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U.S. Views Vladimir Putin as Shoring up Assad; Ben Carson Not Responding to Donald Trump's Attack; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Says Battle over Iran Nuclear Deal over for Now. 3:30-4pm ET

Aired September 11, 2015 - 15:30   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[15:00:00] BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are not saying enormous loss of life there. We are encouraged by the efforts of the European Union to accept refugees in all countries and spread out some of the burdens and the pressure. And as I said, the United States should our share. I said that we should establish a floor of at least 10,000 refugees that we're willing to accept and cut through some of the bureaucracy and red tape to do that.

Ultimately, though, as you well know, it is really important for us to go to the source. You know, there is the old story about if you see much bodies floating down a river, part of your job is to pull those folks out and save who you can, but you also have to go down the stream and see what is happening.

And this refugee crisis is prompted by the collapse of governance in Syria. And the growth of ISIL and cruelty that Assad is perpetrating on his own people. And that's why the response I gave earlier, the importance of us continuing our military efforts against ISIL, but also trying to pull together a strong international diplomatic effort to bring about some sort of political accord.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: All right. So the president addressing the Syrian refugee crisis there, also making news on some recent Russian activity near Syria.

Let's go to the Pentagon to Barbara Starr for more on that.

Obviously, we know Russia is trying to protect Bashar al-Assad. President Obama saying, what, there's good news and there is bad news there.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, these are the president's first remarks on this policy and military confrontation with the Russians in the Middle East, Brooke. The president saying, you know, that he's not happy, making it very clear he's not happy about the Russian military move shipping military equipment into Syria to protect Bashar al-Assad. He calls this a strategy doom to failure and why is he saying this? The U.S. view is that what Vladimir Putin is doing is shoring up Assad

and that's what the U.S. doesn't want to see because shoring up Assad means that ISIS will just stay in place longer in the U.S. view to fight Assad.

The president even, you know, doing a bit of a shout across the bow at Putin saying that Putin should, you know, not be doubled down on protecting Assad because of this ISIS issue and that ISIS poses a bigger threat to Russia than it even does to the United States. You know, even in the last couple of days, the Russian military buildup in Syria has now continued. The U.S. view is that the Russians are moving to establish a forward air base there that they could have eventually start air operations enough housing Russian housing there now for 1400 troops. They've got about 200 troops on the ground already. They are moving (INAUDIBLE) in. They are moving radars in and a lot of Russian gear is moving in. And the president today really for the first time saying he'd like to work with the Russians on some kind of coalition to get a peace agreement, get a political transition in Syria to get Assad out of there, but that is not what the Russians want.

By all accounts, Assad very much inviting the Russians in. The Russians coming in and the U.S. view, from the president, is this is doubling down, in his words, on a losing proposition. Assad will eventually have to go. If the Russians keep him propped up, it only keeps this war going, keeps ISIS going and in the middle of this refugee crisis that the world is watching, just more and more tragedy unfolding.

BALDWIN: Yes. Barbara Starr, thank you so much for putting that into context so eloquently for us. You know, again, the president making two really significant pieces of news, as she mentioned, with the Syrians, with Russians in Syria trying to prop up Assad and also with the Syrian refugee crisis.

When we come back, we heard moments ago from someone who would like to be president. He has been number two, who would like the Republican nomination, standing next to Donald trump come next Wednesday night here on CNN during our big debate. He just spoke from Ferguson, Missouri, and he was asked by one of our reporters if he cared to comment or jab back on Donald trump as he was calling the question, Trump was, his faith, medical record. What Dr. Carson said or did not say, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:39:03] BALDWIN: All right, moments ago we saw Republican presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Ben Carson answering question after question from reporters there in Ferguson, Missouri. But when he was asked specifically if he'd like to respond to the jabs made at him from Donald Trump, here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The question is, do I want to respond to Donald Trump's charges? The answer is no. I really don't. Because, you know, what I have discovered is that the media loves to stoke up controversy and have people fighting each other like gladiators and I think that is exactly the wrong thing to do. You know, I've made it clear that I was attacking and it was interpreted that way by the media and I think he took the bait. But I'm not taking the bait. I'm not going there -- next?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Next, he says. Here are the numbers. And by the way, obviously, what Doctor Carson said what he said or did not say is gaining traction in the polls. You see him in the number two spot behind Donald Trump with our latest CNN/ORC poll.

Let me bring in CNN political commentator Michael Smerconish, host of CNN's "SMERCONISH." So, good to see you, fist.

[15:40:13] MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: How are you?

BALDWIN: Hello. And you know --

SMERCONISH: Can't wait for Wednesday. It's going to be like super bowl.

BALDWIN: I cannot wait until Wednesday, especially with Trump in the middle flanked by both Jeb Bush and Ben Carson.

