>> Jon: WELCOME BACK.
WE'RE HERE WITH PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA -- SO THAT WAS GOOD.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS IRAN DEAL.
YOU'RE FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT.
I WANNA TALK TO YOU NOW -- YOU SPOKE WITH THE VFW TODAY FOR
OUR VETERAN'S.
BOY, ROUGH RIDE FOR THE VETERAN'S RECENTLY.
THIS TERRIBLE ATTACK IN TENNESSEE.
>> HEARTBREAKING.
>> Jon: AND ALSO THOUGH A SYSTEMIC ISSUE, AND I KNOW YOU
RAISE IT WITH THE VA AND HEALTHCARE.
>> WELL YOU KNOW THE SITUATION WITH THE V.A. HAS ALWAYS BEEN,
WE MAKE A PROMISE BUT TOO OFTEN UNDER RESOURCED.
SO IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF WE HAVE A SACRED DUTY TO THESE GUYS AND
GALS THAT WHEN THEY HAVE SERVED US AS BRAVELY AS THEY HAVE,
WHEN THEY COME HOME, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR THEM.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET HISTORICALLY, IT'S BEEN
SHORT-CHANGED, WORSE IN THE VIETNAM ERA WHEN THEY CAME BACK.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SYSTEMATICALLY ADD RESOURCES TO
THE VA BUT YOU STILL HAVE THIS MASSIVE STRUCTURE WITH MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE BEING SERVED.
AND WHAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO IS SYSTEMATICALLY WORK THROUGH
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF A BIG, FREAKY BUREAUCRACY.
WHEN WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM WITH WAITING LISTS...
FOLKS ARE STILL TAKING APPOINTMENTS DOWN ON PAPER.
AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NEEDING SERVICES,
IT JUST DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.
SO WE'VE NOW BEEN ABLE TO CUT DOWN ON WAITING TIMES, REDUCE
THE BACKLOG FOR DISABILITY CLAIMS BY ABOUT 80%.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COMING IN.
WE ALLOWED FOLKS WHO HAD SYMPTOMS OF AGENT ORANGE FOR THE
FIRST TIME TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CLAIMS.
THAT ADDED A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE.
AS WE END TWO WARS, FOLKS COME BACK.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE 2.7 MILLION MORE VETERANS SPEAKING SERVICES.
IF THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES DOESN'T CHANGE, THEN THEY GET
SHORT-CHANGED.
SO WE'VE GOT TO DO EFFICIENCY WORK ON THE VA BUT WE ALSO ASKED
CONGRESS TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THE SEQUESTER, THIS IDEA WE JUST
MAKE BLANKET BUDGET CUTS THAT SOMEHOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE
OUR ECONOMY.
AND THE VERY SAME FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO CUT SERVICES ARE THE
FIRST ONES THEN TO SAY WHY ARE THE FOLKS HAVING WAITING TIMES
SO LONG.
>> Jon: IT'S A WAITING TIME ISSUE, TO BE FAIR, HAPPENED FAR
BEFORE THE SEQUESTER.
IT BRINGS UP SORT OF A LARGER ISSUE WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, GIVEN,
OKAY, THERE IS A PARTY THAT BELIEVES THAT GOVERNMENT DOES
NOT HAVE AS LARGE A ROLE TO PLAY IN OUR LIVES AS THE PARTY THAT
YOU ARE WITH.
WHICH MEANS INSTANCES INCUMBENT MAY BE UPON THAT PARTY, THE ONE
THAT YOU ARE WITH, TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THAT WILL
WORK IN THE 21st CENTURY.
HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT BE AGILE, AND WITH THE V.A. SEEMS TO BE A
LARGER ISSUE, YOU CAME INTO OFFICE IN 2009 EXPLICITLY SAYING
YOU SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS PRYING TO GET OPERABILITY
BETWEEN THE D.O.D AND V.A.
COULDN'T DO IT AFTER... FIVE YEARS?
WENT BACK AND SAID LET'S DO IT SEPARATELY.
MORE MONEY.
THAT DIDN'T WORK.
NOW THEY'RE BACK, THE V.A.'S GOT A PRETTY GOOD SYSTEM WAITING FOR
THE D.O.D.
THEY'VE NOT EVEN GONE OUT YET WITH A $11 BILLION CONTRACT.
YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, YOU KNOW WHERE EVERYBODY IS --
>> SO THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
A COUPLE THINGS I'LL SAY.
NUMBER ONE, GOVERNMENT WORKS BETTER NOW THAN IT PROBABLY EVER
HAS GIVEN WHAT WE ASK IT TO DO.
