Statement by the Press Secretary on Iraq

The United States strongly condemns the recent attacks in Iraq by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).  We offer our condolences to the families of those killed and underscore our commitment to assist the Iraqi people as they confront the threat that ISIL poses to Iraq and the region.  ISIL’s recent actions in Mosul and surrounding areas demonstrate once again that these extremists seek nothing but death and destruction.  The United States will stand with Iraqi leaders across the political spectrum as they forge the national unity necessary to succeed in the fight against ISIL.  We will work with Congress to support the new Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund, which will provide flexibility and resources to help Iraq respond to emerging needs as the terrorist threat from ISIL continues to evolve.  Under the Strategic Framework Agreement, we will also continue to provide, and as required increase, assistance to the Government of Iraq to help build Iraq’s capacity to effectively and sustainably stop ISIL’s efforts to wreak havoc in Iraq and the region. 

Remarks by the President at a DSCC Event -- Weston, MA

Private Residence
Weston, Massachusetts

7:29 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  Well, it is wonderful to see Paul and Joanne really have been there from the get-go.  And I’ve had the pleasure of their friendship and support -- when people couldn’t pronounce my name in a lot of places -- (laughter) -- and I so appreciate the risk they took with me.  And it means so much to be in their home today.

You have one of the best governors I think in the history of the Commonwealth in Deval Patrick.  (Applause.)  Deval is one of the first people that I consulted with when I decided to run for the U.S. Senate -- because we had a mutual friend back in Chicago, and Deval was already a hotshot, famous guy -- (laughter) -- and I was kind of a nobody.  And he was willing to take the time to talk to me and even support me in this harebrained idea that I had of running for the U.S. Senate.

And then I got to the Senate and he came to me with this harebrained idea of running for governor, and I think I was one of the first people he talked to about that.  And I could not be prouder not just of the kind of governor he’s proven to be, but more importantly, to be associated with the kind of man that he is.  So, really, really proud of him.  (Applause.) 

And we’ve got Mo Khan, who was in the Senate a short time, and yet made such a favorable impression throughout the Senate and in Washington that -- Deval and I were talking just the feedback that we continue to get for the outstanding service he provided.  So, very much appreciate everything that Mo has done.  (Applause.)

Elizabeth and Ed are representing you with excellence.  They couldn’t be here because they got some votes.   Michael Bennet couldn’t be here because he’s got some votes.  But I got to tell you, I really want to keep a Democratic Senate.  And I want to tell you that I want to keep a Democratic Senate not because I think Democrats have a monopoly on wisdom.  Sometimes people ask me what would I like for Father’s Day or Christmas or my birthday, and pretty close to the top of my list is usually a loyal and rational opposition.  (Laughter.)  We want a Republican Party that can function and with which we can negotiate and compromise and help move the country forward.  But unfortunately, that’s not what we’re seeing in Washington right now from the Republicans.  

And Paul is right -- I got into politics because of values that were implanted in me both intentionally by my mother and grandparents -- values of honesty and hard work and responsibility, and a faith in this country and a faith in the future -- but also values that were instilled in me from experience -- knowing what it’s like to be in a household that doesn’t have a lot of resources, and yet you’re part of a community and a country that’s willing to invest in you, that’s willing to make sure that you can go to the best schools in the world; that experiencing the fact that an unusual name or an unusual background was not an impediment for me to follow my dreams.

And everything I’ve done to this point and everything I will do until my last day as President is built around those values and wanting to make sure that those values live for the next generation and the generation after that. 

I can’t think of a better example than the group of young people that I just met in Worcester -- Worcester Tech.  A remarkable school.  A National Principal of the Year -- a young woman who’s just got everything going for her.  And she oversees a school that has been selected as a Blue Ribbon school -- one of the best in the state, one of the best in the country, that combines academic excellence with technical training.  Kids are coming out 95 percent graduation rates; increased math scores by 100 percent, increased reading scores by 200 percent.  And they’re getting apprenticeships and hands-on training so that they run their own veterinary clinic in the school.  They have an auto detailing shop in the school.  They’ve got a hair salon in the school that I hear is pretty good.  (Laughter.) 

So these young people are graduating, ready to go to college, but also certified nurses, EMT folks.  Many of them are choosing to join the military and will contribute to our country in this way.  And looking out as I was speaking to them and then shaking their hands, and giving them hugs and high-fives and all the things that kids do on a graduation, I thought to myself: How could we not want to invest in these kids?  And imagine all the kids across the country who are just as talented and vibrant and full of potential, and the idea that we wouldn’t want to make sure that they’re getting the best start through early education, or that we wouldn’t want to make sure that they had a well-funded school that had both the teachers and curriculum and technology they need to succeed in the 21st century. 

Why wouldn’t we want to make sure that college was affordable and that they weren’t burdened with $30,000 or $50,000 or $70,000 worth of debt?  Why wouldn’t we want to create an economic environment in which in their first job, if they’re working full-time, they’re not living in poverty, and that they can save a little bit and they’re getting a fair wage?  And if they get sick, that we know that they’ve got coverage and they don’t have to go to the emergency room.  And when they have children of their own, that they can count on a good education system.  Why wouldn’t we want to do that?

About 30 to 40 percent of the kids in this school, by the way, are DREAM kids.  They’re children of immigrants.  You wouldn’t know it looking at them, because they are as American as apple pie.  But every single one of these kids, you might not be able to tell the difference, but a whole bunch of them -- they’re worried about whether or not they’re going to be able to finance their college education of their immigrant status.  They’re worried about whether, in fact, this country that they love so deeply loves them back and understands that our future rests on their success.  Why wouldn’t we want to give them that certainty that you are part of the fabric of this nation, we’re counting on you, and we’re going to make sure you succeed?  Why wouldn’t we want to do that?

