Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Analysis And Predictions Of Hillary Clinton's Anticipated Speech; City Of Oakland Names Fourth Leader In 10 Days In The Wake Of Two Scandals; CNN Special, "Terror In Paris," Airs Tomorrow Night At 9:00 P.M.; Hillary Clinton Preparing To Give Speech. Aired 10:30-11a

Aired June 21, 2016 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[10:30:50]

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN HOST: ... said Hillary Clinton's speech should be along the same lines as her foreign policy speech, mostly an attack on Donald Trump?

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE, FORMER CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS: At least part of it should be. I know they're -- they have outlined, and are going to outline more, affirmative "here's what she's for." But it's -- there ought to be a day of reckoning for Donald Trump for all of the things -- the crazy things that he said along the way.

And I think as people start to find out what he has actually said, his support for his business, for his economic leadership, I think, is going to dry up.

COSTELLO: Patricia, Clinton is tying herself to President Obama. And while his approval ratings are good, voters don't really feel the economy is exactly booming. So should she distance herself from Obama's economic policies today?

PATRICIA MURPHY, COLUMNIST, THE DAILY BEAST: I don't know that she should distance herself because President Obama, as you said, is still quite popular with the majority of Americans. But I do think she needs to start putting her own stamp on the direction that she's going to take the economy.

I also think she has a slightly more difficult task than she did in her foreign policy speech because she still does have work to bring the Bernie Sanders voters along. I think a number of Bernie Sanders voters are driven primarily by economic concerns, driven primarily by their thought that Hillary Clinton is too close to Wall Street.

So she needs to first bring the Bernie Sanders voters along. But then also take the fight to Donald Trump. So she needs to be watching her left flank and starting to take her policies to the middle as well. So I think it will be a more difficult task than she had to do on foreign policy because that's her wheelhouse.

Obviously the economy is where people -- Trump supporters especially -- tend to trust him and think that he would shine. So her work will be a little bit harder but I do think that the strategy that Austan laid out is the best one. To attack him strongly but also start to lay out the specifics of her own policies.

COSTELLO: S. E., Moody's analytics. It says a Trump Presidency would significantly harm the U.S. economy. And this is from Moody's, "by the end of his presidency, there are close to 3.5 million fewer jobs. And the unemployment rate rises to as high as 7 percent, compared with below 5 percent." I know that Mrs. Clinton will probably bring up this report in her speech ...

S. E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes.

COSTELLO: So how does Mr. Trump combat that?

CUPP: Well, and she does. And she should also point out that his tax plan is reported to cost around 30 trillion dollars over 10 years. She can do all of that, and I'm sure he is prepared for that. But the problem for her with the middle class and the economy, is that she's actually not got a great record there.

While a senator in New York, she co-sponsored more than 800 bills to increase spending, and voted no against two pretty major middle-class tax cuts that eventually were signed into law. She's got Democrats, as Patricia said, who are very skittish about her ties to Wall Street, the Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren flank of the Party does not think that she has found religion on that issue.

And then there's a question of her economic judgment. From her husband's presidency through the Obama presidency, she has supported or voted for some truly economically ruinous programs and policies. From her husband's establishment of the industrial prison complex to the sub-prime loan bonanza that he oversaw. All the way through to some Obama policies that have increased income inequality.

So that -- the mistrust is because of her record, her judgment, and her positions. That's what she has to layout in her economic speech. Why the middle-class should trust her when essentially they feel like she, and Obama, and her husband have let them down.

COSTELLO: Austan, care to comment?

GOOLSBEE: Well look, I think, I think S. E. lays out the -- it will be, the onus will be on Hillary Clinton to show that her program is going to help the middle-class. I agree with that part. I think the fact that Hillary Clinton voted against the Bush tax cuts is not going to be held against her. I think everyone in America looks back and says, "we could not afford to do those Bush tax cuts and they were bad ideas."

And Donald Trump is now proposing something that's four or five times bigger. And even more oriented to high-income people than that was. So I do not doubt that Hillary Clinton is going to continue to outline a program that's helping the middle class. I think if Donald Trump thinks that by raising something like that he's going to take the attention off the crazy ideas that he's had, that will definitely not work.

I mean the man has talked about defaulting on U.S. treasuries, he's said wages are too high in this country. His own businesses are outsourcing jobs for almost everything that they make out of the United States. So I think he's going to have to answer for his own record and that's going to help Hillary Clinton for sure.

COSTELLO: And Patricia one other surprising thing. You know Trump leads Hillary Clinton on the economy. And this poll was taken after all of the Trump University fraud controversy that was so much in the media. Yet Trump still leads on the economy.

MURPHY: He leads on the economy. Again I think that is baked into his brand. He is a businessman. He says he's worth $10 billion, nobody really knows. But he actually trails Hillary Clinton in this poll, on trade. Which I thought was really surprising. And I think we all know this election is not going to come down to specific policies.

This is not going to come down to you're proposing one point to blank, blank, and I'm proposing this and that. This is going to come down to people's gut opinions of these candidates. And I think Hillary Clinton today, the one thing she's gonna do that will be really smart, is to hammer home the concerns about Donald Trump.