AND ACROSS AGENCIES, THERE HAVE BEEN ALL KINDS OF REFORMS AND
IMPROVEMENTS AND PEOPLE THERE WORK HARD AND THEY CARE ABOUT
THIS STUFF DEEPLY.
BUT WHAT IS TRUE IS IF YOU HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT WAS BUILT ON
1930 MODELS AND IT'S NOT UPDATED, THEN THERE'S GOING TO
BE A GAP IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW RELATIVE TO
WHAT SOME OTHER FOLKS DO.
AND I.T. IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST EXAMPLE OF THAT.
WE'RE HAVING TO COMPLETELY REDESIGN HOW THE GOVERNMENT
PURCHASES I.T. SERVICES, HOW IT DOES DIGITAL, FROM SOUP TO NUTS.
AND PART OF IT IS THE WAY IT'S BEEN SET UP IS THAT YOU HAVE THE
SPECIFICATIONS THAT ARE THIS THICK.
WHEN ON A CHAIN AND SETTING UP MY OPERATIONS I HAVE GUYS IN
T-SHIRTS IN A ROOM FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO THIS THING.
THAT'S NOT HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS SET UP.
IT'S SLOW AND IT DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY.
YOU ASKED ME WHAT I WANT TO DO OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.
A LOT OF THIS STUFF DOESN'T REQUIRE CONGRESS, BUT HOW IT IS
WE CAN REVAMP THE SYSTEMS AND WE'VE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY IN
CERTAIN AREAS.
BUT WHEN YOU'VE GOT TWO MILLION EMPLOYEES THEN THERE ARE GOING
TO BE PLACES WHERE THIS SLIPS.
>> Jon: TO SOME EXTENT THAT'S THE POINT.
YOU GOT TWO MILLION EMPLOYEES AND YOU WANT THIS TO BE AGILE.
THE V.A. SYSTEM.
YOU CAN'T FIND A BETTER ISSUE POLITICALLY.
YOU CAN'T -- YOU'LL FIND BUT YOU'LL FIND ALMOST ANONYMOUS
AGREEMENT BUT WE HAVE FAILED THESE VETERANS AND UNANIMOUS
AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER YET SEVEN YEARS INTO IT,
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE --
>> WAIT WAIT -- THE REASON IT'S BACK UP IS YOU GOT 2.7 MILLION
NEW FOLKS COMING BACK IN.
>> Jon: WELL WHEN YOU START A LOT OF WARS -- IT'S GOTTA END.
>> HOLD ON A SECOND. HERE'S THE GENERAL POINT.
WE ASK OUR GOVERNMENT TO DO THINGS THAT OTHER FOLKS DON'T
WANT TO DO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE MONEY AT IT.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT PROFITABLE.
AND SO WE WANT GOVERNMENT TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT KIDS GET
OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEY HAVE TO REACH THE TOUGHEST TO REACH KIDS.
THE KIDS AT THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS GENERALLY SCREEN OUT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SERVING OUR VETERANS INCLUDING
THE OLDEST, POOREST VETERANS.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY IN DOING THAT.
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL SAY WELL WHY ISN'T THIS
HAPPENING AS QUICK, AS FAST.
IF WE'RE UNDER RESOURCING OUR GOVERNMENT AND NOT STAFFING IT
THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE TO DO EVERYTHING TO BE DONE, THEN
WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE GAPS.
WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE CAN WE MAKE STUFF A LOT BETTER THAN IT
HAS BEEN.
>> Jon: THE ENEMY OF GOOD.
>> PART OF THE PROBLEM IS I THINK WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO,
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
WHEN THERE WAS THAT PROBLEM WITH THE IRS.
EVERYBODY JUMPED INCLUDING YOU.
>> Jon: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE IRS?
>> LOOK YOU GOT THIS BACK OFFICE AND THEY'RE GOING AFTER THE TEA
PARTY.
IT TURNED OUT NO, CONGRESS HAS A CRUMMY LAW THAT DIDN'T GIVE
PEOPLE GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO.
THEY DID IT POORLY AND STUPIDLY.
BUT THAT BECOMES --
>> Jon: YOU REALLY ONLY DO HAVE A YEAR LEFT.
[LAUGHTER]
>> NO -- BUT HOLD ON, JON.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE WAS NOT SOME BIG
CONSPIRACY THERE.
THEY WERE TRYING TO SORT OUT THESE CONFLICTING DEMANDS.
