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President Announces Delay in Issuing Immigration Executive Order Until After Midterm Elections; Survivor of Iraq Army Massacre by ISIS Tells Story; Mitch McConnell Battles Challenger in Close Senate Race

Aired September 06, 2014 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A very compassionate move by the Bengals and, of course, we wish Devon, the family, and his daughter the best.

All right, hello, again, everyone, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the big stories we're following this hour.

We begin with a major announcement out of Washington. President Barack Obama deciding to delay executive action on immigration until after the midterm elections in November. Let's go straight to the CNN White House correspondent Erin McPike. So, Erin, what more is the White House saying about this?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, President Obama made this decision on the plane ride back to the United States from the U.K. last night. However, I want to play for you something he said in the Rose Garden on June 30th vowing to take this action on immigration reform. Listen --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If Congress will not do their job at least we can do ours. I expect the recommendations before the end of the summer. And I intend to adopt those recommendations without further delay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: Now, President Obama's team did insist that he will make some sort of action by the end of the year, but they are not going to do anything before the midterm elections because their fear is that it could ignite the right wing of the Republican party, make this a big issue, and then Democrats could, in fact, lose the Senate as they're in danger of doing now.

However, what we have heard from White House officials is that if Democrats hang on to the Senate, the calculation is that maybe Republicans will come to the table and then pass comprehensive immigration reform later. But I want to read to you a statement that we got from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell today. Listen here. He says, "What's so cynical about today's immigration announcement is that the president isn't saying he'll follow the law. He's just saying he'll go around the law once it's too late for the Americans to hold his party to count in the elections. This is clearly not decision making designed around the best policy. It's Washington politics at its worst."

Now, on the other side of the spectrum you have pro-immigration reform groups who are really upset with President Obama, saying they are not providing deportation relief to many undocumented immigrants, Fred. So a lot of disappointment on both sides of the aisle today.

WHITFIELD: All right, Erin McPike, thanks so much, at the White House today. Appreciate that.

Severe rain and winds hit Michigan hard last night. Tents full of people went flying when a massive storm there blew in. Several people were hurt at two different church events at Detroit last night. And the power outages are expected to last for several days. Crews from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are all helping with the repair work.

A private funeral for comedienne Joan Rivers is said for tomorrow in New York. A short time ago CNN caught Rivers' daughter Melissa leaving her mother's apartment with her son. She told CNN the tributes to her mother are, quote-unquote, "amazing."

Meanwhile, an investigation is under way in to the clinic where Joan Rivers suffered complications from surgery.

Jamaican search crews have spotted possible debris from a plane that crashed in the ocean near the island. That's according to the Jamaican government's information service. The flight left Rochester, New York, yesterday morning and was heading for Naples, Florida, where the couple owns a home. But somewhere over North Carolina air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilot after he mentioned having a problem. The plane flew for hours unresponsive before crashing near Jamaica, onboard the pilot and his wife.

We've heard all the horror stories of ISIS massacres. But "The New York Times" interviews an Iraqi soldier who survived one of those mass executions. His incredible story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, we have all heard the monstrous stories of ISIS raping women, slaughtering Iraqis, beheading journalists, and massacring Iraqi soldiers. "The New York Times" interviewed an Iraqi soldier who remarkably survived an ISIS massacre. Somehow Ali Kadhim was able to hide among his fallen comrades, wait until nightfall, and then escape the clutches of ISIS. His story gives credence to the claims from ISIS that they executed up to 1,700 Iraqi soldiers in one day.

This video shot by ISIS in June shows the Iraqi troops being rounded up for mass execution. And what we're about to show you is certainly not appropriate for children, so if they're in the room, you need to have them leave. When this video is over we'll discuss it, and we won't show any more graphic images. Kadhim tells his story in Arabic. Translation from "The New York Times" will be at the bottom of your screen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm 100 percent sure. Not only 100 percent, a million percent.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In June ISIS militants massacred hundreds of army recruits. This is the improbable story of Ali Kadhim, the only known survivor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm married and have two children. We don't have anything, no work, no salary, no land. So where could I go.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ali volunteered for the military on June 1st. He was stationed at Camp Speicher, a former U.S. military base near Tikrit and two hours north of Baghdad. Just 12 days later he was lying on a field surrounded by corpses awaiting a bullet to the head. "The New York Times" verified Ali's story using witness accounts, a Human Rights Watch report, and videos of the massacre published online ISIS.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's my group, but I'm not in this picture. They made us sit like this, the seat of death. I was the fourth in line. As I turned I saw the first shot in the head. The blood shot up. I thought that was the end for me. There was nothing more to fear. But then I remembered my family. It was a difficult feeling. I kept thinking about my family. Who will care for them? What will happen to them?

