Yes.

Well, let me first say that President Obama, as you know, called President-elect Francois Hollande of France yesterday to congratulate him. In that...

Well, I would make two points. First of all, we will not negotiate on behalf of European countries here at the White House -- or between European countries...

Well, I have no update on the President's personal views. What the Vice President said yesterday was to make the same point that the President has...

I think the President is the right person to describe his own personal views. He, as you know, said that his views on this were evolving, and I don't...

Well, look, each country has its own circumstances. Europe has its own distinct problems with the eurozone crisis, and we're not going to dictate to...

Well, I don't have any scheduling announcements to make on behalf of Secretary Geithner, but I think, as you know, Matt, the Treasury Secretary has...

The President was asked this and said that his views on -- his personal views on this were evolving. The President does have, as you noted, significant...

-- ensuring hospital visitation rights for LGBT patients and their loved ones, and I could go on.

His record on the LGBT rights is simply unparalleled, and he will continue to fight for those rights going forward.

Well, I think you have heard him say and those in the administration like myself who speak for him that he strongly opposes efforts to restrict rights,...

Well, I think the Vice President expressed his personal views. He also said he was evolving on the issue. I think the description --

He did.

Let me just be clear, though. The Vice President -- what he said about the protection of rights of citizens is completely consistent with the President’s...

No. Look, this President has been extremely aggressive in supporting LGBT rights. He fought against those who oppose the repeal of “don’t ask,...

Well, the President is aware of it. I do not believe he’s seen it, or I do not know that he’s seen it. We remain greatly concerned for Mr. Weinstein’s...

I think that’s your characterization, Jake.

I think the President said that he was evolving, and he had -- I think when people have asked him that and he has no update to give them or no change...

But I will.

Jake, I think the President's position is well known. He's spoken to this. It's gotten a great deal of coverage. I don't have an update to provide...

I think the -- talking points to you; serious substantial rights to others. Okay? "Don't ask, don't tell" -- repealing "don't ask, don't tell" is...

I think that's the context of this discussion. I just don't have anything more to give to you on the issue of the President's views.

It is as it was, yes.

Norah.

I would just point you to what the President has said in the past, both during his campaign for President in 2008 and in answer to a question at the...

The President is comfortable with same-sex couples, as the President -- the Vice President said, being entitled to the same rights and the civil rights...

I will leave it to individuals to describe their own personal views. What I can explain to you is what the President's positions are on issues, the...

I just don't have an update for you, Norah, on the President's position on his personal views. I can tell you that he is a absolutely committed supporter...

I was pointing to this statement that the Vice President's office put out yesterday describing his statements, and I don't have any elaboration on that....

Well, I can tell you that the President has spoken about this, and that his views have not changed and I have no update to give you on them.

I think the President has and will continue to defend his record and make a strong case for the actions that he's taken to reverse the most cataclysmic...

I think we are better off gaining jobs than losing jobs at a rate of 800,000 per month. We're better off growing the economy than we are seeing it...

Well, I don't know that the -- the office of the Vice President put out a statement. I think that there was a lot of interest generated by the comments...

No, I don't think that's what the Vice President said yesterday. But again, I don't think that's the point. The President and the Vice President and...

Well, the President believes that the states are deciding this issue, and he has made clear --

Well, I think that we certainly oppose efforts to take away rights at a federal level, which some politicians suppose -- a constitutional amendment...

The President, through the campaign -- but the same person opposes efforts to deny the rights of citizens in any state where those rights have been...

The record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples. That is...

Well, he believes that states --

He believes that the states are -- marriage is a state issue, and the states have the right to take action on it. What he opposes is efforts to repeal...

I think that we are looking at the eurozone crisis as a whole. We understand that the political parties in Greece are working to form a coalition,...

I’m not going to speculate about --

Well, I would simply say that stability in Europe is important. It’s certainly important for America’s economic growth. And we’re continuing...

Let me get Laura, and then yes.

Well, on the issue of the platform, which hasn’t been developed yet, I would refer you to the DNC.