Buried deep within this poll is something that should scare the Trump campaign. 56 percent of voters are afraid of a Trump Presidency. That is why Hillary Clinton is hammering him on temperament, hammering him on judgment. This is not going to be a policy-based election, it's going to be people's gut on who is the less catastrophic candidate.

And I think that's what she's going to be pushing today. This will not be a campaign of finesse and details, it's going to be who makes you less sick to go to bed at night. And I think that's where she's going.

COSTELLO: I'm laughing because if I didn't laugh I would cry, that's why I'm laughing. S. E., Donald Trump says he's going to make a big speech tomorrow to discuss the failed policies and bad judgment of "Crooked Hillary Clinton." So she is going to give this speech attacking him, and then tomorrow he's going to give a speech attacking her. And will we learn anything except that these candidates think of each other as just well you know.

[10:36:35]

CUPPS: Unfit, right? No, I expect it to be colorful. What we will see is whether the firing of Corey Lewandowski actually did signal a different tone. So that's what I'll be looking for in that speech. But look, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump actually share a number of positions, or hold similar positions on the economy. From trade, social security, raising the minimum wage. He's actually inoculated himself against some of the Democrats' attacks.

But Austan is right, his policies are absurd and completely unworkable. She can take the tact of dismantling those policies but I expect her today to do more of the same undermining of his character, his judgment, his preparation, his fitness to be President. And I think that's been very effective for her.

She's got some policy problems herself, and some personality problems herself. But I think it's been very effective to question Donald Trump's readiness and fitness to be President.

COSTELLO: All right I have to leave it there. Austan Goolsbee, S. E. Cupp, Patricia Murphy, thanks to all of you. Still to come in the Newsroom, reeling from a sex scandal, the Oakland Police Department names its new leader, the fourth new leader in ten days.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:42:05]

COSTELLO: The Oakland Police Department, rocked by a sex scandal. And for the fourth time in ten days the department has a brand new leader. CNN's Sara Sidner live in Oakland with more. Good morning, Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. You know this department is suffering from a crisis of leadership. They now have their fourth leader in place, his name is Assistant Chief David Downing. He has been on the job here for many years, but he is now the leader of this department for just one day so far.

Only three others have taken this department, as the head of the department, in the past nine days. We've seen all three of them leave. They were either forced to resign, or they resigned on their own. And it all has to do with this sexual misconduct scandal. And now there is a second scandal. A texting racially sensitive information scandal that has gone on as well between some officers.

But the bigger scandal is this sexual misconduct scandal. And it is because a young lady has come forward and said that at least 28 officers across the Bay area, 14 of them here at the Oakland police department, had sex with her. Some of them paid for sex, she says, some of them gave her favors. Including information that there would be prostitution busts but she would not get caught up in them.

Those are some very serious allegations and the biggest allegation that could cause the most problems is that she said that some of the officers had sex with her when she was underage. Which means that they could be charged with statutory rape. So there are criminal investigations going on now within the department, and outside the department.

And the Mayor has reacted fiercely to all of this. It's very embarrassing to the city, but also a problem for the residents and their trust of this department.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIBBY SCHAAF, MAYOR, CITY OF OAKLAND: I feel that this is an appropriate time to place civilian oversight over this police department. And to send a very clear message about how serious we are of not tolerating this conduct, unethical behavior. And to root out what is clearly a toxic macho culture.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: She said that basically, look, "we are running a police department, not a frathouse." And they want to get rid of whoever may be involved in this scandal. That being said, this city is reeling because now there is another scandal that has come forward. Six officers accused of sending racially sensitive texts to one another. And they're looking into that as well.

COSTELLO: All right, Sara Sidner reporting live this morning, thank you. Still to come in the Newsroom, seven months after the Paris terror attacks, a look back at what happened that night, through the eyes of the people who were there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:49:05]

COSTELLO: Sudden coordinated attacks hitting hotspots all over the city. On November 13th, 130 people died when ISIS terrorists struck the city of Paris. We're now learning more about how the Paris terror attacks unfolded from the people who were there as it happened. One was a doctor on duty that night who also witnessed the Charlie Hebdo attacks. CNN's Chris Cuomo is here to tell us more, good morning.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: How are you doing Carol. You know we look back to try to figure out why things happen, what could be learned. Especially on the heels of Orlando. So tonight we're going to be showing you our "Terror in Paris" documentary where we take you through step-by-step. What was known, what happened, and why. Here's an excerpt of one of the attacks that really became a signature of that night.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO (voice-over): It's just after 9:30 p.m. when investigators say the black car they believe carries Abdelhamid Abaaoud and other attackers, pulls up to Casa Nostra. This surveillance video from DailyMail.com shows the moment a normal Friday turns tragic. As bullets fly and everyone inside Casa Nostra ducks for cover.

DOCTOR PATRICK PELLOUX, EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN (via translator): I got a call from one of my colleagues who informed me that shots and explosions had just taken place in Paris. So I immediately got on my motorcycle and returned to the hospital.

