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David Plouffe talks energy, elections

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    White House senior adviser on 'Fox News Sunday'

  • Duration 14:51
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Joining us here in the studio is president Obama's senior advisor David -- in the -- welcome back to Fox's Sunday thanks Democrats.

During the 2008 campaign.

Barack Obama blamed President Bush for the rise in gas prices on his watch -- watch.

There are no -- you're banned.

Nearly 37 a gallon for gas and that's because it's gone down over the last couple weeks.

-- at times what it cost when George Bush took office.

Using that same logic how responsible those President Obama now for gas prices more than doubling since he took office.

Well the point is Chris -- we've gone through these just about every year.

In some respects human illness for decades it's got more pronounced in the last few years.

As you see it increased demand from countries like China and -- what the president's been saying and -- -- when he ran frosting and now.

We have to do everything we can here to produce oil.

Natural gas here in this country we're doing that.

-- productions at an eight year high.

Triple the rigs are in the fields as there wasn't present in office but that's only part of the answer.

We have to then.

Quickly move.

To wind solar and biofuels next generation cars as part of fuel efficiency standards the president a range of the auto makers -- so important this point and next decade.

The average -- -- -- 56 miles ago.

Means we're gonna continue to lead an innovation in the automotive field means the average person can -- 8000 dollars or receive billions dollars so this is a long term project.

We've got to do everything we can we're making a lot of progress but obviously we're not gonna get the energy future we need until we have that all of the above strategy.

Well I -- I wanna pick up on that because as you site the president likes to site and has said this week on the campaign trail.

-- the campaign truck that's what it -- he supports and all of the above strategy take a look.

Now and under my administration.

America is producing more oil today.

Than at any time in the last eight years.

But the congressional research service says about.

96%.

Of the -- since 2007.

Took place on non federal lands in the CRS says.

Oil production on federal -- actually fell.

In twenty -- so isn't the president taking credit.

For production he has had almost nothing to do -- -- we are we are aggressively commenting as you know.

And you know we we -- that -- always he talks about well was on non federal Lance not federal -- we have 13% increase on federal lands in terms of permanent.

We make in auctions we just had an auction in the Gulf of Mexico not to recently made I believe twenty million acres available.

The private sector only claimed her for that so we're making a lot it's -- private sector decision whether they want to in an auction.

-- purchase and then Begin to explore and drill so we are if you look at what we're doing onshore.

Offshore.

Natural gas we are doing everything we can't.

But this isn't just about you know a political slogan that says I have some secret plan for two dollar gas.

We are not gonna have the energy future we need -- American people understand this they're tired of being given a -- to Washington talking points.

It's as if only a politician would do one thing differently would magically have cheaper gas they know we need to use less.

When you diversify when you do everything we can hear and we are getting more energy independent.

We are producing more here.

We are on track to double the sources of energy we get from renewable so we're making progress we just gotta make sure that we really double down here to make sure that if all we do is drill.

And say let's let China.

Command the wind industry the solar industry we're not gonna like this century much -- economical.

Well you say you're doing everything you can I wanna talked about a specific area where a lot of Eagles or you're not -- and everything you can on.

The president went to Oklahoma this week to make a big show about the fact that he was calling.

For faster construction of the southern lie the southern part of the Keystone Pipeline.

But he's basically you can see the map here that saw the light which is highlighted his basically irrelevant to that part which is controlled by the states that are crosses.

And what people are really concerned about is the northern like the part above the highlighted area.

The State Department and the EPA study that for three years and came to the conclusion I wanna get that that the quote right.

No significant impacts to the project.

From the US Canadian border down past Nebraska down to Oklahoma.

Given that why did the president to -- the project passed the no.

Member election well first of all the southern part of this type one's pretty important.

Because of the production -- -- -- doesn't have that much ability to Derek there are some permits the corps of engineers and others we'll have to be done our point is we're -- -- -- because.

Productions going salons country there's a glut of oil.

In that section the country we need to get that oil markets and up pipelines.

Very important.

We've approved dozens of pipelines in this administration let's be clear the governor of Nebraska a Republican governor Republican legislators in Nebraska.

People throughout state had a problem with the pipeline route going through -- -- for.

They raised objections that the permission.

Governor Heineman is on record as saying now start the pipeline we will route the it would write the outline of the pipeline around the sand hills.

Area go ahead we're not holding this up.

-- President Obama.