I think it’s a statement of the party’s view and has long been that. But I don't have -- I haven’t had that discussion with him. But I think...

Again, I don't have a different answer for you, Laura. It’s a platform that hasn’t been developed. I would point you to the DNC for questions...

I think the President will tomorrow talk about some of the things that Congress should and must do to help the economy grow and create jobs. I won’t...

Well, I think past efforts have to some degree been effective. We have an extension of the payroll tax cut only because of the President’s firm decision...

The President has put forward, with the American Jobs Act and the initiatives that he described in the State of the Union that will help create an America...

You’re good. (Laughter.) Somebody give him a seat, please, if you could.

Please, somebody give Lester a seat.

Let me move around a little bit.

Sure.

The President has put forward a number of initiatives that are built around the notion that we need to continue to take steps to grow this economy after...

Connie -- al Qaeda, sure.

Well, I think you’re conflating a number of things, Connie. And I don't think anybody would -- I think a lot of ink has been spilled over the differentiation...

I think the President and President-elect Hollande will have a number of issues to discuss. I think he wants to meet with him because he’s just been...

I think we can wait until NATO meets in Chicago to discuss steps going forward on Afghanistan. The President was just in Afghanistan last week, as...

Well, we certainly support the effort to reach a compromise. We think it’s very important, as we’ve said before, that this reauthorization take...

I’ll have to take that question. I don't have any specifics for you on the legislation.

Steve.

I’ll have to take that question. I haven’t --

Yes, sure. I just don't -- I haven’t been asked it before, so I --

I’ll have to get back to you on that.

Yes, Mara.

The referendum would, as I understand it, restrict and deny rights to LGBT Americans. And the President --

That's my understanding, yes.

You have to ask civil libertarians or lawyers?

We believe that -- the President believes strongly that LGBT Americans should enjoy the same legal rights, and he opposes efforts to deny rights to...

Look, I don't have an update for you on the President's personal views. He described them in response to a question. This has gotten a great deal...

The President said that his views on this are evolving. I think --

Not necessarily. I think he just said they were evolving. And that's at a personal level. His views on LGBT rights are crystal-clear and this administration...

Chris, I think everybody in this room is reacting in the way that folks often do to one story that takes off and then they run down the field and chase...

It's the same position. It's not the position of the White House. The President's position is --

Because the Vice President's statements were being misinterpreted by some, so he -- so there was an effort to clarify it by the office of the Vice President.

But that's where the President is, okay.

April.

Policy positions haven't changed, Jake. And I can remind you that his support for LGBT rights is unprecedented and compares favorably to anyone else...

No, I'm not going to, April. I'm sorry, I don't have anything new for you.

The next time the President has a news conference, if you want to ask him that you’re certainly welcome to. I do not have an update for you on the...

I’ll have to get back --

Yes, April, but I don’t have -- I have to take that question.

Yes.

Sure.

I don’t have a readout for you of conversations they’ve had on this issue.

Again, I don’t have a readout for you of private conversations that they’ve had.

Andrei.

Well, I don’t know that we’ve made any announcement. The President very much looks forward to meeting with President-elect Putin when he’s here....

I don’t have an announcement to make on any meetings.

I’ll have to take that question.

I would point you to the readout we gave. I think that contained the topics.

I don’t think I’ll analyze another country’s politics. I would simply say that our alliance with France is enduring and will continue to be a...

Look, we have issues with France that we will work on regardless of who’s President or which government -- which party is in power. And I think that...

I would simply say that his views are evolving, which is what he said. And I don’t have an update for you on that issue.

Amy.

The Vice President spoke very clearly about the President's policies, and they're entirely consistent with the policies that this President has supported....

Well, he was just elected yesterday. I don’t have any more insight into that except to say that our position on Syria I think is quite clear. We...

I think I will simply point you to what the Vice President said yesterday. The Vice President supports this President's policies in support for LGBT...

I would just point you to what the Vice President said.

Lester, you deserve a question after collapsing.

Well, I'll just take the one question. I'm not aware of that. The President believes strongly that we have an unshakeable alliance with Israel, and...