SMERCONISH: If I weren't involved in it, my house would be in a radio silence, do not call because we are watching the debate.

BALDWIN: Totally. That said, were you surprised that -- he said I'm not taking the bait. A lot of these politicians know we'll be chewing on this. They want --

SMERCONISH: The media.

BALDWIN: Right.

SMERCONISH: The media. You people in the media.

Brooke, don't make me defend the Donald but in this case, Ben Carson was the aggressor and it was Ben Carson -- in response, because I always took note of the fact that Trump had not gone after Ben Carson.

BALDWIN: Right. He hadn't.

SMERCONISH: You know, he had gone after with a shotgun blast against everybody except Carson.

BALDWIN: But Carson before was saying I would consider a ticket with Trump and then all switch.

SMERCONISH: Correct. Right. And I guess Ted Cruz is in that category now, solely. But in this particular case, he was asked the question and he responded by questioning Donald Trump's faith. He's not the only one. Many people have taken note. I must say I poked fun at the fact of him in Alabama on that stage saying, you know, what's my favorite book? And these lemmings also, the bible. I can't believe it, but they do. OK. But in this instance, the Donald I think was responding or as he likes to say counter punching.

BALDWIN: And the fact that he didn't --

SMERCONISH: Well, I think Ben Carson realizes there's not an upside for Ben Carson if he continues down this road because has anyone benefited from tangling with Trump thus far? Certainly not Jeb Bush. I mean, Jeb Bush's numbers have been static in this race so far. So maybe he's making the correct political move.

BALDWIN: OK. What I'm remembering back to when we were last sharing this set, I don't know what that was, a couple of weeks ago, you said to me, Brooke, you know, so far I've made these predictions when it comes to Donald Trump and both times I've been wrong.

SMERCONISH: NO. That's not right. I have made three predictions and none of the three have been accurate.

BALDWIN: Three have been accurate.

SMERCONISH: I'm 0-3.

BALDWIN: But you did make a prediction, if I remember it correctly, where you said there's no way this guy is going to be in the race come January.

SMERCONISH: Jesus, did I say that?

BALDWIN: Can you walk it back?

SMERCONISH: I may have to walk it back a little, OK? There's no way he'll be the last individual standing for the GOP. That I still believe but my timetable may make me 0-4 in this category thus far.

BALDWIN: Not winning?

SMERCONISH: Right. Look, a loser, Smerconish, a loser, let me just take the word right out of his mouth. I'll say this. When it turns, because it will turn, he will not stay on that stage and take a licking. There will be something grandiose that causes him to exit. He will not be like Rick Santorum in the last cycle hanging in until the last minute against Mitt Romney.

BALDWIN: Something will happen and he'll say deuces?

SMERCONISH: I don't know what that might be. I still say, you know, El Chapo has it in for his family and therefore he has to get it out.

BALDWIN: We will see. We will see about that one.

Finally, Carly Fiorina, I mean, listen, this time last week, we thought on the stage it would be Jeb v. Donald and now you have, obviously, the Ben Carson and then you have Carly Fiorina. Did you hear what she said today? Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Finally, we need a president who understands what leadership is. Leadership is not about the size of your office, the size of your airplane, the size of your helicopter. It's not about your title. It's not about ego. Leadership is about service. Leadership is about unlocking potential in others. We now need a servant leader in the White House who understands what it takes to unlock the potential of this nation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Besides a helicopter?

SMERCONISH: Yes. Well, wait a minute. Let's read that to you. It's not just the size of the helicopter, it's the size of your office. There's a lot of size reference going in that. I think she has a message for Donald Trump. That's just the way I interpret what she's saying.

I'm thrilled she's going to be on that stage. I think she's a wildcard. I cannot wait to see the dynamic between Trump and Carson and Carly Fiorina.

There are two debates that are going to play themselves out on that stage. Two debates racked within one. So it is a total of three debates is what you're getting next Wednesday night. And by that I mean, watch the establishment candidates, watch Jeb, watch Chris Christie, watch Marco Rubio, watch John Kasich, keep your eye on him. But entirely separate, keep your eye on the dynamic of Ben Carson and Donald Trump and Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina as well. There's a lot going on than just 11 individuals competing with one another.

BALDWIN: I can't wait.

SMERCONISH: Me too. It is going to be great.

BALDWIN: Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and again 6:00 p.m. eastern right here on CNN.

Thank you very much.

SMERCONISH: Thanks.

BALDWIN: Speaking of Dr. Carson here moments ago, CNN actually sat down one-on-one with Republican candidate after his news conference, here he is specking with Suzanne Malveaux. We will play their back and forth for you. That's coming up.