He shot the first, the second, the third. Then he came to me. I swear he fired. But I don't know where the bullet went. The guy on one side fell, the guy on the other side fell. They were like this, mouth open, bloodied, flies all over. And I opened this eye. I still remember his shoe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Incredible story. Joining me now to talk about this story of survival a "New York Times" senior video journalist Adam Ellick. He is part of the team that produced and wrote the story Ali Kadhim's harrowing escape. Adam, this is an incredible story, and one has to wonder if he worries about his own life even now after sharing his story.

ADAM ELLICK, SENIOR VIDEO JOURNALIST, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": Thanks for having me on. It's quite an improbable story that he shared with us. You know, it's hard to tell. I mean, I think everyone in this region worries about their safety to come degree, but right now Ali lives in a large city. It's mostly Shiite, which is, he's a Shiite, and ISIS does not have a presence or at least a strong presence in this region. So we checked in with him after this ran, and he expressed to us that he's feeling comfortable and safe these days.

WHITFIELD: And, Adam, help us understand how he was located. How did you and your team find him and then get him to tell the story with, you know, such candor and with such ease? ELLICK: Yes. Most of the credit goes to my colleagues in Iraq. Mike

Shum located him, found him through the help of some Iraqi journalists. Ali had told his story to Iraqi television, but this was sort of the first time that his story was reported internationally. And our bureau chief in the region Tim Arango visited his house on two occasions. So we spent sort of three separate visits with him in order to verify and crosscheck his story.

WHITFIELD: And does he and maybe even his family or even neighbors, do they -- have they shared their sentiments now about how fearful they are of an ISIS return to their lives?

ELLICK: You know, we asked Ali what's in store for him in the future, and it was sort of inspiring to hear him say that he wants to reenlist in the military once he sort of digests what happens and decides to embark on his next step. And he said one of the reasons he wants to join the fight is to take on ISIS in honor and in memory of his fallen colleagues. You know, there were roughly 1,700 recruits at this military base, and from what we know he's the only known survivor. So it's quite warming that he wants to sort of continue the fight on behalf of his fallen comrades.

WHITFIELD: Did he express, you know, his views somewhere in the future? Does he think that ISIS will be defeated? I understand you're telling me that he wants to be part of trying to defeat ISIS, but does he think it's realistic? Does he feel like there will be -- his country will return to its people?

ELLICK: Yes, you know, our video that you just showed a clip of is about seven or eight minutes long. In the original Arabic interview with him was 55 minutes, so obviously we had to cut out quite a bit. One of the things he told my colleagues in Iraq towards the end was that he thinks that ISIS can be defeated, but he also said that he doesn't think they can be defeated without the help of other nations.

Now, of course, it's important to keep in mind, you know, Ali is not educated, and he, as you saw in the clip there, he's an unemployed farmer, so, you know, I don't want to, you know, think that he's, you know, a pundit when it comes to international relations. But he did make it clear to us that he hopes other nations can join the fight.

WHITFIELD: He's speaking of his hopes from his heart and from his mind and his experience. Adam Elic, thank you so much for bringing that to us. It's extraordinary and extremely thought provoking. It certainly lingers with you.

ELLICK: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate it.

All right, in the meantime, there is a fierce fight going on right now in this country in Kentucky. It pits a Senate veteran against a Washington outsider, and it's likely to get pretty ugly fast. We'll tell you why, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: OK. We're less than nine weeks away from Election Day, and the battle for control of the Senate is heating up. This week in Kansas Democratic candidate Chad Taylor dropped out, but the Kansas secretary of state has ruled his name will remain on the ballot. It has been speculated that Taylor's decision to drop out would help the campaign of Greg Orman, who is already a serious threat to Republican incumbent Pat Roberts.

In Alaska one of the most vulnerable Democrats up for reelection is getting help from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The group has made a multimillion ad buy for Senator Mark Begich who is in hot water after a recent attack ad against Republican Dan Sullivan backfired.

And then there's Kentucky, where Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is hoping for a change in title to majority leader? But he'll have to get past a strong challenge to his own reelection first. Here's CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This year's marquee political race is a study in contrasts -- a 35-year-old Democrat, a Washington novice, running to be Kentucky's first female senator.

ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES, (D) KENTUCKY SENATE CANDIDATE: Mitch McConnell's Washington, well, it's not working for Kentucky.

BASH: The 72-year-old top Senate Republican in the fight of his life to win and take over the Senate.

MITCH MCCONNELL, (R-KY) SENATE MINORITY LEADER: There is nobody Barack Obama wants to beat worse than Mitch McConnell.

