Subject: White House Press Briefing 05-10-16
From: "Debose, Levi" <[email-masked]>
To: Comm_D <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 10 May 2016 11:41:18 -0700

No flags.

WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING 05-10-16

Topper:

*         POTUS convened NSC to go over ISIL

*         CJ Garland submitted questionnaire today

Hiroshima Visit
Why does the administration keep pressing that this is a not an apology tour?

*         Trip is to highlight why we work well together

*         Partnership is reason why he wants to go to Hiroshima

*         This is not for an apology

Why does he have to go to Hiroshima?

*         POTUS thinks it is important and that we bear a special responsibility

Will POTUS meet with survivors?

*         Not sure

Does POTUS want to renew debate on the nuclear war?

*         POTUS wouldn't want to muzzle debate

*         Stakes were high and it was a tough decision and he did what he had to do

*         Historians / Americans can examine other options and consequences of bomb

Would POTUS use nukes if necessary?

*         We have a nuclear stockpile for security and readiness

*         Nuclear Security is of the upmost importance

*         There is a moral and a national security goal out

Facebook
Supposedly Facebook has suppressed conservative viewpoints. What is your reaction?

*         Everyone uses Facebook and it is a changing media environment

*         Allows people to challenge their own assumptions

Zika Virus
Would the bill need to be off-set, as congress wants?

*         No, it's an emergency bill

*         Should stop playing politics, and actually fund the bill. People need health care and NGA says so as well

*         Shouldn't delay the type of help that is needed

Letter to GOP congressmen is for what?

*         Urging them to act and explaining how dire it is if they don't

*         This is a no-brainer and it is a need

SCOTUS Garland
Did the Judiciary Committee give it to him or the WH?

*         They said that they sent the questionnaire, so he sent it out

*         They posted it on their website

*         We hope that hearings follow it

Has Garland met with any more Senators?

*         He has met with 46 Senators total and 14 GOP senators

*         Will meet with 2 today (Ron Johnson)

*         McConnell said that not one senator will meet with Garland

Most Senators have held strong. Will Garland have a hearing?

*         Yes, most Senators have held strong in not doing their job

*         Sen. Flake wanted a hearing, vote, and confirmation before the election

*         There is concrete progress. They have met with him, a few want a hearing, and some want to vote

*         POTUS did his job and it's time for Senate to do theirs.

Does POTUS care if this is done now or by the end of this term?

*         POTUS has the same view as Reagan. Both thought that every day was important

*         Yesterday was just another important issue on the court's caseload

GOP Senators gaming out Trump v. Clinton. Is that why GOP is softening?

*         May be a part of the reason why they have softened

*         They all have liked CJ Garland

*         It is some politics, but it is also conviction that has led them to soften their position

10 Most important cases were all liberal. What should journalists make of this?

*         2,640 Merit Cases and 357 opinions on the second highest court in the land

*         That is a small sliver on a large body of work

*         If you want to know more about CJ Garland, then get hearings!

*         These are questions that he would answer. This is why Republicans are blocking a hearing, because they know he would excel

Ferguson
Now has Ferguson has full circle, since they have a black police chief?

*         Can't render judgment from here

*         City/Town still needs to grow.

*         Up to the people of Ferguson to decide if progress is being made