together around procurement reform.  We want that moved and we're going to be working hard with them to get that accomplished.
What I told the congressional Hispanic caucus is exactly what I said the very next day in a town hall meeting and what I will continue to say publically, and that is we want to move this process.  We can't continue with a broken immigration system.  It's not good for anybody.  It's not good for American workers.  It's dangerous for Mexican would-be workers who are trying to cross a dangerous border.  It is putting a strain on border communities who oftentimes have to deal with a host of undocumented workers, and it keeps those undocumented workers in the shadows, which means they can be exploited at the same time as they're depressing U.S. wages.
So what I hope to happen is that we're able to convene a working group, working with key legislators, like Luis Gutierrez and Nydia Velázquez and others, to start looking at a framework of how this legislation might be shaped.  In the meantime, what we're trying to do is take some core -- some key administrative steps to move the process along to lay the groundwork for legislation, because the American people need some confidence that if we actually put a package together we can execute.
So Janet Napolitano, who has great knowledge of this because of having been a border governor, she's already in the process of reviewing and figuring out how can we strengthen our border security in a much more significant way than we're doing.  If the American people don't feel like you can secure the borders, then it's hard to strike a deal that would get people out of the shadows and on a pathway to citizenship who are already here, because the attitude of the average American is going to be, well, you're just going to have hundreds of thousands of more coming in each year.  On the other hand, showing that there's a more thoughtful approach than just raids of a handful of workers -- as opposed to, for example, taking seriously the violations of companies that sometimes are actively recruiting these workers to come in -- that's again, something that we can start doing administratively.
So what we want to do is to show that we are competent in getting results around immigration, even on the structures that we already have in place, the laws that we already have in place, so that we're building confidence among the American people that we can actually follow through on whatever legislative approach emerges.
Q    Do you feel confident --
THE PRESIDENT:  I see the process moving this first year, and I'm going to be moving it as quickly as I can.  I've been accused of doing too much.  We are moving full steam ahead on all fronts.  Ultimately, I don't have control of the legislative calendar.  And so we're going to work with legislative leaders to see what we can do.
Andre Showell.  There you go.
Q    Thank you.  Mr. President, as the entire nation tries to climb out of this deep recession, in communities of color the circumstances are far worse.  The black unemployment rate, as you know, is in the double digits.  And in New York City, for example, the black unemployment rate for men is near 50 percent.
My question tonight is given this unique and desperate circumstance, what specific policies can you point to that will target these communities?  And what's a timetable for us to see tangible results?
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, keep in mind that every step we're taking is designed to help all people.  But folks who are most vulnerable are most likely to be helped because they need the most help.  So when we passed the Recovery Act, for example, and we put in place provisions that would extend unemployment insurance or allow you to keep your health insurance, even if you've lost your job, that probably disproportionately impacted those communities that had lost their jobs.
And unfortunately the African American community and the Latino community are probably overrepresented in those ranks.  When we put in place additional dollars for community health centers to ensure that people are still getting the help that they need, or we expand health insurance to millions more children through the Children's Health Insurance Program -- again, those probably disproportionately impact African American and Latino families simply because they're the ones who are most vulnerable.  They've got higher rates of uninsured in their communities.
So my general approach is that if the economy is strong, that will lift all boats -- as long as it is also supported by, for example, strategies around college affordability, and job training, tax cuts for working families as opposed to the wealthiest, that level the playing field and ensure bottom-up economic growth.  And I'm confident that that will help the African American community live out the American Dream, at the same time that it's helping communities all across the country.
Michael Scherer of TIME.
Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  During the campaign you criticized President Bush's use of the state secrets privilege.  But U.S. attorneys have continued to argue the Bush position in three cases in court.  How exactly does your view of state secrets differ from President Bush's?  And do you believe Presidents should be able to derail entire lawsuits about warrantless wiretapping or rendition, if classified information is involved?