That’s what you’re here for.  That’s what this evening is about.  That’s what my presidency has been about.  That’s what the next six months is going to be about leading up to the midterms.  Are we going to make those values that we care so deeply about -- because we benefited from them, because those are the values that make America exceptional -- will they manifest themselves not just next year or five years from now, but 20 years from now and 40 years from now.  And the only way I’m going to be able to do that is to make sure that we’ve got a strong showing in these midterms.  I’m not on the ballot, but this is my last race -- because the better we do in the midterms, the more likely we are to get the things done that everybody in this room knows needs to be done. 

Now, even as we campaign, I’m still trying to get things done as we speak.  Some of you saw that there was an interesting election yesterday.  And it’s interesting to listen to the pundits and the analysts, and some of the conventional wisdom talks about, oh, the politics of immigration reform seem impossible now.  I fundamentally reject that.  And I will tell the Speaker of the House that he needs to reject that.  Because if you met those kids today, you’d know that politics can’t play a part in it. 

I mean, if you think that because of politics you want to maintain a status quo that’s broken; because of politics we’re going to forego the economic growth and the deficit reduction, and the border security, and the fairness and the opportunity that immigration reform represents -- you don’t belong in Washington.  Because at a certain point, the issues are important enough to fight for.  And my argument about yesterday’s election is not that there was too little politics, it’s that there was too little conviction about what’s right.

We need to get immigration reform done.  We need to rebuild our infrastructure around this country.  We need to invest in basic research and science.  We need to make sure that we have equal pay for equal work.  We need to make sure that we’ve got a strong minimum wage.  And we can debate the issues, but we need to have a sense of urgency about the struggles that middle-class families and those who want to get into the middle class, what they’re going through, and those kids that I spoke to today, the struggles that they’re going to be facing as they leave that high school.  That’s what tonight is about.

So I know I’m preaching to the choir here -- which is okay -- but I’d leave you with this thought before I take questions:  Democrats do have one congenital disease, and that is that we don’t vote during midterms and we don’t feel the same sense of urgency during midterms, and we like the presidential races and the hoopla and the glitz.  But this is where the rubber hits the road.  I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that the House of Representatives does the right thing, that we no longer have one extreme faction that is blocking what the majority of the American people want to see happen with comprehensive immigration reform. 

But it would be a whole lot easier if Democrats vote in the midterms.  On every one of these subjects, whether it’s climate change or minimum wage, I’m taking steps that don’t require congressional action, but we can make a whole lot more progress if we’re voting in the midterms.  And the only way that we’re able to get the turnout that we need and the urgency that we need, and the enthusiasm that we need is if all of you feel that same sense of urgency, if you are as engaged and as committed as so many of you were in 2008, 2012 and Deval’s campaign. 

You got to feel in your gut that this is really important and put everything you got into it.  That’s what I’m going to do -- despite having told Michelle that I’d already run my last campaign.  (Laughter.)  It turns out I had to tell her I got one more left.

Thank you for what you’ve already done -- but we’re going to have to do a little bit more.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END
7:43 P.M. EDT

Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route Worcester, MA

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Worcester, Massachusetts

2:08 P.M. EDT

MR. EARNEST:  I want to begin with a brief comment about -- the Senate Republicans have once again today blocked a plan to allow hardworking Americans to refinance their student loan debt at today’s low interest rates -- all in an effort to protect tax loopholes for the wealthiest among us.  It’s unfortunate, if not surprising, that Republicans in Congress have once again obstructed progress in Washington in order to protect millionaires and billionaires at the expense of hardworking, middle-class Americans.

So with that, I’ll open it up to questions.

Q    Josh, any reaction to Eric Cantor’s loss and what that means for the President’s agenda, particularly immigration?

MR. EARNEST:  Well, let me start by saying that I’m no expert in Republican primary politics.  I’m sure there are a lot of people in your rolodex who have more keen insight on a Republican primary election to offer than I do. 

But that said, I do think that this -- the outcome does provide some evidence to indicate that the strategy of opposing nearly everything and supporting hardly anything isn’t just a bad governing strategy; it’s not a very good political strategy either. 

That’s why the President has pursued a different approach.  The President has clearly laid out what his priorities are; has worked hard to build support across the country for those priorities.  These are priorities that will support middle-class families across the country, expand economic opportunity.  That’s why the President’s priorities are shared by the vast majority of Americans.

So when it comes to policies that will create jobs, reforming our education system, including by opening the door to a college education to more Americans, or even reforming our broken immigration system, the President is going to continue to look for opportunities to work with people across the aisle to find common ground to make progress on those core priorities.  That’s what the President has been doing for the last five and a half years, and that’s what the President is going to continue doing for the next two and a half.

Q    Has this changed the calculus at all as to when the President might take some executive actions on immigration?

MR. EARNEST:  Well, I have seen some analysis out there over the last 18 hours since the polls closed that I have to admit I’m a little perplexed by.  I just moved to Virginia.  I didn’t move to the 7th District.  But I’ve seen that Majority Leader Cantor campaigned very aggressively against bipartisan, commonsense immigration reform.  But yet, in the analysis, there are some who suggest that his election was the key to getting immigration reform done.  So I’m not quite sure how people have reached that conclusion. 