If there's going to be in the company itself is that they're going to be submitting new pipeline route.

That ought to be reviewed it ought to be reviewed expeditiously.

But politics and do -- three -- well and and issues were raised with the water source in Nebraska the people of Nebraska deeply concerned about them -- -- with a no I'm not fine with it.

That they're fine with the idea of going ahead and they say it'll be fixed by the time they -- -- trust company that's gonna build this project said.

-- we're gonna put through a new for an entire route from Canada down to Oklahoma and then that will be reviewed so ever -- you know listen.

The Republicans play games -- this.

Said even though there's these concerns and Nebraska -- kind of forget about them was just play politics and I think the American people understand who do you trust more on your energy future.

Somebody who believes that we have to do everything we can -- in a safe and responsible way on oil and gas but someone who also believes in diversifying.

New forms of energy and sadly -- -- this used to be a very bipartisan idea.

Alternative energy sadly.

The Republicans running for president many Republicans here in Washington kind of vilified -- home's market.

And it's only gonna determine our future it's a very dangerous thing will the president release oil from the nation's strategic petroleum -- Well we've obviously we've spoken of this before -- I'm not gonna make any news here today it's obviously an option that's that's always on the table.

It was -- last year because of the situation with the obviously this is something that the White House is actively considering.

Well obviously we are.

Always mindful of what's going on in terms of the oil market I don't not gonna make any news on that today obviously but it's not that we model -- everything we're monitoring some of the -- the pipeline issues out there are some of that refinery issues out there are some of the distribution issues.

Obviously -- -- and supply issues obviously the sanctions and Iran are working very very well there crippling sanctions hurting -- oil industry hurting their Central Bank.

Hurting our economy but we'll see are what makes it think if you were to do it if you were to release from the strategic petroleum reserve that would be any more effective.

In lowering the price of of castle of -- and and gasoline.

That it was last year during the Libyan operation we'll get I'm not gonna get any hypotheticals about something we we may or may not do.

That the question is generally this has been whether it was done in 2005 when it was done last year when there isn't a determined supply disruption.

That needs to be filled.

United States and other countries last it was a global response.

Contribute some oil to help relieve that.

It's really about this supplied no one should expect there's any magic bullet out there.

-- -- all of a sudden.

I dropped gassed by thinking what not to do it must there was an interruption in supply you -- -- just because gas prices are high now but there is right now that's right there are some supply issues right now that are contributing.

You've got some issues in Sudan.

You've got obviously would be is not up to where was.

Pre crisis so there is some supply disruption right now but no this -- got to be about.

All right let's turn the Supreme Court.

-- holds three days of hearings and Obama care starting tomorrow.

According to a recent poll 67%.

Of Americans.

Think that the court should strike down the entire law or at least the individual mandate question two years after it was passed why is Obama -- -- -- one.

Pop well listen you see a lot of pulls on us as July.

Polls also say if people don't -- -- start over.

They don't want to refight this political battle what they want us to do is implement this -- -- we made changes as we should give states more flexibility.

But listen I'm convinced at the end of this decade the Republicans and regret turning this obamacare.

Because when the reality of health -- is in place most of the law doesn't take effect of 2014.

But important parts are getting implemented right now.

Two and a half million people between the ages of 21 and 26 have health care only because of -- -- -- over five million seniors are getting over 600 dollars prescription drug relief.

You've got women now.

Treated equally not being -- more.

Preventive care like for -- -- -- -- in -- -- for people who are experiencing -- and it's it's a small portion of the population right now.

I think they're seeing it quite differently than was advertise how confident are you that the Supreme Court is gonna uphold the individual -- Well you've seen jurist appointed by -- that Democrats and Republicans and lower courts uphold this law.

Two very important conservative jurists offering very strong opinions so we're confident that'll be constitutional.

And and our focus right now obviously there's going to be a process play out this week and an obvious from -- deliberate we're gonna continue to make sure we implement this law smartly.

And that we inform people of the benefits prevail.

Congressman Paul Ryan who will be here in -- excitement came out with a new budget this week and the White House including you.

Immediately started hammering him I want to show you.

A graph.

That was put up in the New York Times and let's take a look at it under the Ryan budget.

The deficit the Ryan budget the deficit -- twenties in 2016 is 241 billion dollars under the Obama plan it's 529 billion.

Under Ryan added debt over the next ten years is three point one trillion under Obama -- six point four try to.