THE PRESIDENT:  I actually think that the state secret doctrine should be modified.  I think right how it's over-broad. But keep in mind what happens is, we come into office, we're in for a week -- and suddenly we've got a court filing that's coming up.  And so we don't have the time to effectively think through what, exactly, should a overarching reform of that doctrine take. We've got to respond to the immediate case in front of us.
I think it is appropriate to say that there are going to be cases in which national security interests are genuinely at stake, and that you can't litigate without revealing covert activities or classified information that would genuinely compromise our safety.  But searching for ways to redact, to carve out certain cases, to see what can be done so that a judge in chambers can review information without it being in open court -- you know, there should be some additional tools so that it's not such a blunt instrument.  And we're interested in pursuing that.  I know that Eric Holder and Greg Craig, my White House Counsel, and others are working on that as we speak.
Jonathan Weisman, you get the last word.  Where are you?  There you are.
Q    Thank you, sir.  You are currently the chief shareholder of a couple of very large mortgage giants.  You're about to become the chief shareholder of a car company -- probably two.  And I'm wondering what kind of shareholder are you going to be?  What is the government's role as the keeper of public trust in bonds in soon to be public companies again?
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think our first role should be shareholders that are looking to get out.  You know, I don't want to run auto companies, I don't want to run banks.  I've got two wars I've got to run already.  I've got more than enough to do.  (Laughter.)  So the sooner we can get out of that business, the better off we're going to be.
We are in unique circumstances.  You had the potential collapse of the financial system, which would have decimated our economy -- and so we had to step in.  As I've said before, I don't agree with every decision that was made by the previous administration when it came to TARP, but the need for significant intervention was there and it was appropriate that we moved in.
With respect to the auto companies, I believe that America should have a functioning, competitive auto industry.  I don't think that taxpayers should simply put -- attach an umbilical cord between the U.S. Treasury and the auto companies so that they are constantly getting subsidies.  But I do think that helping them restructure at this unique period when sales -- you know, the market has essentially gone from 14 million down to 9 million, I don't think that there's anything inappropriate about that.
My goal on all this is to help these companies make some tough decisions based on realistic assumptions about economic growth, about their market share, about what that market is going to look like, to prevent systemic risk that would affect everybody; and as soon as their situations are stabilized and the economy is less fragile, so that those systemic risks are diminished, to get out, find some private buyers.  And --
Q    -- to shape the products and services that --
THE PRESIDENT:  I don't think that we should micromanage.  But I think that like any investor, the American taxpayer has a right to scrutinize what's being proposed and make sure that their money is not just being thrown down the drain.
And so we've got to strike a balance.  I don't want to be -- I'm not an auto engineer, I don't know how to create a affordable, well-designed plug-in hybrid.  But I know that if the Japanese can design a affordable, well-designed hybrid, then doggone it, the American people should be able to do the same.  So my job is to ask the auto industry, why is it you guys can't do this?  And in some cases they're starting to do it, but they've got these legacy costs.  There are some terrific U.S. cars being made, both by Chrysler and GM.  The question is, you know, give me a plan so that you're building off your strengths and you're projecting out to where that market is going to be.
I actually think if you look at the trends that those auto companies that emerge from this crisis -- when you start seeing the pent up demand for autos coming back -- they're going to be in a position to really do well globally, not just here in the United States.  So I just want to help them get there.
But I want to disabuse people of this notion that somehow we enjoy meddling in the private sector.  If you could tell me right now that when I walked into this office that the banks were humming, that autos were selling, and that all you had to worry about was Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, getting health care passed, figuring out how to deal with energy independence, deal with Iran and a pandemic flu -- I would take that deal.  (Laughter.)
And that's why I'm always amused when I hear these criticisms of, oh, Obama wants to grow government.  No.  I would love a nice, lean portfolio to deal with.  But that's not the hand that's been dealt us.  And every generation has to rise up to the specific challenges that confront them.  We happen to have gotten a big set of challenges, but we're not the first generation that that's happened to.  And I'm confident that we're going to meet these challenges just like our grandparents and forebears met them before.
All right.  Thank you, everybody.
END
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