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Bush Calls Trump's Language Comments "Ridiculous"; Fiorina Will Sign Loyalty Pledge. Aired 7:30-8a ET
Aired September 3, 2015 - 07:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAMEROTA: You too. All right, up next, Jeb Bush fires back at Donald Trump and we are breaking down our interview with Carly Fiorina, everything that she just said. What does John King think about it? We'll find out.
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[07:43:34]
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just moments ago Jeb Bush firing back at Donald Trump for saying he should speak English at campaign events in the United States instead of speaking Spanish.
And just moments ago Republican presidential candidate, Carly Fiorina. rising fast in the polls face to face with a fine journalist, Alisyn Camerota here on NEW DAY. A lot to talk about.
CNN's chief national correspondent and host of "INSIDE POLITICS," John King joins us right now. John, the Jeb Bush/Donald Trump thing, every hour that passes, there is a new chapter in this battle. Let's bring everyone up to speed.
Donald Trump sends out -- in an interview with "Bright Bart" tells them that Jeb Bush shouldn't speak Spanish I guess not ever. Listen to what Trump said, "I like Jeb, he's a nice man, but he should really set the example by speaking English while in the United States."
Well, just a few minutes ago, John, on "Good Morning America," Jeb Bush responded to that directive. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The fact that he would say you only can speak English is kind of ridiculous if you think about it. Are we going to close all the foreign language classes? Why would he have a contract with Univision for his beauty pageant?
This is a diverse country. We should celebrate that diversity and embrace a set of shared values. And Mr. Trump doesn't believe in shared values and wants to tear us down. He doesn't believe in tolerance. He doesn't believe in the things that have created the greatness of this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: So your reaction, John, does Jeb Bush went on points, maybe he's right, he lose in the fact that he's been dragged into yet another Donald Trump instigated discussion?
[07:45:04] JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He's on a lot safer ground talking about his own affinity for the use of Spanish, his own relationship, his wife is originally from Mexico. His own position that he thinks if a candidate can speak different languages as they travel this great and diverse country, they should show that and talk to people in their native tongue if they want to be more comfortable.
John and Alisyn, this is one of the defining flash points in the country. When Jeb Bush ran for president, he knew his views on immigration were different from much of the Republican Party. But he thought he would have the argument with Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee, and maybe with Rick Santorum, not with the tornado that is Donald Trump.
If you agree with Mr. Trump that candidates for public office should only speak English, you're allowed that opinion in the United States of America, but you're not going to elect a Republican president. The simple math is, Mitt Romney got 27 percent of the Latino vote.
Barack Obama in the election where the economy was struggling and Republicans should have had a chance, if you look at the historical data, were blown out in the electoral college. Why? Nevada was not in play, a lot of Latinos.
New Mexico was never in play, a lot of Latinos. Obama wins Florida, a lot of Latinos. Swing states like Colorado and Virginia, a group of Latinos that is growing by the hour that are key swing voters in presidential elections.
There's a policy debate here, that's what campaigns are for. Mr. Trump is entitled to his view. Jeb is entitled to his view and you have this out, but in term of the demographic map of the country, if you don't believe John King, go to census.gov and look at the changes in this country. There's a reason Republicans have a problem with Latino voters.
CAMEROTA: John, let's talk about this piece of paper. It says across the top, pledge, and this is apparently what the head of the RNC, Reince Priebus will be asking Donald Trump to sign today bowing not run as a third-party candidate. Apparently they sent this to all Republican candidates. Carly Fiorina was just on NEW DAY and talked about receiving this. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FIORINA: It's unenforceable. It is more than anything else, your word. I would presume that somebody running for president would like to signal to the American people and most especially right now to Republican primary voters that their word can be trusted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: OK, so that was her admitting, yes, it's a gimmick and yes it's unenforceable, but we're all going to sign it.
KING: The party has to do this, Alisyn, as a again a sign of disarray in the Republican Party. The Republican Party has been sort of drifting at the national level. Look at all the success at the state and national level.