And the Ryan plan balances the budget by 2040.

The Obama plan balances the budget never.

Say what you will but at least the Ryan budget does -- -- our national debt.

Well first of all we haven't seen all the details there's a lot of I think it's been described as a a lot of candy not a lot of vegetables so we'll see in reality but listen the Ryan plan.

With by always supported by the presidential candidates so Mitt Romney is the front of this is really the Romney Ryan plan.

You'll be rubber stamp -- Mitt Romney's elected president.

It fails the test of balance and fairness and shared responsibility.

It showers huge tax cuts on millionaires and billionaires paid for by seniors and veterans.

We -- another.

Yes yes we know you don't know that because you don't know what they're gonna take away in tax deduction well.

Independent analysts who look at this say it's going to be big tax cuts they -- the well one knows that David because they don't know what that what did what tax deductions.

Are -- -- be taken away.

I think most people believe that's conservative estimate that the average -- -- -- at least a 150000 dollar tax.

So the right approach is the president's approach which is whether it's -- since and even though it does not -- -- to address a national that it gets our deficit on a very sustainable path.

-- -- in this president's -- on analogue never balances the budget according to the city out.

In the next twenty years -- gets us on what most experts most fiscal experts consider to be the right fiscal path.

That also allows our economy to grow.

It doesn't strangle education doesn't got investments in clean energy.

So it's the right -- to grow the economy and reduce the deficit this president's already signed a law almost two trillion dollars of spending cuts.

-- we have to make sure we get how do we do the rest of the job well we are gonna have to reform entitlements to do it right way now by the uprising Medicare and actually saving money in the system.

Have to obviously.

Responsibly and gets -- Medicaid savings that we also have to get some revenue primarily from the wealthy through tax.

OK I want to switch subjects with you we could go on it and you know what we'll have an opportunity to go lot of great -- and that.

Throughout the campaign the president spoke out on trade -- -- this week the unarmed black teenager.

Who was gunned down by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida this week does the president consider this a race issue.

Now obviously he spoke I think very powerfully about this and as a -- But any time.

A young person any person but a young person it's a tragedy obviously.

And I think you've seen people in both parties and I'm sure independents across the country say roughly the same thing which is this is a tragedy.

There ought to -- investigation there's investigations happen locally as long and that the federal level.

And that's I think where the focus -- beyond sympathy for the family.

And make sure thorough investigation what does he think race had anything to do with trade on Martin's being killed I I think he is I think he was speaking out very emotional and powerful -- -- I think that's where the focus ought to be which is known no matter.

Gender or the race this is a tragedy anytime the young promising persons taken from us and we ought to make sure there's a thorough investigation.

Finally I wanna talk a little politics with the U.

So with that we already have the economy is growing and the unemployment rate is clearly going down but I want to show you this chart.

In the last 36 years only three presidents seeking another term have been defeated unemployment under Jerry Ford was seven point 8% under Carter seven.

Point 5% under bush 41 it was seven point 4% unemployment is now eight point 3%.

Why won't that almost necessarily beat.

Barack Obama well Chris I've said since -- we are elected we're gonna have a tough election's going to be close we are clearly going to be governing a tough economy only the Great Depression rivals.

So I think it's it's gonna come down people's sense of where we've been.

And where we go.

And let's this press about where we are well we've had in the last 24 months just shy of four million jobs created.

Manufacturing at its strongest -- since 1990s you Begin -- -- clean energy sector emergence could make a gaping difference in terms of energy cost but also our economy.

This president has -- moving in the right direction unemployment still too high.

No class is still not a you -- period it's that no president since FDR has been reelected with unemployment as high as it will be under Barack Obama have -- I think you have to look at the context which is we were almost in the Great Depression.

I'm we're gonna make history again because what our opponent is gonna offer is the same exact policies that led to the Great Recession what Wall Street right its own rules.

Shower the wealthy with tax cuts and -- -- that trickles down not invest in things like education clean energy.

That is a recipe for what led to the Great Recession people not want to go back there they understand this president -- very tough situation he made tough decisions stabilize the economy.

Has is moving in the right direction almost four million jobs in the last two years.

And he's got the right vision for how to grow an economy that's built -- last all right we're gonna have to leave it there mr.

-- thank you thanks for coming in please come back lots more to discuss.

Was a pleasure to talk with the user would be happy to --

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