It’s my view, and it’s the view of the White House, that there is support all across the country for commonsense bipartisan immigration reform.  There is bipartisan support for it in the Senate, where it passed.  There is also support across the country among leaders in law enforcement, the business community, in the labor community, in the faith community, who all understand that fixing our broken immigration system would be good for our economy and good for the country.

A lot of Republicans are supportive of immigration reform along the lines of the compromise that had passed through the Senate because it significantly reduces the deficit by $900 billion over 20 years.  So there are any number of reasons why acting on immigration reform, like that passed through the Senate, is a good idea.  That compromise proposal is just as good today as it was before the polls opened yesterday. 

Q    But doesn’t Eric Cantor’s loss suggest that the forces that are against this on Capitol Hill -- the tea party and some of the conservatives who have been most vocal against is -- are not on the wane but, in fact, gathering strength?  And doesn’t that then demand that the President do something different to try to get this through if it’s going to get through, or to do something on the executive side that Congress can effect?

MR. EARNEST:   Well, let me say three things about that.  The first is, again, the Majority Leader campaigned very aggressively against comprehensive immigration reform and he lost.  So I’m probably the last person that House Republicans should take political advice from, so I won’t even offer it.  But I’m confident that that will factor into their own political calculus. 

The second thing I would point to are the results of the South Carolina Republican primary.  Again, I’m no expert in Republican Party politics, but I’d be hard pressed to name a constituency more conservative than those who cast ballots in the South Carolina Republican primary.  Senator Graham didn’t just support comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate, he actually wrote the bill, or at least he helped write the bill -- he was among those who wrote the bill.  And he made no apologies about that.  In fact, I think he has made a, again, a persuasive case for why comprehensive immigration reform is the right thing for the country.  Senator Graham didn’t get everything in that piece of legislation that he hoped he would get, but the President didn’t either.  That’s the nature of compromise.  But I think both Senator Graham and President Obama, who have starkly different political views, have found a lot to like in that piece of legislation. 

In terms of the options that are before the President, I think you’re going to see the President continue to make a case for why Congress should act to fix or put in place reforms in our broken immigration system.  As the President announced several weeks ago, he’s directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a review about the options that may be available through the President’s executive authority to try to address some of the most persistent problems with our broken immigration system.  That review is still ongoing.

I don’t have an update at this point about the content or timing of that report, but that’s something that remains on the table as well.

Q    Josh, on Iraq, the State Department has suggested the United States is going to give additional assistance to the Iraqis to stop this movement of militants from Mosul to Baghdad.  Can you detail what kind of assistance we’re talking about, what additional force the United States might use or other assistance?

MR. EARNEST:  Yes, give me one second here.  Let me start here:  The United States is deeply concerned about the continued aggression of ISIL in Iraq.  In addition to the violence in Mosul, we’ve seen the reports and are closely following the ongoing attacks and violence in the Baiji and Tikrit areas, and other parts of northern Iraq.  The deterioration in security is rapidly becoming a humanitarian issue and requires a coordinated response by Iraqi leaders from across the country to halt the advances ISIL has made and regain control of territory currently in ISIL’s hands. 

In addition, we condemn ISIL’s despicable attack on the Turkish consulate in Mosul.  And we call for the immediate release of Turkey’s kidnapped diplomatic and security personnel.  We’re in touch with the governments of Turkey and Iraq, and stand ready to provide any appropriate assistance. 

The situation in Iraq is grave and we’re actively working with Iraqi leaders in support of their efforts to implement an effective and coordinated response to address this crisis.  We’ll continue to provide all appropriate assistance to the government of Iraq, to assist it in our common fight against the threat that ISIL poses to Iraq in the region.  

Q    Can you say what “appropriate assistance” means?

MR. EARNEST:  At this point, I don’t have any details.  At the briefing yesterday I went through some of the material assistance that we’ve provided in the past. 

Q    But it’s different today than it was at yesterday’s briefing.

MR. EARNEST:  Well, I think that there’s no doubt that the situation has deteriorated even in the last 24 hours.  It’s something we’re concerned about.  And we’ve been in touch with the government of Iraq about what we can do to support them as they try to address this security threat. 

Let me point out one other -- mention one other thing that the President has talked about in the last couple of weeks.  In his West Point speech, the President talked about this Counterterrorism Partnership Fund.  What the President has proposed is essentially $5 billion that will be put into a fund that could be used to support our coordination with partners throughout the region as they combat extremists and terrorist elements that are waging a war inside of Syria right now.  So what the President would like to see is additional resources that could be brought to bear to assist our coordination and consultation with countries that neighbor Syria and are most at risk of being drawn into the violence that’s underway there.

Q    And one quick follow-up to that -- you mentioned rapidly becoming a humanitarian issue.  That is an issue in which the President has used American force in the past -- to stop Muammar Qaddafi and in other cases.  Should that be read as a warning that the President is ready to use military force to stop a humanitarian disaster?

MR. EARNEST:  It should be read as the President being genuinely concerned about the hundreds of thousands of people who have been drawn into this conflict.  And they’ve been drawn into it because we’ve seen extremists descend on this region of Iraq that includes one of the largest cities in Iraq.  That violence has caused hundreds of thousands of people, according to reports, to be displaced from their communities, from their homes.  And the President is and the country is concerned about the basic needs of those people being met.

We have provided a lot of humanitarian assistance to countries that are currently housing Syrian refugees that have fled Syria.  So we’re very attentive to the wide range of humanitarian needs that are pretty severe in the region right now.  And those humanitarian needs seem to be growing rather quickly in the last couple of days, and we’re concerned about that.

