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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Visits Iowa; David Haines Beheaded; Second American Held in North Korea

Aired September 14, 2014 - 17:00   ET

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


HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: The coal miner's son and schoolteacher's daughter learned that the only direction that matters in life is forward. And they also learned to never quick, never lose faith, never stop fighting for others when you get knocked down, get right back up.

So that's why they're champions for families fighting to get into the middle class and those fighting to stay there. For children, for veterans for farmers, for people with disabilities. In fact, for all of us.

And by the way, if you need any further evidence for how important control of the Senate actually is, look no further than Tom's efforts to help us pass the global treaty on the rights of people with disabilities.

As secretary of state working with the president we made the case that this was a tribute to the United States because it was based on the land's mark legislation, the Americans with disabilities act. That was one of Tom's finest accomplishments.

But unfortunately, a handful of Republican senators stood in the way despite impassioned pleas from people with disabilities from across our country including their owned former leader, war hero, Bob Dole.

So don't let anyone tell you that it really doesn't matter.

Now, throughout his career, Tom has gotten results by finding common ground where he could and standing his ground when he should. Good jobs, higher wages, better schools, a cleaner environment, civil rights, quality affordable healthcare, Tom has fought for them all.

Now, I served in the Senate with him for a year. As he said, we were on the same committee. I know how hard he worked and I know how effective he was getting things done for Iowa and for America. How did he do it? Well, there is story told about Tom that I think is pretty telling.

One of his neighbors from Cumming said that when he was young, Tom was pitching hay to a nearby farm to make a little extra money for his family. He was up on a truck catching the bails and suddenly he lost his balance and fell. Everyone froze when Tom got up, everybody there said he should just call it a day. But not Tom Harkin. Instead he dusted himself off. Climbed right back up on that truck and got back to work. Now I grew up in a middle class family outside of Chicago. Very

different from where Tom was raised. But when I got to know Tom and Ruth, I recognized in them the same values that I learned from my own parents.

My mother had a childhood that none of us would want -- abandoned and mistreated first by her parents and then by her grandparents. So she had to start working when she was 14. But she overcame all that she faced and became a wonderful mother to me and my brothers and she channeled her own struggles into a deep conviction that there is worth dignity in every human being. That everyone matters. That everyone deserves not just a chance but a second chance and even a third chance to keep going and to make something of themselves.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: That was one of the most important lessons of my life and I know that it was for Tom and Ruth as well. They have never forgotten where they came from, who they are and what they want to do, to open doors and to put that ladder up for others.

They have actually lived that lesson. Now, Tom keeps score in politics, the same that Bill and I do. We asked ourselves. Are people better because of your efforts? Do children have brighter futures? Do we find ways to work together instead of being apart and divided? One of the reasons this election is so important is because in Washington, there is too little cooperation ad too much conflict. And when it comes to moving America forward we know what it takes. We have seen it. We have seen it in Tom Harkin. We have seen it Bill Clinton and we have seen it in Barack Obama.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: Under President Obama's leadership, our country is on the road to recovery. Now here in Iowa, for example, exports are up. For farmers they are way up. Unemployment is down, down more than 35 percent since 2009 to just four and a half percent this summer. Renewable energy production has quadrupled in Iowa which means more jobs and a cleaner environment. And thanks to the affordable care act, insurance companies have been forced to refund more than $1.7 million to Iowa families.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hello, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye in New York. You have been listening there to Hillary Clinton speaking at Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's 37th and final steak fry. Her appearance today fuels more speculation, of course, that she will make another run for the presidency.

Brianna Keilar is in Iowa watching all of this. Brianna, if you will, gauge the excitement level there for another Clinton run. Are Iowans being receptive?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think definitely, Randi. And this is certainly a crowd that is. It wasn't -- has not been so far. It continues sort of a barn burner of a speech. It is that also not what we heard from Senator Tom Harkin. This is -- I guess we could say is somewhat low key affair and an off

presidential year to midterm year. But this is the crowd that is really listening intensely to see what Hillary Clintons says. She talked about the basic bargain of America which is actually something in a way that we heard many times from President Obama. The idea that, as she puts it, and she put it here, that if you work hard, you play by the rules, and you get an opportunity.

And really the reason she is here, even though she talked, Randi, about how yes she is thinking about running. She also is right now and has been for much of her remarks talking about the values of Tom Harkin is retiring after serving several terms in the Senate. He is very popular here in this whole of nation caucus state of Iowa, the back end 2008 was not friendly to Hillary Clinton.

And something else that struck me as well, Randi, was back in 2008 when Hillary Clinton, she finished third here behind President Obama, then Senator Obama, and John Edwards. She said I was back here six years ago in 2007. Remember, there was a guy name Barack Obama, she said, you know, he has headed gone on to be president. A little bit of humility coming from her. And that is certainly something that you heard from Iowans. That she need to show here in what is seen as kind of a reset with the state Randi.

KAYE: Yes, certainly. So this time around, Brianna, I mean, has she given any hint about what she might do differently in Iowa if she does run again?

KEILAR: One of the things that I think, you know, not to sort of take too much from this singular speech here, but she talked about a couple of women's issues. She talked about reproductive health. She talked about equal pay.