YOU DON'T WANT ALL THIS MONEY POURING THROUGH NOT-FOR-PROFITS
BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS BEING TREATED
FAIRLY.
THE REAL SCANDAL AROUND THE IRS IS THAT IT HAS BEEN SO POORLY
FUNDED THAT THEY CAN'T GO AFTER THESE, WE CANNOT GO AFTER THESE
FOLKS WHO ARE DELIBERATELY DELETING TAX PAYMENTS.
AND THE REAL SCANDAL IS TAX CODES WHERE MULTINATIONALS CAN
PAY ZERO TAXES MAKING MASSIVE PROFITS.
SO WE TEND TO GET DISTRACTED BY THE FACT THAT THERE ARE GOING TO
BE ELEMENTS, BECAUSE GOVERNMENT IS A HUMAN ENTERPRISE WHERE,
SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE IS SCREWING UP AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE SYSTEM.
OVERALL, IT WORKS REALLY WELL TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.
WHAT THE SCANDALOUS IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING AS MUCH
PROGRESS AS WE SHOULD ON THE BASIC THINGS THAT WE KNOW OUR
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING.
REBUILDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, REBUILDING OUR
ROADS, REBUILDING OUR PORTS, SETTING UP A SYSTEM FOR
DISTRIBUTING ENERGY, MAKING SURE WE HAVE EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT PART OF MY JOB FOR THE LAST
SEVEN YEARS AND PART OF MY JOB OVER THESE LAST, THIS LAST YEAR
COMING UP IS TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE AND MAKE SURE THE
GOVERNMENT IS FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS IT COULD.
BUT YOU CAN'T USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE FOR THE BIG STRUCTURAL
PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED
ADDRESSED, TYPICALLY THAT HAS TO BE --
>> Jon: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO GET TO IS THAT VISION OF WHAT
21ST CENTURY GOVERNMENT LOOKS LIKE OUTSIDE OF THE
POLITICALIZATION OF IT.
HOW DO YOU GOVERN AND DO THE SERVICES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHILE BEING IN THAT SITUATION.
AND IF IT'S FOUR GUYS IN A T-SHIRT, ISN'T THERE AN
EXECUTIVE OPTION THAT CAN, THAT CAN CUT THROUGH.
>> HERE'S WHAT WE DO.
>> Jon: YES, YOU'RE THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
>> AFTER THE HEALTHCARE.GOV FIASCO, WE BROUGHT IN A TEAM
OF GUYS BASICALLY VOLUNTEERING THEIR OWN TIME FROM GOOGLE,
FACEBOOK, GUYS IN T-SHIRTS.
THEY'RE NOT WEARING T-SHIRTS NOW.
THEY'VE DRESSED UP A LITTLE BIT, ALTHOUGH NOT THAT WELL.
[LAUGHTER]
AND WE HAVE CREATED WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE U.S. DIGITAL
SERVICES AND WE'RE BASICALLY GETTING THEM IN FOR A
YEAR OR TWO YEARS AND WE'RE JUST PUTTING THEM ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF
THESE PROBLEMS.
WHETHER IT'S HOW DO WE MAKE AN S.B.A. LOAN EASIER TO GET.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THIS AGENCY IS MORE CUSTOMER
FRIENDLY.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO ONE WEBSITE INSTEAD OF
16 TO FIND OUT THE INFORMATION THEY NEED.
SO THESE GUYS ARE SPREADING OUT THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT AND
THEY ARE IN FACT SYSTEMATICALLY CHIPPING AWAY AT A LOT OF THESE
PROBLEMS.
AND I THINK WE WILL, BY THE TIME I LEAVE HERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO SAY THAT GOVERNMENT IS WORKING MUCH BETTER, MUCH MORE
EFFICIENTLY, MUCH MORE CUSTOMER FRIENDLY THAN WHEN I CAME INTO
OFFICE.
>> Jon: IT FRUSTRATES YOU BECAUSE I CAN TELL WE'RE TALKING
HAVING A NICE TIME TALKING ABOUT THE IRAN DEAL, I THINK IT'S
FRUSTRATING TO YOU.
>> OF COURSE.
>> Jon: BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE WE'RE AMPLIFYING THINGS OUT OF
PROPORTION.
I MIGHT AGREE WITH THAT ON CERTAIN ISSUES.
>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
>> Jon: THE V.A. THOUGH, I WOULD TAKE ISSUES --
>> NO, NO.
THE ISSUES WITH THE V.A. IS -- IF THERE'S ONE VETERNA NOT
GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED, THEN WE'RE FAILING THAT
VERTERAN, AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
LET'S TALK ABOUT HOMLESSNESS AMONG VETERANS.