Q    Is he considering stepping up that aid?

MR. EARNEST:  I don’t have anything to report along those lines right now, but there’s no doubt that we’ve noticed that the situation is getting worse.

Q    Josh, you have basically a haven for extremists that’s developing between Lebanon through Syria into Iraq now, which is bigger than the haven for al Qaeda ever was in Afghanistan.  How much of a direct security threat does the administration see this to the United States?

MR. EARNEST:  The President has been talking for quite some time, since the very early days of the conflict in Syria, about the destabilizing impact that that could have on the broader region.  That is something that we are concerned about and continue to be concerned about.

It poses a very different kind -- at this point, it appears to pose a different kind of threat to the United States’ interests, but a serious threat and one we continue to be concerned about.

Q    Different in what way?

MR. EARNEST:  Well, different in that core al Qaeda had repeatedly and publicly vowed to attack the United States homeland.  The threat in the region that we’re talking about now appears to be somewhat different, but it’s one that we are watching very carefully for a variety of reasons -- because they’ve proven to be very violent, because they’ve demonstrated a willingness to consider targeting American interests and American allies. 

And that’s a threat that we take incredibly seriously.  It’s one that the President has been closely focused on.  It’s the reason that we value the cooperative relationship we have with a lot of governments in this region.  And it’s the reason that the President is considering things like the Counterterrorism Partnership Fund to make sure that we are devoting the necessary resources to cooperate with our partners in these areas, to protect the United States of America and our interests and our allies.

Q    Josh, Bashar al-Assad is claiming common cause with al-Maliki, claiming that he’s battling the same kind of radical elements that are at play in Iraq.  Is he wrong?  Why is that any different?  We’re encouraging al-Maliki to take tougher actions against the uprisings there.  Why is Syria different?

MR. EARNEST:  Well, Syria is different in a couple of ways.  The first is that Mr. Assad has repeatedly used his armed forces to attack his own people, including those that were not involved in the conflict.  That violence has been terrible.  It’s something that we have roundly and repeatedly condemned.  And it’s violence that’s been condemned by leaders of countries all across the globe.

So the approach that President Obama has pursued is to find ways to support the moderate opposition.  There are a variety of ways that we can offer that support, both in the form of military and non-military assistance.  And that is assistance that we are constantly reviewing.  And we’re routinely looking for ways to offer the kind of assistance that would be most effective.  And, as I mentioned earlier, we’ve also provided assistance in the form of humanitarian aid for those who have been displaced or caught in the crossfire.

And so we have demonstrated a pretty comprehensive approach, but the tactics and strategy of the Assad regime to use the military might of that country against the Syrian people is despicable.  And it’s the reason that we have for some time now have been calling on a political transition to take place in Syria.

Q    One on immigration again.  Senators Kirk and McCain wrote to the President today to ask him to use the power of his office to speak out against illegal minors coming across the border, down in Arizona.  Is that something he might be interested in doing?

MR. EARNEST:  Well, Stephen, I got asked about this a little bit yesterday at the briefing, and I pointed out that the law is pretty clear on this, that the deferred action that the administration put in place in terms of dealing with those who came to this country as minors only applies to those who have been in this country since before June of 2007.  So those who are attempting to cross the border now would not be granted that same kind of deferred action.

So we’ve been pretty clear across the administration about what the law is and how that law will be enforced, and our commitment to enforcing that law accordingly.  So that is the policy of the administration, something that I’ve said, and I’m confident that the President shares that view.

Q    One more on guns.  His remarks yesterday caused quite a stir on guns.  Would it be fair to draw a conclusion that he’s concluded that there’s not really any possibility of any new legislative action during his presidency on this issue?

MR. EARNEST:  No, he’s not drawn that conclusion.  I think what the President has concluded is that for legislative action to be successful, people all across the country are going to have to make their voices heard.

We’ve seen a number of polls that indicate that the vast majority of Americans support commonsense measures to reduce gun violence.  One example of that is closing loopholes in the background check law.  Doing so would make it harder for those -- for criminals and others who shouldn’t have access to guns get access to them.  And we can do that, we can implement that law in a way that would protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.

But again, that piece of legislation is not going to pass without more grassroots-level, vocal support from people all across the country who hold that view.  I mentioned polls earlier indicate that a vast majority of Americans support that kind of approach.  And there’s some polls that indicate a majority of Republicans actually support that approach. 

But again, it is unlikely that we’re going to see any significant changes legislatively without more Americans standing up and making their voice heard, and making it clear to their members of Congress that this should be a priority.

Q    Since you brought up polls, there are a couple of new ones out today that indicate that the public was not pleased with the way the Bergdahl release was handled and thought that Congress should have been consulted more.  Does the President regret the level of consultation that he offered to Congress on this in advance of the release, and in advance of nailing down the specifics of a deal?

MR. EARNEST:  I appreciate the precision of your question in which you asked about the level of consultation, because there was consultation with Congress over the last several years about the possibility of executing a prisoner exchange like this to free Sergeant Bergdahl. 

I think a lot of the dissatisfaction in Congress seems to stem from the fact that members of Congress were not notified of the precise operational details of a secret military mission before it was launched.  It is certainly well within their rights to be frustrated about that.  But as the Commander-in-Chief, the President feels a responsibility to safeguard -- or at least minimize the risk faced by our men and women in uniform -- both those who were responsible for executing this mission, but also for the life and wellbeing of Sergeant Bergdahl. 

