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Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield

Pontiff Addresses U.S. Bishops; Pope Sends Greetings To Jews On Yom Kippur; Pope Francis Says He Admires U.S. Charity And Education Efforts, Addresses Sex Abuse Scandal; Interviews With Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart And Maxine Waters; Trump: "I Won't Be Doing Any More Fox Shows"; Trump On Birther Issues: Don't Want To Talk About It; School Prepares For Pope's Visit. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired September 24, 2015 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:02] ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Aerocon trip and that would be New York City.

He will be boarding a flight for JFK airport at 5:00, but not before he does what he does best. Yet, again stopping among the people, waving to the crowd. These are live pictures outside of that, Nunciature, a short trip from St. Patrick Catholic church to the Nunciature.

And these are effectively the last Washingtonians that he will be seeing on his trip through the nation's capital. You can hear them chanting, presumably calling his name. Hoping for a blessing. Hoping for a kiss, a hug, anything they can get, before he heads Nunciature for a rest.

The 78-year-old pope with a small limp because of that sciatica, bidding farewell to those citizens in the nation capital.

We're going to fit in a quick break. Right back after this with the Republican feeling of what those words in Congress meant to those who were in the room.

(COMMERICIAL BREAK)

BANFIELD: The live pictures that we saw earlier today replaying for you this morning. The moment on Capitol Hill where the pope entered the Congressional chamber for a joint meeting of Congress. His work now in Washington is done, with this unprecedented speech to Congress and a visit with Washington's homeless and the people who serve them.

The pope of the people has wrapped up his scheduled events in the nation's capital. In a visit surrounded by firsts, this was the biggest by far. The first papal address to a joint meeting of the United States Congress.

[12:35:05] Outside the capitol, the crowds were jubilant. Listen to that roar.

And just take a look at the speaker on the right-hand side of your screen in tears officially. This is the kind of scene that's typical of a presidential inauguration. 50,000 people give or take a few who were rewarded with their own people greeting.

And after a brief address, even more cheers, from that audience.

So great to see that. The people are just so thrilled in Washington, D.C. guess what, they are in New York as well, because this is where he's headed next. With me now, seven-term Republican from Florida Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.

Thrilled to have you with me on the program fresh off the address that you just were a part of in that joint meeting of Congress.

Congressman, I have to ask you this, the words that he spoke directly to you and your colleagues are compelling need to live as one in order to build as one the greatest common good. I don't underestimate the difficulty this involves, but I encourage you in this effort. Those words I can only imagine were not lost on you. It seemed to be all about bipartisanship.

REP. MARIO DIAZ-BALART, (R) FLORIDA: Look, this is a very divided city, as you know. So I think it was a wonderful opportunity to actually take a break from the usual debates and listen to somebody whose main role in life frankly is peace and love. And, you know, we can always use a little bit more than that, right? So, I think it was a wonderful break. And frankly very pleased that Speaker Boehner invited the pope and that he accepted. Again, as you stated before, this is a very unique historic event that's never taken place before.

BANFIELD: So, this was considered to be a soft dressing down of some of the behavior of Republicans and Democrats. Is that how you saw it? Did you feel it that way? Was it an uncomfortable moment at any time when he turned his attention to the issues of abortion, and immigration and, death penalty and, same-sex marriage and, racial injustice and weapons, et cetera?

DIAZ-BALART: A couple of things. First, is look, you know. We're used to listening to those issues and many more on the floor of the House. That's exactly where those issue are discussed. So I think -- no, I don't think anybody's surprised about hear things that may be difficult, number one.

Number two is the Pope is here to talk about what he thinks that's important. And it's all based on love. And so you're going to agree or disagree with the Pope, but I think it's trivializing if we talk about, you know, the partisan differences. The Pope is not a Republican or a Democrat. He's the Pope. He's the head of the Catholic church. And I think and we should take it as such.

Look, we have responsibilities as legislators to do what we think is right for the national security interest of the United States and for the people of the United States. But I think we should always welcome voices of love and of peace and that's exactly what the Pope did today. And again, I welcome him.

BANFIELD: Congressman, you're absolutely right, he's not a Republican, he's not a Democrat.

DIAZ-BALART: Right.

BANFIELD: But he is political. He is more political than many of his predecessors. And to that end, when he made that appeal to you, I would like to ask you in common parlance, and this may seem trite, but I'm going to ask it anyway, what do you personally after that address plan to do to work on fixing the bipartisanship that has caused gridlock in your chambers?