One of the things we didn't see her do so much in 2007 and 2008 was really sort of embrace women as a constituency. And I think that part of the tip off, that was also everything that we have seen her do. We have seen her (INAUDIBLE) focusing on women and girls that it's going to be different this next go around. That many is in constituency that is so important.

Many analysts who argued that is really the one to watch. That will be the margin that could very much deliver, not just in the midterms but in the presidential election. And I think what we will be hearing a lot from her really capitalizing on this aptitude of will be the female candidate f she run rather than really trying to kind of put that on the background like we saw her do almost six years ago.

KAYE: Yes. That is certainly what we did see.

All right, Brianna Keilar, thank you very much in Iowa for us there with the Clintons.

And still ahead, the latest on ISIS and David Haines murder including comments from secretary of state John Kerry that a coalition may be taking better shape.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: The beheading of British aid worker David Haines at the hands of ISIS militants is adding new urgency to efforts to build a global an anti-ISIS coalition. And on the eve of the multi nation summit in Paris focus on the crisis in Iraq, secretary of John Kerry says his attempt to build an alliance are paying off. He says many other nations in the Middle East and beyond are signing up to help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: We have countries in this region, countries outside of this region in addition to the United States, all of whom are prepared to engage in military assistance and actual strikes if that is what it requires. And we also have a growing number of people who are prepared to do all the other things. People should not think about this and this effort just in terms of strikes. In fact, has some have pointed out, that alone is not going to resolve this challenge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: And you heard there, an optimistic secretary of state Kerry says a number of countries are prepared to engage in military assistance against the same ISIS militants who have beheaded three westerners now. But will this coalition hold up and when specific details are decided on, will this be a tough sell both at home and abroad?

Let me turn to Congressman Adam Schiff. California Democratic senior member of House intelligence committee.

Congressman, nice to see you. Now, that Secretary Kerry has wrapped his trip to the region, what does Congress need, what does congress want to hear from him?

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Well, of course we would like to know exactly what our allies n the region and elsewhere are prepared to do. And I think probably the most important thing is how many of them are willing to be open about it.

So far, Saudi Arabia has step forward and says it is willing to play a very open role and helping to train these (INAUDIBLE) moderate opposition forces. You know, the country has never been quite quiet about their participation. They are giving general statements of support. I'm sure that behind the scenes they are prepared to do a lot more. But what we really need this to be is this regional partners taking at the front role in combating this terrorist state, this ISIL. It can't be the United States or the west being perceived as being anti-Sunni. So it is a very important to not only enlist this regional allies, but to enlist them in the very public way.

KAYE: Let me ask you about Senator Lindsay Graham, Republican. Senator Lindsey Graham, he certainly advocates using U.S. special forces that needed to find ISIS. And he was on FOX News Sunday. I want you to listen what he says and then we ask you about it.

((BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: This is a turning point in the war on terror. We're fighting a terrorist army, not an organization. It's going to take an army to beat an army. And this idea we'll never have any boots on the ground to defeat them in Syria is fantasy. So I will not let this president suggest to the American people we can outsource our security, and this is not about our safety. There is no way in hell you could form an army on the ground to go into Syria to destroy ISIL without a substantial American component.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: There he is saying no boots on the ground, calling it a fantasy. I mean, is this the sentiment for many in Congress?

SCHIFF: No. I think it is fairly isolated sentiment. And my own view is that there is nothing that ISIL would like more. And I think they provocative nature, these beheadings as their attempt to drag us into ground occupation. They love to see us fully exhausted by trying to occupy another Muslim country. I think that would be a grievous mistake.

There is a role for a personnel on the ground as we see in Iraq. But it is not the leading combat. And I think the case for American combat, boots on the ground in Syria is even more (INAUDIBLE). So I don't think that has much support for the Congress or the country and I think for good reason.

KAYE: How big of a direct threat would you say ISIS is to the United States. We talked so much about it. People are wondering. I mean, do we even know? IT seems like the intelligent seems to be changing every day.

SCHIFF: Well, it is a real threat. The most proximate threat though still remains al-Qaeda. And that's been a bit obscured by the growth of ISIS and their increasing numbers. But nonetheless, the bomb making skills are attempt to get bombs steel or metal detectors make groups like AQAP, al-Qaeda Arabian Peninsula. Still among the most dangerous to us in the near term. But if ISIL is left unmolested, if they are allowed to consolidate these territorial games, if they are allowed to be state, they have already express the full attention of attacking us in the home lab. So that can't be allowed to happen. And more than that these thousand of fighters that are coming from Europe and fighters coming from the United States as well pose a real threat to us in the midterm when they after becoming further radicalized, getting additional war making skills, want to come home and trying to keep track over those foreign fighters is going to be a tremendous challenge.

KAYE: Congressman, appreciate your time. Thank you.

SCHIFF: You bet.

KAYE: Much more on the fight against ISIS straight ahead.

Plus, a touching tribute to British aid worker David Haines from his brother, Michael.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: What a difference a few days makes when President Obama addressed the American people and the world this week. He talked about a broad coalition, prepare to take part in the fight against ISIS. And almost immediately, the choir of critics chimed in. Who are these countries and what are the realistic commitments they will provide?