So we’re aware of the frustration of some members of Congress.  I will say that that frustration notwithstanding, this administration has demonstrated a commitment to consultation with Congress.  The President spoke at length last summer about his view that our foreign policy is stronger when you have bipartisan support in Congress for the foreign policy decisions that are made by the administration and implemented by the United States of America.

So that consultation and cooperation and bipartisan support is something that we routinely actively seek, and we’ll continue to do so.

Q    Josh, you characterized members  of Congress as being upset over not knowing the precise operational details like what times does the helicopter land -- I assume is what you’re talking about.  What they're saying they're upset about, and I think they’ve been pretty clear about it, is that they weren’t told this prisoner swap was actually happening or under what conditions, which I think is a much broader thing.

And what I wonder is, A, whether you hear those concerns and are choosing not to listen to them, or that you’re not hearing those concerns from members of Congress.  And then the other thing I wonder is the extent to which dysfunction in Congress has been to your advantage on foreign policy where you’ve been able to do a lot on foreign policy without consulting Congress and getting no backlash.  Libya would be a good example.  Again, this Bergdahl thing where nobody is coming in and saying, look, the law is that you notify us; the rules and the norms are that you talk to the Big Eight before you do it. 

So two questions.  But let me -- go ahead, one at a time.

MR. EARNEST:  In terms of the details of the prisoner swap, that was something that's been widely known.  This is something that had been consulted -- our administration had consulted with the relevant leadership in the committees about this precise prisoner exchange both in 2011 and 2012.  It also appeared on the front page of The Washington Post in February of 2014.  So the contours, the outlines of this proposed deal to secure the release of Sergeant Bergdahl were well known, not just by members of Congress, but also by members of the public, at least those who subscribe to The Washington Post.

In terms of your other question about sort of notification, I tried to explain to Major and Jon when they asked about this yesterday that it’s very difficult to -- the decision was made to execute this transfer in the context of a military operation that would involve flying military personnel to a remote region of Afghanistan to conduct this exchange.  So it’s difficult to separate out a decision from the military operation that ensued.

Q    What you’re saying is the people who pay for those military planes and pay for the intelligence on the ground and are charged by the American public and the Constitution with overseeing all those programs are not entitled to have any information even in the very, very secluded space of those Big Eight?  Isn’t that a problem?

MR. EARNEST:  I strongly disagree with your characterization there.  We consulted frequently with Congress over the years about the possibility of conducting this prisoner exchange.  And as soon as the mission was completed, you saw a number of senior administration officials getting in touch with senior members of Congress -- both on the relevant committees and in the leadership in both parties -- to give them details about what had happened.  You saw senior members of this administration go before every single member of the United States Senate in a classified session to explain to them and describe to them what exactly had happened, and to answer their questions about that. 

You saw exactly the same thing happen in the House of Representatives just two days ago.  When the House of Representatives returned from their two-week Memorial Day recess, there was a classified session that was hosted for every single member of the House of Representatives to get a briefing from senior administration officials at the State Department, at the Defense Department, in our intelligence community, and at the White House to explain to them what had happened and to answer their questions about it.

So there is a very clear commitment on the part of this administration and the White House to consult with members of Congress.  And this goes to what I think your second question was, which is this administration values bipartisan cooperation around our foreign policy.  The President gave a speech about this on national television, actually -- a primetime address where he described his view that our foreign policy is strengthened when it has bipartisan support.  That’s why we will continually seek it.

But in this case, the Commander-In-Chief had to make a decision about living up to a commitment to leave no American serviceman or woman behind.  And he signed off on this operation, and it was executed.  It involved the transfer of prisoners.  It was predicated on certain security arrangements with the Qatari government.  The national security risks were mitigated.  And the President makes no apologies about that decision.

Q    Josh, at the same time, though, those long-ago consultations that you refer to were in the context of a broader agreement and a broader discussion with the Taliban, where there were other things that the Taliban would agree to do, not simply release Sergeant Bergdahl.  So isn’t it -- are you saying that members of Congress were consulted on a specific swap, or were they consulted only in the broader sense?

MR. EARNEST:  It’s going to be hard for me to get into the details of what those conversations were, Jim.  But I can confidently tell you right now that those consultations included explicit references to the release -- or the transfer of five Gitmo detainees in the exchange for the release of Sergeant Bergdahl.  That was made explicit in those consultations in 2011 and 2012, and it was explicit in The Washington Post story, as well.

At the same time, I haven’t heard any member of Congress -- maybe I missed it -- but I haven’t heard any member of Congress suggest that they would have been just fine with this deal had it also included an agreement from the Taliban -- pardon me -- had the deal also included an agreement from the Taliban to start talks with the Karzai government.  I don’t think any member of Congress is raising that as an objection.

Q    The last time the White House consulted with Congress on this, in 2011 or 2012, the White House wasn’t ready to make this deal.  So if you’re going to consult with Congress about a deal that you’re not going to make, that’s a much different thing than consulting with Congress about a deal that you are going to make, wouldn’t you agree?  That there’s a change in -- a significant change in the substance of the conversation?

MR. EARNEST:  I don’t think I’m willing to concede that point.  Why is that you think that this is a deal we weren’t ready to make back in 2011 or 2012?

Q    Well, Josh, if you said to me right now, I’m not going to punch you in the nose, I’m going to consult with you -- I’m not going to punch you in the nose, I’d be like, okay, that’s great, Josh.  Then you turn around two years later and you punch me in the nose and I go, well, why didn’t you tell me you were going to punch me in the nose so I could duck you.  I think there’s a substantive change in the position that you’ve taken, and possibly one that people might be upset they weren’t informed of.  Also I wouldn’t recommend doing that.  (Laughter.) 