DIAZ-BALART: Well, a couple things. I mean, you know, nothing has helped bring more people out of poverty than their free enterprise system. So we need to make sure, we'll continue to work, to make sure that we get more people to company out of poverty, to be able to live a brighter future for themselves and their families.

[12:40:04] And the way to do that is make sure the free enterprise system is working, is working. And that machine of breaking down barriers again and breaking down poverty is working well.

The pope also talked about, again, the most unfortunate. I think it's important to always remember that when we're up here and we're dealing with numbers, that we remember that it's not numbers, it's human beings.

Now, again, I can agree or disagree. There are things I wish you would have said. I wish you have been more emphatic on one thing or another. The important thing is we had an historic opportunity to listen to a person whose role is, again, try to inspire people to love, and we can agree or disagree.

Thank God we have the opportunity. I will continue to do what I have always tried to do, to make sure we have the strongest, the most prosperous, the freest nation on earth, and that we can help others around the world to have nations where they can also live in freedom. Whether it's in the Middle East or where the Pope just came from Cuba, where there has been a dictatorship for 56 years.

And, again, there, do I wish he would have spoken and met with the opposition leaders? Absolutely. Do I wish he would have not spent so much time with the dictator, and would have spent a little bit more time with the owe pressed, oppressed, with the future leaders of Cuba? Yes. But again thank God we live in a society where he can say what he wants and in Congress we can do with the people elected us to do.

BANFIELD: And thank God we live in a society where I can invite to say all those things freely and openly. And then hear...

DIAZ-BALART: Absolutely.

BANFIELD: ... someone from the Democratic side of the aisle do it right after you. So as you take your microphone off and consider the new gentle way that you and your colleagues might all conduct your affairs on Capitol Hill. I'm going to turn the mic over to after the break to Maxine Waters, the Democrat from California.

And I will thank you Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart for your time, bless you. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:45:37] BANFIELD: Welcome back to our continuing coverage of the pope in Washington, D.C. making history today when he addressed the men and women of the American congress.

And in amongst that crowd and with me now live, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California.

Congresswoman, thank you for being with us. And in the spirit of bipartisanship and perhaps as the pope said, working towards diminishing and assuaging it, you are following our guest in the break before you, the Republican from Florida, Mario Diaz-Balart.

I'm going to ask you the exact same question just I asked him. With the pope asking for more harmony in our great hall, what are you personally going to do to heed his words?

REP. MAXINE WATERS, (D) CALIFORNIA: Well, I think it is extremely important to have the conversation, to have the discussion, to reach out to the opposite side of the aisle, to understand that we're all here for the common good as he reminded us our responsibility as legislators as representatives of the people.

We do have a responsibility to try very hard to work with each other so that we can make the resources of this great country available to particularly those who are in need.

And so I'm going to do everything I possibly can to follow the golden rule as he reminded us. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

BANFIELD: It's a great way of living, I'll say that.

WATERS: Yes.

BANFIELD: I want to read for you, congresswoman, one of the significant quotes that Pope Francis said to congress. "Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family. I can only reiterate the importance and above all, the richness and the beauty of family life."

I want to get your take on what those words meant because many thought there would be addressing down of same-sex marriage. Some people saying this could have actually cut either way. How did you read that?

WATERS: Well, I read it the way those who understand that it could cut either way read it.

He talked about the importance of the family. He did not do what some of those from the opposite side of the aisle predicted he was going to do, take on these issues in a harsh way. We know that we have some differences on issues. He was very respectful. Respectful not only to members of congress, but to the people in general that he was speaking to whether he called the everyday working people, the common folks, I don't think he offended anyone. I think, again, he was extremely respectful not only to the issues of concern but to this country. He started out by talking about the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And so I don't think anyone could be offended by any of his comments today.

BANFIELD: It's lovely to have you. You look simply beautiful today. Thank you, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, nice to see you.

WATERS: Well, you're so welcome, and thank you for having me on.

BANFIELD: At 4:00 today, the pope is going to head to New York City. One stop, Our Lady of Queen Angels School. Imagine what it's like there right now. They are ready to show him two things that are sure to make him proud, how they care for the earth and god's people.

The principal and a student from that school are live with me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:51:54] BANFIELD: As the pope visits the United States, one of the most exciting things to watch is his interactions with the people, particularly little people, children. He kisses the babies. And he hugs the little ones. Just a short time ago, this was the scene in Washington, D.C., adorable.

