From a transcript of today's Presidential press conference:
Okay. Last question, Major.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good afternoon.
Q Two issues. Some in your government have said the federal government's boot is on the neck of BP. Are you comfortable with that imagery, sir? Is your boot on the neck of BP? And can you understand, sir, why some in the Gulf who feel besieged by this oil spill consider that a meaningless, possibly ludicrous, metaphor?
Secondarily, can you tell the American public, sir, what your White House did or did not offer Congressman Sestak to not enter the Democratic senatorial primary? And how will you meet your levels of expressed transparency and ethics to convey that answer to satisfy what appear to be bipartisan calls for greater disclosure about that matter? Thank you.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: The -- there will be an official response shortly on the Sestak issue --
Q From you?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: -- which I hope will answer your questions.
Q From you, sir?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: You will get it from my administration, so -- and it will -- it will be coming out -- when I say shortly, I mean shortly. I don't mean weeks or months. With respect to the first --
Q Can you assure the public it was ethical and legal, sir?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I can assure the public that nothing improper took place. But as I said, there will be a response shortly on that issue.
You know, with respect to the metaphor that was used, you know, I think Ken Salazar would probably be the first one to admit that he has been frustrated, angry, and occasionally emotional about this issue -- like a lot of people have. I mean, there are a lot of folks out there who see what's happening and are angry at BP, are frustrated that it hasn't stopped. And so, you know, I'll let Ken answer for himself.
I would say that, you know, we don't need to use language like that; what we need is actions that make sure that BP is being held accountable.
And that's what I intend to do, and I think that's what Ken Salazar intends to do.