The Republicans have won everything except the presidency in the Obama years and yet they are in this crazy fight over if you want to run, you have to pledge your loyalty. This is about all Donald Trump.
Because the Republicans look at the polling and know if Mr. Trump spins off to run as a third-party candidate, there is a 90 percent likelihood that a Democrat would be elected president of the United States at least based on the polling today.
Now Mr. Trump could make the argument he could change those numbers. There's certainly time to change those numbers, but the expectation -- I was talking to some people last night and others at CNN had done this reporting.
The expectation and the word is that Mr. Trump is prepared to say, I'm a Republican, I'm going to run as a Republican. I pledge my loyalty as a Republican. As Carly Fiorina just said, it's not binding and he can change his mind down the road, but again Mr. Trump knows math.
Look at his own map, nearly eight in ten Latinos have an unfavorable opinion. Eight in ten African-Americans say they have an unfavorable opinion. He doesn't have a path at least today. Mr. Trump has no path to presidency as a third-party candidate.
Being a Republican he does have a path now to the nomination and if he gets the Republican nomination, who knows?
CAMEROTA: There you go. John King, always great to talk to you and get your take. We appreciate it. So what is your take, all of you watching? You can tweet using #newdaycnn or post your comment on Facebook.com/newday. We enjoy reading all of those comments.
BERMAN: So will Donald Trump sign this here pledge right now? The RNC's loyalty pledge, will he vow not to run as a third-party candidate? Not now, not ever? Will his rivals do the same? We'll ask New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who is live in our next hour.
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[07:53:12]
PEREIRA: Little change of venue here for this. No shortage of late night laughs apparently when it comes to politics. Jimmy Fallon had a little fun with an interview that Dick Cheney did with CNN. Remember that? (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY FALLON, LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST: I saw in an interview with CNN former Vice President Dick Cheney said that he has no plans to endorse Donald Trump. When asked if he would have a change of heart, Cheney was like, yes, every week.
If Trump wins, those 12 states will include shock, confusion, outrage, despair, denial, anger, bargaining, and finally acceptance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PEREIRA: Apparently Trump is on Fallon's show next week. I'm sure there will be some nuggets coming from that as well.
CAMEROTA: I can't wait.
PEREIRA: Right?
CAMEROTA: Great stuff.
All right, meanwhile, all indications suggest that Donald Trump will sign the RNC's loyalty pledge vowing not to mount a third party campaign, but he is unpredictable. Will he really do it?
BERMAN: Plus the hunt for three suspected cop killers hits a major snag. The woman who reported a sighting now says it was all a hoax. Where does the manhunt go from here?
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[07:58:18]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will he or won't he rule out a third party bid?
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That would certainly be the best path to victory.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Donald Trump is criticizing Jeb for speaking Spanish.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pope Francis, when he comes to Washington, he's going to say mass in Spanish. Maybe Mr. Trump will want to deport the Holy Father when he shows up too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three suspected cop killers remain on the loose.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are not discounting anything.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are still unearthed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a sad fact that no one is safe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A symbol of the horror of Europe's refugee crisis.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This train is packed with people who don't really know exactly where it is that they're going.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a very uncertain situation. If they left these children back home, they would end up dead there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: And good morning, everyone. Welcome back to your NEW DAY. It is Thursday, September 3rd, 8:00 in the east. Will Donald Trump promise to endorse the Republican nominee and forego a third party run? Only Trump knows for sure. But Trump is meeting with the RNC chairman, Reince Priebus today to discuss the loyalty pledge.
PEREIRA: Also this morning, the war of words between Trump and Jeb Bush heating up. Trump attacking Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish in the United States. Bush firing back now.
CNN's Sara Murray is live in our Washington Bureau following all of the developments for us -- Sara.
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Good morning, Michaela. We are seeing this push to get Donald Trump to take the loyalty pledge. Sources say they expect he will probably go through with it, but we won't know for sure until he takes the stage for his press conference today at 2:00 p.m. Let's get a little dose of what we might expect.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MURRAY (voice-over): By day's end, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus could have an answer from Donald Trump. Will he or won't rule out a third party bid.