He greets the older boys and girls. He gives them blessings. They all have their phones out, taking selfies and their parents are taking the most memorable shot perhaps of their life.

And at 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, the pope is going to make a visit to a lot of little people, those who go to Our Lady Queen of Angels School. He's going to meet with families of migrants in Harlem.

Joanne Walsh is the principal at Our Lady Queen of Angels, she's here with me live along with eighth grader Shaila Cuellar who is going to present the pope with a gift.

I'm so excited to have you. But probably nowhere near as excited as you are for tomorrow. Tell me are you -- do you get butterflies in your tummy?

SHAILA CUELLAR, STUDENT OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS: Yes, a lot of butterflies.

BANFIELD: You've been doing a lot of preparations, Sheila?

CUELLAR: Yes, many preparations at school.

BANFIELD: Do you think you're ready for this?

CUELLAR: Yes.

BANFIELD: Because you know you've been watching all that coverage and you seen the pope moving his way through all these events in Washington. Do you think it's going to be as big of a deal when he gets to your school?

CUELLAR: Yeah, really big deal.

BANFIELD: What's the gift you're giving him?

CUELLAR: It's a book of prayers called Spiritual King. And that's from all the students of all the schools, the archdiocese of New York.

BANFIELD: How did you end up being the very lucky little girl who got the job of giving the pope a gift?

CUELLAR: We had to write an essay of the people who were interested of meeting the pope. And then they chose out names. And I was one of them.

BANFIELD: So you were the best.

Joanne, this is so exciting.

JOANNE WALSH, PRINCIPAL, OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS: Oh, it's wonderful.

BANFIELD: How did it come about he was going to end up in your school?

WALSH: I think there was a committee that made that choice. But I think in the end it was the fact that at Our Lady Queen of Angels many of the things that Pope Francis had asked to be able to interact with children. We have children.

BANFIELD: You got a lot of them.

WALSH: And also with some of the clients of catholic charities. And we work closely with catholic charities even in our building.

So it just was a natural choice for his visit since he's here such a short time.

BANFIELD: So during the break when we were getting ready to go live and talk to our audience, I asked you, wow, you must have closed the school a day early and got the security preparations all in order. No.

Shaila had a math test this morning so it's business as usual at the school this morning.

WALSH: It is business as usual. I think that's the beauty of this whole event that Pope Francis is coming into a living school, into a living community, where they -- he's just well loved. But we're about educating children, everyday counts.

And so this morning, we did dismiss early, but it was business as usual. And I have to say, with all of the preparations that were taking place on the first floor, I just asked Shaila myself, "What was it like upstairs?" And she said "It was just school."

BANFIELD: It was just school. How did you do on the math test, do you know?

(OFF-MIC)

[12:55:00] BANFIELD: OK, so here's the big question. I'm sure you've been thinking a lot about it. You're going to present the pope with the book of prayers. Are you going to ask him anything? Are you going to tell him anything? Are you going to say anything to him?

CUELLAR: Yes.

BANFIELD: Tell me.

CUELLAR: I am.

BANFIELD: Is it a secret or can you share?

CUELLAR: Well, I'm going to say to him that this is a gift from all the students to him. We give this to him with all our love.

BANFIELD: Now, did you memorize this? Are you just going to go off the cuff? Are you going to read it? How are you going to present? What do you think?

CUELLAR: I memorized it in Spanish.

BANFIELD: You memorized it in Spanish? You're going to speak to him in Spanish?

CUELLAR: Yes.

BANFIELD: Can you say it to me in Spanish?

CUELLAR: (Speaking Foreign language)

BANFIELD: OK, I don't speak Spanish, but that was I almost brought a tear to my eye.

Thank you, my dear. Good luck tomorrow. I'm so jealous and I'm very excited for you.

WALSH: For Sheila's family, this is very important.

BANFIELD: Wonderful.

WALSH: I think she's going to share with Pope Francis about her little brother who was born last year. And...

CUELLAR: Yes.

BANFIELD: Congratulations.

CUELLAR: Yeah, he -- we named him Francisco in honor of Pope Francis and St. Francis of Assisi.

CUELLAR: Oh, OK, I'm so excited to watch this live tomorrow.

Thank you both, Sheila, thank you Joanne, good luck tomorrow, we'll be watching closely. And we sure appreciate you coming on today. Thank you.

And thank everyone for watching. It's been great to have you with us.

CNN continues it's coverage after this quick break.

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