MR. EARNEST:  Under no circumstances am I going to punch you in the nose.  Let’s just --

Q    But it might change in two years and you won’t tell me.

MR. EARNEST:  Well, I’m not sure this analogy holds up, because the --

Q    Well, I’m not a communications director or press secretary, but --

MR. EARNEST:   I don’t mean it as a -- I mean that as a way to try to answer your question, not as a criticism of the way that you asked it. 

The point is we consulted in 2011 and 2012 about this precise aspect of the deal, right.  We floated the probability that we would consider transferring five -- these specific five detainees in Guantanamo in exchange for the release of Sergeant Bergdahl.  That was something that we consulted with Congress on in 2011, in 2012.  And that ultimately was a decision that the President ended up making. 

So that’s where we are today.  And that is what I cite when I say that we’re committed to consulting with Congress, and particularly our partners who lead relevant committees in Congress and have leadership positions in the United States House and the United States Senate. 

Q    One last thing.  The President met with the Sentencing Commission today, which had made some recommendations.  Is the President signing off on that?  Can you give us a bit of a readout of what the President’s stance is after this meeting?

MR. EARNEST:  I do have a brief readout to share with you.  The President met with members of the U.S. Sentencing Commission to discuss their shared interest in a smarter, fairer and more effective criminal justice system.  The commission is a bipartisan and independent agency in the judicial branch of the government, which is responsible for developing and revising the federal sentencing guidelines.

As you know, these are issues the President and his administration have been working on for quite some time both through our administrative efforts in supporting the bipartisan work on the Hill for which the commission has also expressed support.  This is a priority that the President has talked about, trying to reform some of these guidelines.  The Attorney General has played a pretty active role in this reform process. 

There are some Republicans in the United States Senate who have indicated similar ideas for reforming the system.  And this was an opportunity for the President to talk directly with some of the professionals who were involved in devising that system.

Q    And is he signing off on anything at this point?  I believe one of the recommendations was up to 70 percent of certain drug felonies could be -- the policies could change for them.

MR. EARNEST:  I don’t have any new policy positions to announce out of that meeting today.  Thanks, everybody.  We’ll see you on the ground.

END
2:38 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the President at Worcester Technical High School Commencement Ceremony

Worcester Technical High School

Worcester, Massachusetts

4:44 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Please, everybody, be seated.  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  It is great to be back in Massachusetts, and it is great to be here at Worcester Tech.  (Applause.)  

I want to thank Reggie for that outstanding introduction.  (Applause.)  I want to thank Naomi for those inspiring words.  (Applause.)  I want to thank your outstanding, fabulous principal, Sheila Harrity, who has done so much to make this school a success.  (Applause.)  Let me just say, when you’re the National High School Principal of the Year, you’re doing something right.  There are a lot of principals out there, and we could not be prouder of what she’s doing. 

I want to thank your Mayor, Joseph Petty; your outstanding Governor and a great friend of mine, Deval Patrick; wonderful Congressman, Jim McGovern.  (Applause.)  And most of all, I want to thank the class of 2014.  (Applause.)  Thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day.  And you all look great.  And I want to thank all the parents and all the grandparents, and the family and the friends -- this is your day, too.  Part of the reason I’m here is because I’ve got to practice, because Malia is graduating in two years.  So I’m trying to get used to not choking up and crying and embarrassing her.  So this is sort of my trial run here.

I have to say, I do not remember my high school graduation speaker.  I have no idea who it was.  (Laughter.)  I’m sure I was thinking about the party after graduation.  (Applause.)  I don’t remember the party either.  (Laughter.)  I’m just telling the truth here.  You will remember the speaker at this graduation because there’s a lot of Secret Service around, not because of anything that I say that’s so inspiring. 

But I know this day has been a long time coming.  Together, you made it through freshman initiation.  You survived Mr. O’Connor’s English class, which I understand is pretty tough.  (Applause.)  Everybody has got to have, like, a Mr. O’Connor in their life just to kind of straighten you out.  And now it’s the big day -- although I notice that none of you are wearing your IDs.  Rumor has it some of you haven’t been wearing them for years.  (Laughter.)  Today I’m exercising my power as President and granting an official pardon for all of you who did not follow the rules there.  Consider it my graduation gift to you.

I know a lot of folks watching at home today will see all of you in your caps and your gowns and they’ll think, well, maybe this is just another class of graduates at another American high school.  But I’m here today because there is nothing ordinary about Worcester Tech or the Class of 2014.  (Applause.)  You have set yourselves apart.  This high school has set itself apart. 

Over the past four years, some of you have learned how to take apart an engine and put it back together again.  Some of you have learned how to run a restaurant, or build a house, or fix a computer.  And all of you are graduating today not just with a great education, but with the skills that will let you start your careers and skills that will make America stronger.

Together, you’re an example of what’s possible when we stop just talking about giving young people opportunity, when we don’t just give lip service to helping you compete in the global economy and we actually start doing it.  That’s what’s happening right here in Worcester.  And that’s why I’m here today.  I mean, I like all of you, and I’m glad to be with you, but the thing I really want to do is make sure that what we’ve learned here at this high school we can lift up for the entire nation.  I want the nation to learn from Worcester Tech.  (Applause.)   