BASH: Mitch McConnell is the ultimate political tactician and old school "bring home the bacon" senator. But he is not a farm and fuzzy campaigner at all.

Alison Lundergan Grimes is a natural at pressing the flesh with voters. But in interviews she often sounds scripted.

Give me some Kentucky candor. Is the president a drag on you here?

GRIMES: I think that Kentuckians are seeing this race for what it is, a chance to actually move Kentucky forward in the right direction.

BASH: Grimes is giving McConnell his toughest challenge in years, raking in campaign cash, getting help from family friend Bill Clinton, and airing clever TV ads.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Senator, why did you vote two times against the violence against women act and against enforcing equal pay for women?

BASH: His goal, tie her to President Obama, who in 2012 won only four of Kentucky's 120 counties, and is even more unpopular now.

MCCONNELL: She's a new face for the status quo, a new face to vote for Barack Obama.

BASH: She paints him as the personification of Washington dysfunction.

GRIMES: He has nothing left to give to the people of this state, no new ideas, actually promising further gridlock.

BASH: You have to hear McConnell's retort to believe it. The 30-year Senate veteran is running as an agent of change.

MCCONNELL: The only thing they can do in 2014 to begin to change the direction of the country is to change the makeup of the Senate.

BASH: And put him in charge.

You know the joke that most senators look in the mirror and they see a future president. You at least I don't think --

MCCONNELL: I never had that problem.

BASH: -- was one of those people.

MCCONNELL: I didn't have that affliction.

BASH: But you have always wanted to be the majority leader of the Senate. Is that fair to say?

MCCONNELL: I would like to have the chance to be the majority leader of the Senate, yes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. That was CNN's Dana Bash. So, this race is a tight one. According to the latest CNN/ORC poll McConnell has a slim lead among likely voters, but it's within the margin of error. But there's plenty of time before Election Day. And 19 percent of likely voters say they could change their minds before casting their ballot.

All right, straight ahead, must-see viral videos. Would you do this? Hear the story next. I don't know what he was doing there.

OK, well, first, living with a chronic illness can be difficult. Imagine passing it on to your children. One man used the opportunity to make a change. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains in today's "Human Factor."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Carly LYnnette was born to be in the water. A competitive swimmer since she was four, this spunky little gal from outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, has her eye on the Olympics. Pretty impressive goal for a nine-year-old with type I diabetes. Her upbeat attitude really helps.

CARLY LENETT: I'm no different from any other kid. I just need to watch sometimes what I eat. GUPTA: Type I diabetes isn't a stranger to the Lynnette family.

Carly's dad Mitch also has it. Their family was told their daughter had only a seven percent chance of also contracting the disease, but the odds weren't with them.

MITCH LENETT, CARLY'S FATHER: It's really hard for me because I felt responsible.

GUPTA: But Mitch and Carly decided to turn a negative experience into a positive one. Two years ago they began to raise money for the American Diabetes Association by starting a swim-a-thon. Carly swam 100 laps and collected more $9,000, last year 110 laps. Later this month she will attempt three miles and hopes to add to that goal of $100,000 in five years.

CARLY LENETT: I'm really proud of myself because I know that I'm doing the right thing.

MITCH LENETT: Words can't describe how proud we are of Carly and her dedication and her commitment to empowering herself.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: An all-new "CNN MONEY" is coming up next. Christine Romans is here with a preview. Christine?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST, "CNN MONEY": Hi, Fredricka. Hiring slowed in August, the smallest job gains of the year. Plus, hackers target Home Depot and expose celebrities. We're going to take you to the dark corners of the Internet where all of this is happening. It's coming up on 2:30 p.m. eastern on a brand-new "CNN MONEY." Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you so much, Christine. Appreciate that.

All right, so, it's been a busy week, right. So you may have missed some really great videos that are trending online, and that's where we come in. We picked up some great ones for you. They all went viral.

So here we go. First up, this antsy lion you're about to see, that's an antsy lion, and it just wanting to give a hug! Would you do that? The video is from John Hawkins for Medusa.org and it has gotten more than 2 million views on YouTube. Oh, that's so cute.

And then equally cute perhaps? Next Adam Levine, the singer, and his appearance on "The Tonight Show." Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Who does he sound like? That was his impression of Michael Jackson singing, of course, "Sesame Street." That's part of the whole shtick there. That's part of the game there on "The Tonight Show." You got a mystery, I guess, impersonation, and then you're given a song, and he put them together. So pretty talented. And that video 9 million hits on YouTube.

All right, thanks so much for joining us. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. See you again tomorrow. "CNN MONEY" starts right now. How's that?