You are watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:49:39] BALDWIN: An acknowledgement today from Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell that the battle over the Iran nuclear deal is over for now, at least unless the next president takes office. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: I said we will be happy to take up any bill and enjoys enough cosponsors override a presidential veto. Otherwise, this vote stands and it's going to be a defining vote for the 2016 election.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[15:50:01] BALDWIN: All right. Let's go to our CNN senior political reporter, Manu Raju, who is the one sitting down with the Senate leader there.

And so, what else did he tell you?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, this is a majority leader, who recognizes that there's very little that he can do to stop the Iran deal from going forward. He knows where the votes are. He does want to showcase that there's a bipartisan majority in Congress that is opposing this deal, but he's also skeptical of house conservatives who are trying to sue the president, or threatening we should take this to court. Fight the president in court. He does the think this is necessarily the way to go. And I believe we have some sound here that shows just that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCCONNELL: Well, I think it will be a big issue in the presidential race and in the Senate. It's an agreement between Barack Obama and the Iranian regime. And it will be reviewed again a year and a half from now. It doesn't have the force of law that a treat use would have had. And so, his deal is unilateral deal with Iran is something he can try to implement over the next year and a half and if the next president wants to look at it, is free to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Yes. You know, this is clearly trying to make the case there's very little Congress can do. Even if there's effort on Capitol Hill by members in the house Republican conference to try to take aim at it, this is going to be something that the next president will have to worry about.

You know, this is a -- Senator McConnell has a lot of very difficult issues to deal with in the months ahead, government funding fights, for instance, a debt ceiling battle, highway funding. All these things he wants to deal with, I think he's ready to move on from the Iran debate once the final votes happened next week.

BALDWIN: OK. I had to ask you because I'm thinking I'm about to hop on plane to L.A. ahead of our big CNN debate next Wednesday night. Two people who will be on that stage, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz. Senator McConnell talked to you about his relationship with both men, Manu. What did he say?

RAJU: Well, on the Ted Cruz front, of course, they've sparred over tactics in strategy for such a long time, the upcoming one about Planned Parenthood funding. Ted Cruz does not want to put any money on a government funding bill that it needs pass by the end of the month. He doesn't want any of that money to go towards Planned Parenthood.

And Mitch McConnell said that that strategy is quote "an exercise in totality (ph). He said that even if he did that, the government shut down, Planned Parenthood would still be in existence. So he is pushing back very strongly on that Cruz strategy.

And I tried to get him to talk about Donald Trump. You know, Mitch McConnell does not want to talk about presidential politics, but he did acknowledge that he receive a campaign donation from Donald Trump last cycle. So, he laughed about that. But I think other than that, he didn't really --

BALDWIN: You tried. Try, being the appropriate word.

Manu Raju, thank you so much in Washington for us.

RAJU: Thank you. Brooke.

BALDWIN: We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:57:29] BALDWIN: All right, breaking news. We now have the video, NYPD surveillance video. Here he is, James Blake. And this is the takedown from in NYPD officer here, mistaken identity. That is what's happened. What we are now seeing for the first time what this officer did as former tennis star, James Blake, standing outside the grand Hiatt, just this past Wednesday, just headed to the U.S. open. You saw him standing by the column. I don't know if we can re-wrap. You can see one more time. But I mean, out of nowhere, this officer comes at him. We know the New York police department has apologized. We know James Blake has been in contact with the commissioner Bill Bratton. That officer, by the way, who on James Blake cuffing him? He is now on assignment. Again, we have learned also that officer involved in two pending federal lawsuit involving excessive fort.

And now to this before I let you go, in today's CNN heroes, one woman has made it her mission to provide millions of diapers to moms in need.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As a single mother, providing for my children is a struggle. Diapers are super expensive, making sure that my children have everything and wanting to provide for them really does cause anxiety.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Diapers are very challenging. Diapers are not covered by food stamps. They are not covered by other social service programs. When I had my first child I was just really amazed how hard it was to care for a newborn. It's emotionally very exhausting. It is physically very exhausting. When things started to ease up, I wanted to help other moms. I

started calling organization and I heard over and over again we need diapers. I was heartbroken because I started thinking about how difficult it will be to have that mom who doesn't have the diaper.

We have donated nearly two million diapers to families in the D.C. area. We partner with organizations who are helping families. A lot of our families are really at a breaking point. We're using diapers as a way to have them engaged with social service for their other needs. Let them know there is a network there that will help and support them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Receiving diapers means there's one less thing I have to worry about.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can really use these.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It allows me to put more money towards other things that are beneficial for my children.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Knowing that we're able to help moms at a critical point in their life and being able to bring them hope.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Thanks for watching. I'm Brooke Baldwin. "The LEAD" with Jake Tapper, live from Los Angeles, starts now.