Of course, your journey is just beginning.  Take a look around at all the smiles from the parents and the grandparents and all the family members.  Everything your families have done has been so that you could pursue your dreams, so that you could fulfill your potential.  Everybody here has a story of some sacrifice that’s been made on your behalf.  And whether you’re heading to college, or the military, or starting your career, you’re not going to be able to take them with you now.  Some of your moms and dads probably wish they could hang onto you a little bit longer.  Some of you, maybe they’re ready to get rid of you.  (Laughter.)  Regardless, though, you are now entering into a stage where it’s up to you.  And what you can do is remember some of the lessons that you’ve learned here and carry them with you, wherever you’re going.

And I want to talk about three of those lessons, a couple of which have already been mentioned by the previous speakers. 

First of all, I want you to remember that each of us is only here because somebody somewhere invested in our success.  (Applause.)  Somebody invested in us.  I know that’s true for me.  I was raised by a single mom with the help of my grandparents.  We didn’t have a lot of money growing up.  At times, we struggled.  When my mom was going to school at the same time as she was raising my sister and me, we had to scrape to get by.

But we had a family who loved me and my sister.  And I had teachers who cared about me.  And ultimately, with the help of a community and a country that supported me, I was able to get a good education.  And I was able to get grants and student loans, and opportunities opened up.  And all of this happened because people saw something in me that I didn’t always see in myself.  And that’s not just true for me, that’s true for Michelle, who grew up the daughter of a blue-collar worker and a mom who stayed at home and then became a secretary -- never went to college themselves. 

That's true for Duval, who grew up initially on the South Side of Chicago and didn't have a lot, and somebody reached out and gave him a hand up. 

It’s true of this city.  This is a town that's always been home to smart people with big ideas.  The Mayor mentioned Robert Goddard, the father of the modern rocket.  He was born here, performed some of the earliest tests on rocketry.

But Worcester has also prepared its workers for the jobs that those big ideas would bring.  And that’s why they opened a technical school here more than a century ago -- with a class of 29 ironworkers and 23 woodworkers.  And that school became Worcester Tech.

Along the way, the economy changed.  Innovation made it possible for businesses to do more with less.  The Internet meant they could do it anywhere.  Schools like this were finding it harder to prepare students with the skills that businesses were looking for. 

And then a guy named Ted Coghlin came along.  (Applause.)  And Ted is known as the “godfather” of Worcester Tech, because about 10 years ago he set out to make this school what he knew it could be -- a place where businesses train new workers, and young people get the keys to a brighter future.

And he put his heart and soul into it.  And eventually, that’s what happened.  Ted helped raise money for a new building -- and the state and federal government chipped in, as well.  And businesses helped create everything from an auto service center to a bank right inside the school.  And top-notch teachers got on board -- led by Principal Harrity and the assistant principals here, and an outstanding superintendent.  And before long, Worcester Tech was on its way to becoming one of the best schools in this city.

And today, so many students want to come to Worcester Tech that there’s a waiting list more than 400 names long.  (Applause.)  The number of students scoring “proficient” or “advanced” in math has gone up 100 percent; in English more than 200 percent.  (Applause.)  Ninety-five percent of students now graduate in four years.

And just as impressive, many of you are leaving here with more than a diploma.  You’re already certified as nursing assistants and EMTs and home health aides and preparing to become IT associates.  (Applause.)  And with the credits that you’ve earned, some of you are already on your way to a college diploma.  And as Ted said, “Our students deserve the best so we can help them become the best -- for their future and ours.”

The point is, a lot of people made an investment in you.  I can't imagine a better investment.  But as you experience your success and as you experience setbacks, you need to remember everything that's been put into making sure that you had opportunity.  Which brings me to the second thing I hope you remember when you leave here:  You’re going to also have to give back.  (Applause.)  This community invested in you.  You’ve got to make sure that you use those gifts. 

When my Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, came to Worcester Tech earlier this year, he said he had never seen a school more open.  If you live near the school, you can come in and get your car detailed for a fraction of what it would cost someplace else.  So I’m giving a little free advertising to the detailing operation here.  (Laughter.)  You can eat a meal cooked by students in the culinary arts program.  (Applause.)  One teacher called the hair salon the “city’s best kept secret.”  (Applause.)  Your veterinary clinic cares for about 250 pets a month, so I could have brought Bo and Sunny here.  (Laughter.)  You guys would have taken care of them.

So Worcester Tech isn’t separate from the broader community.  You’re a vital part of the community.  So part of what you’ve learned here is that we are at our best, we are strongest when we are working together and when we’re looking out for one another and we have responsibilities towards each other, and all of us have contributions to make.  You’re giving back to folks who gave you so much.  And whatever you do next, I hope you keep giving back.  That may mean staying in Worcester and working for one of the companies that helped train you.  If it means going to college or the military, or using your skills to help more students get the same opportunities that you’ve had here, no matter what it is that you do, no matter what path you take, I want to make sure that you understand the incredible leadership that we now expect from you.

I understand that every year at exam time, you hear from a motivational speaker.  And one of them this year was Colin Powell, because when you’re getting ready to take a test it never hurts to get a pep talk from a general.  (Laughter.)  But the best part is that you decide to do the same thing for younger kids.  So this class -- those of you in the National Honor Society -- rolled out the red carpet for students at nearby Chandler Elementary.  And so those younger kids left here feeling fired up, inspired by your example -- looking up to you, imagining that they could do what you did.  And they’re going to keep on looking up to you. 

And there are going to be people across the country who are watching you.  And when they see you succeed, when they see you working hard, when they see you overcoming setbacks -- that’s going to inspire them as well. 