WE'VE CUT THAT BY A THIRD.
WE'VE GOT TWO THIRDS OF THESE FOLKS WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE
HAVE PROPER HOUSING BECAUSE IF THEY FOUGHT FOR US THEY SHOULD
BE ABLE TO FIND A HOME HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
>> Jon: SURE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUT THIS GOES FOR THE LARGER POINT.
YOU ASKED ME HOW AM I DOING AND AM I FEELING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT
NOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M PROUD OF, AND THIS IS NOT JUST ME, IS WE
HAVE LOOKED AT A WHOLE SLEW OF PROBLEMS WHEN WE CAME INTO
OFFICE.
AND WE SAID WHERE CAN WE ADVANCE THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD EACH AND
EVERY TIME ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND WE DON'T SCORE A TOUCH DOWN EVERY TIME, BUT WE MOVE THE BALL
FORWARD.
>> Jon: DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE HIT THE METRICS THAT YOU
WANTED TO HIT.
>> YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO FALL SHORT BECAUSE IF YOU'RE HITTING
YOUR MARK THAT MEANS YOU DIDN'T SET THEM HIGH ENOUGH, RIGHT.
SO IN HEALTHCARE --
>> Jon: AM I BEING UNREASONABLE TO YOU, AM I BEING UNFAIR
SUGGESTING IN THIS ONE INSTANCE, GOVERNMENT FAILED TO ADDRESS A
PROBLEM IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME FRAME, FAILED TO DO IT --
>> I THINK YOU'RE BEING ENTIRELY FAIR THAT THE VA HAS NOT DONE
WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO IN TERMS OF OUR VETERANS, OKAY.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BUILT UP OVER 50 YEARS.
AND THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES --
>> Jon: WHOSE FAULT IS IT.
>> Jon: NO, NO, NO.
>> THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE SET THE RIGHT BENCHMARKS SO THAT
WE KNOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
AND THAT'S TRUE ON ALL THIS STUFF.
WHEN WE PASSED HEALTHCARE, THERE WAS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT A
SINGLE PAYER PLAN WOULD BE BETTER.
WE NEED A PUBLIC OPTION OR THE WHOLE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES.
AND A LOT OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS I AGREED WITH.
BUT WHAT I KNEW WAS, GIVEN THE LEGACY SYSTEM WE'VE INHERITED,
GIVEN THE POLITICS OF THIS COUNTRY, GIVEN PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS
AFRAID OF SOMETHING NEW, GIVEN OBSTRUCTION AND RESISTANCE FROM
THE OTHER SIDE.
FOR US TO GET THIS DONE AND SUDDENLY HAVE 16 MILLION PEOPLE
WHO HAVE HEALTHCARE WHO DIDN'T HAVE IT BEFORE AND A HUNDRED
PLUS MILLION PEOPLE WHO KNOW THAT IF THEY LOSE THEIR JOB
TOMORROW, THEY CAN STILL GET HEALTHCARE EVEN IF THEY GOT
PREEXISTING CONDITION.
KNOWING THAT A WHOLE BUNCH OFIAN PEOPLE SUDDENLY ARE ABLE TO GET
HEALTHCARE UNDER THEIR PARENTS PLAN? I'LL TAKE THAT.
AND GOING BACK TO THE IRAN DEAL --
[APPLAUSE]
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY WELL ON IRAN, WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST
COMPLETELY ELIMINATE ALL VEST VESTIGES OF ANY
NUCLEAR PROGRAM PROGRAMS.
HERE'S THE REASON.
A, THERE'S NO REASON THEY WOULD EVER DO THAT.
B, THE REASON WE GOT THEM TO THE TABLE IS BECAUSE WE HAVE
COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA AND RUSSIA EVEN WITH ALL THE DISAGREEMENTS
WE HAVE, WE'RE ABLE TO ORGANIZE THEM TO FOCUS, MAKING SURE THEY
DIDN'T HAVE A BOMB.
AND TO KEEP THAT INTERNATIONAL COALITION TOGETHER AND SANCTIONS
TOGETHER, WHAT THAT MEANT WAS WE HAD TO TAKE SOME CONSIDERATION
INTO IRAN'S SAVING FACE AS THEY MOVE FORWARD ON THIS DEAL.
AS LONG AS WE KNEW THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET A BOMB.
I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING JON IS THAT IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO FOCUS
ON WHAT THREE QUARTERS OF WHAT YOU GET YOUR JOB IS TO POINTED
OUT WHAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN.