CUOMO (voice-over): Outside Casa Nostra the terror continues. A gunman approaches and aims at a woman lying on the ground. He pulls the trigger, then, a miracle. His gun jams and she scrambles to safety.

DIMITRI MOHAMADI, MANAGER, CASA NOSTRA (via translator): It was like I was in a film, in an American movie. Everything was broken. There was a girl that took a bullet there that came out the other side. And her friend had just a little scratch above the shoulders. We had only blood, we didn't have any deaths.

CUOMO (voice-over): But across the street at La Bonne Biere gunman kill five people, wound eight. At the same time others in the terror cell have struck the national stadium. And there is one more target.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[10:51:20]

CUOMO: And obviously the tee-up there is about the attack at the Bataclan which does bear some eerie resemblance to what we just saw in Orlando. And you know, Carol, there's two big motivations. One is as you did so well, and we try to do here at CNN across the board is, you want to respect the victims and remember and remind what people went through.

The second is that you want to understand tactically how you perceive a threat, because that's how you deal with prevention going forward. What happened in Orlando that they're dealing with right now, with police and their tactics, those were supposed to be lessons learned coming out of Paris. So the questions repeat.

COSTELLO: Interesting. So in going to Paris today, I just wondered, is the city still reeling? Because it was admirable the way they just went about their daily lives right after the attack.

CUOMO: I think that -- I think both conditions wind up being true. Like we've unfortunately suffered here in New York City. They are stubbornly clinging to their cafe lifestyle. They are not changing. That is what being Parisian is about, they go out, they meet, they love, they drink, they enjoy. Period.

However, is the perception different now? Is the reality different? Are you worried in a way that you weren't before? That has to be true, it's true for all of us. The question is how you manage your fear with your preparation.

COSTELLO: Chris Cuomo thanks so much. And I look forward to your special tonight. Join Chris Cuomo as he returns to Paris to investigate. "Terror in Paris," the CNN special report tomorrow night, 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:57:00]

COSTELLO: All right you can see those are live pictures of Columbus, Ohio. Hillary Clinton is expected to make a major speech on the economy, and she'll maybe detail her economic plan. But we know one thing for sure, she will hit back against Donald Trump's plans for the economy, making him appear unfit to hold the presidency. We'll keep you posted on Hillary's speech. And of course we'll carry it live.

The search is on for Hillary Clinton's Vice Presidential choice and the contenders are busy dodging questions. CNN's Jeanne Moos has the best and the worst non-answer. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS (voice-over): It's like the dating game but the only game that really matters is when Hillary Clinton actually picks her VP. 'Til then it's guesswork.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Your name has been mentioned.

STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, THE LATE SHOW: There are rumors that you're in Vice President training camp.

MOOS (voice-over): VP training camp involves lavishly praising your possible boss, even paraphrasing a Bon Jovi tune while in the singer's presence.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER (D), NEW JERSEY: I hate to contradict Bon Jovi, but dear God, Hillary Clinton, you give love a good name.

MOOS: A good VP candidate has to master the art of deflection. The ability to bat away those pesky VP questions without ever saying never.

MOOS (voice-over): But sometimes while batting away, they swing and they miss.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Are you being vetted?

REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER BECERRA (D), CALIFORNIA: That's a -- thank you, Happy Father's Day as -- to your father as well. I -- to my knowledge, I don't -- I can't tell you I know.

MOOS (voice-over): A favorite technique is to laugh off the question.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: You wouldn't say no, would you?

BOOKER: I'm already her VP - her Vegan pal.

MOOS (voice-over): And if you're not a vegan, you can always cite your current job.

SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I love the work I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: You know I really love my job.

MOOS (voice-over): Or you can dismiss the question entirely.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Would you say yes?

JULIAN CASTRO, HUD SECRETARY: That is not going to happen. And so I'm not going to hypothesize about that.

MOOS (voice-over): Some don't bother playing coy.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Obviously it would be hard to say no.

MOOS (voice-over): But only a comedian would actually announce he's running for VP.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: You need a good slogan.

JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: Oh, "A good solid number two." That's my slogan.

MOOS (voice-over): Sometimes a potential candidate can be a little too solid, a little too honest.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Do you think that you would be qualified to be Vice President?

JOHN HICKENLOOPER (D), COLORADO: That depends on what your range of assessment is.

MOOS (voice-over): Let's try that question again.

RACHEL MADDOW, HOST, THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW: I want to know if you think you could be.

WARREN: Yes, I do.

MOOS (voice-over): Apparently saying, "I do," applies to political marriages as well. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: All right like I said, Hillary Clinton is expected to deliver a major speech on her economic plan a little later this morning. And we expect there to be an attack on Donald Trump. Donald Trump for his part is expected to lay out a speech tomorrow. And he will shoot back at Hillary Clinton.

We'll keep you posted on that, too. Thank you for joining me today, I'm Carol Costello. AT THIS HOUR with Berman and Bolduan starts now.

[11:00:00]