And that brings me to my final point, which is I hope you leave here today believing that if you can make it, then there shouldn’t be any kid out here who can’t make it.  (Applause.)  Every child in America, no matter what they look like, or where they grow up, what their last name is -- there’s so much talent out there.  And every single child -- as Ted understood when he helped transform this school -- every single child should have the opportunity like you have had to go as far as your talents and hard work will take you.  I’ve seen you do it, so we know it’s possible. 

Now, it’s a challenging time.  I think sometimes I worry that your generation has grown up in a cynical time -- in the aftermath of a Great Recession, in the aftermath of two wars.  We live in a culture that so often focuses on conflict and controversy and looks at the glass half empty instead of half full.  And you’re graduating at a time when you’ll no longer be competing just with people across town for good jobs, you’re going to be competing with the rest of the world. 

But when I meet young people like you I am absolutely certain we are not just going to out-compete the rest of the world, we are going to win because of you.  Because we are Americans, that's what we do.  We don't settle.  We outwork.  We out-innovate.  We out-hustle the competition.  (Applause.)   And when we do, nobody can beat us.

And that's what you’ve shown at this school -- not just helping a few kids go as far as their hard work will take them.  I want all of you to be part of the process of helping all our young people achieve their God-given potential.  And as President, my job is to make sure every child in America gets that chance.  And Deval Patrick’s job is to make sure that everybody in the Commonwealth gets that chance.  And the Mayor, his focus is making sure everybody in this town gets that chance.  Every community is different.  But if Worcester can bring teachers and business and entire communities together for the sake of our young people, then other places can, too.

And that's why I’ve challenged high schools all across the country to do what you’re doing here -- better prepare students for the demands of the global economy.  We’re getting started this year with a competition that pairs schools and employers and colleges to combine quality education with real-world skills. 

As part of that initiative, I launched something called ConnectED, working with the private sector to connect America’s students to high-speed broadband and advanced technology, just like you’ve got here at Worcester Tech.  Already, companies have committed to donate $2 billion to this effort.  And starting later this week, schools and teachers and students will be able to go to WhiteHouse.gov and access resources in time for the new school year -- because I want to encourage more schools to do what you’re doing.  You’ve set a standard.  You’ve set a bar.  More schools can do it across the country.  (Applause.)

If you’re going to college, I also want to make sure that when you graduate you don't have a mountain of debt.   (Applause.)  So we’re not only working to make college more affordable, we’re working to help more students pay back their loans that they take out when they go to college.  It is not fair to students who do everything right to get saddled with debt that they have to pay off not just for years, but in some cases decades.   We can do better than that.  (Applause.)

And even though they had votes and they couldn’t make it, I want to give a plug to a couple people.  Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman John Tierney, both from Massachusetts, who introduced bills that would make it easier for students to repay their student loans.  (Applause.)

It’s the same idea we used to make it easier for your parents to pay off their mortgages.  Now today, that idea was defeated by Republicans in Congress, which was frustrating, especially --

AUDIENCE:  Booo --

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, don't boo.  Just remember to vote.   (Laughter and applause.)  So I know that it’s frustrating for parents.  It’s frustrating for students who are working hard and doing everything right.  There are too many politicians in Washington who don't have the right priorities.  We need to straighten them out.  And maybe they forgot where they came from and who invested in them along the way.  (Applause.)  And when a bill to help you pay off your college doesn't pass, it’s a disservice not only to your generation but to our history as a nation that strives to put quality education within the reach of every American.  So we’re going to have to keep on putting pressure on Congress.

But in the meantime, where Congress won’t act, I’m going to do whatever I can on my own.  (Applause.)  So on Monday, I announced executive actions that are going to help students like you find the right options -- and give millions of Americans who are already making their loan payments a chance to cap those repayments at 10 percent of their income.  Because a quality education shouldn’t be something that other kids get -- it should be something that every kid gets.  And that has to be a priority for this country.  (Applause.)

I tell you all this not just because you stand to benefit from changes in laws, but because you’re going to have to be a part of helping to shape the law.  You’re going to have to shape public opinion.  You’re going to have remember everybody who invested in you.  You’re going to have to remember the experience of being part of this incredible community.  And then, when you go out into the world, whether you are a businessperson, or you are in the military, or you are an academic, or a doctor, or whatever it is that you’re doing, you’re also going to be a citizen.  You’re also going to be somebody who has a voice in how this country operates.  And you’ve got to push so that others get the same chance you did.

And making sure that every young person has the same opportunities you’ve had -- it won’t be easy.  Progress takes commitment.  It takes hard work.  We have to fight through the cynicism.  It’s going to take work from parents and from teachers, and members of the community and from students, but I know we can do it -- and I know it because of you. 

If Melinda Blanchard can get so good at welding that a bunch of college kids ask her help building a solar-paneled house for a competition in China, I know that we can get more young people excited about learning.  (Applause.)   

If Greg Carlson can help the robotics team at Worcester Tech win the world championship -- (applause) -- and still find time to mentor a robotics team at the middle school where he started out, then I know we can help guarantee every child in America a quality education.  

If Derek Murphy can start his own web development company -- (applause) -- and graduate with 18 college credits, I know we can help more students earn the skills that businesses are looking for. 

You’re already doing it.  You’re already blazing a trail.  You’re already leading.  You’re already giving back.  You don’t need to remember what I said today, because you’re already doing it.

And if it can happen in Worcester, it can happen anyplace.  (Applause.)  And if it does -- if more communities invest in young people like you, if you give back, if we all keep fighting to put opportunity within the reach of everybody who is willing to work for it -- America will be stronger, your future will be brighter.  There is no limit to what we can do together.

So congratulations, Class of 2014.  You’re going to do big things.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END
5:10 P.M. EDT