THAT'S WHY OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS IS BECAUSE WE KEEP ON MAKING
IMPROVEMENTS.
>> Jon: YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH THIS WHOLE
SANDWICH ANALOGY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> BUT WHAT WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF, I GUESS WHAT I DO
FIGHT AGAINST --
>> Jon: I FEEL IT.
>> NO, NO.
>> Jon: I FELT THE MOOD CHAN GE. I FELT IT.
>> HERE'S WHAT I FIGHT AGAINST.
WHAT I FIGHT AGAINST IS THAT CYNICISM, I'M NOT SAYING -- THE
CYNICISM THAT IS FED BY THIS NOTION THAT GOVERNMENT DOESN'T
GET STUFF DONE.
AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT WHETHER IT'S OUR MILITARY
OR ALL KINDS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THE VA OR IN AG OR IN ALL OF
THE AGENCIES THAT WORK AT IT, EVERY SINGLE DAY THERE'S A BUNCH
OF STUFF THAT IS GETTING DONE THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND
HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND IF THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT HAS SOME, IN THE
INTEREST OF FAIRNESS OR OBJECTIVITY OR WHAT HAVE YOU,
DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE AND FOCUS ON THE ENORMOUS SUCCESSES BUT ALSO
THE FACT THAT YES THERE'S A HUMAN ENTERPRISE, THERE'S GOING
TO BE SOME TRADE OFFS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE SCREWING OFF.
WHEN PROBLEMS COME UP THEY SHOULD BE FIXED.
SOMETIMES NOT AS FAST AS THEY SHOULD.
WHEN WE LOSE SIGHT OF THAT WE ARE LEADING INTO THIS NARRATIVE
THAT BASICALLY SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
THEN WHAT WE GET ARE THE PROTEST MOVEMENTS ON THE LEFT OR THE
RIGHT.
TO SOME DEGREE THE TEA PARTY IS AN EXPRESSION OF FRUSTRATION.
THEY SEE A BUNCH OF STUFF GOING ON THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THEY FEEL THREATENED BY AND THEY REACT.
INCLUDING ME.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Jon: YOU MAKE THEM SOUND LIKE BUNNIES.
[LAUGHTER]
>> SO I JUST, I MEAN THE ONE THING THAT I FEEL DEEPLY
ABOUT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL DEEPLY ABOUT WHEN I LEAVE
GOVERNMENT IS STUFF GETS BETTER IF WE WORK AT IT AND WE
STAY FOCUSED ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.
IT DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY GET ALL SOLVED.
AND I WARNED AGAINST THIS WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE BECAUSE
EVERYBODY HAD HOPE POSTERS AND THIS AND THAT AND EVERYBODY WAS
FEELING --
>> Jon: HEY WE DIDN'T MAKE THOSE, YOU MADE THOSE.
>> NO, NO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> Jon: I'M PRETTY SURE THAT CAME FROM YOU.
>> WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT I SAID AT THE
TIME, I SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROJECT.
AND IT'S A PROJECT OF CITIZENS.
IT'S NOT JUST FIX THIS.
IT'S HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE.
AND IT ISN'T PERFECT BUT OVER TIME IT GETS BETTER.
AND HERE'S THE THING I CAN SAY, JON.
I CAN SAY THIS UNEQUIVOCALLY.
THE V.A. IS BETTER NOW THAN WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE.
IT IS BETTER NOW THAN WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE.
GOVERNMENT WORKS BETTER THAN WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE.
THE ECONOMY BY EVERY METRIC IS BETTER THAN WHEN I CAME INTO
OFFICE.
AND SO THE REASON I CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT IS I SAID TO MYSELF DO YOU
KNOW WHAT, IT'S BETTER.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW, AM I SATISFIED WITH IT? NO.
AND SHOULD VOTERS BE SATISFIED WITH IT?
ABSOLUTELY NOT BECAUSE OTHERWISE IF WE GET COMPLACENT AND LAZY,
THEN STUFF DOESN'T HAPPEN.
>> Jon: NO, THAT'S TOTALLY WHAT I WAS SAYING.
>> YOU AND ME, WE'RE RIGHT THERE.
>> Jon: CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING.
>> YOU CAN.
>> Jon: I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE COMMERCIAL WISE.
I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO JUST THROW TO COMMERCIAL.
HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
WE'LL GO TO A COMMERCIAL.
WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK MORE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT NEXT.
I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU, WHATEVER THE SUBJECT MATTER IS.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA.