Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Eric Holder in Ad Supporting Clinton; Obama Comments on Presidential Race; Woman Talks of Obamacare Help during Clinton Rally; Comedian Tommy Chong Supports Bernie Sanders; Rand Paul Praised for Republican Debate Performance. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired January 29, 2016 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Incredible. Brian Stelter and Jill Olmsted, let me leave it. Thank you so much.

And make sure you tell your young people that there's cell phones and a little thing called CNN.com and CNN.go, and they can find us wherever, even if they don't have cable. No excuse.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Thanks to both of you. Really appreciate it.

Coming up next, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton holding competing rallies in Iowa as the candidates sprint to the finish. Hear what one viewer just asked Hillary Clinton that caught her off-guard.

Plus, he's feeling the burn. Comedian Tommy Chong, of the famous duo Cheech and Chong, throwing his support behind Senator Sanders. Why he says Bernie Sanders should be the next president. Tommy Chong joins me live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:10] BALDWIN: Welcome back. I'm Brooke Baldwin, live in Iowa. Statehouse just over my shoulder. Absolutely gorgeous.

We're three days away from the first-in-the nation caucuses. This is an especially high stakes day of campaigning for the Democrats. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are neck and neck. Both have launched their fair share of ads in Iowa. Now Clinton is rolling out a radio ad in South Carolina featuring former attorney general, Eric Holder. Here's a piece of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC HOLDER, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL (voice-over): I served with Hillary Clinton in the president's cabinet. I've known her for almost 25 years. She's fought her whole life for children, to protect civil rights, voting rights. And today, Hillary is pushing hard for tougher gun laws and police accountability.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's talk about that with our CNN senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, just back from a Clinton rally.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Beginning with that ad, we know -- you know when you look at the polls that she does well when it comes to African-American voters. Bernie Sanders has had a tougher time. Do you think this is her attempt to shore up that fire wall?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: No doubt about it. They are trying to do everything to prepare in the -- in case of a Bernie Sanders win here.

BALDWIN: The long game situation.

ZELENY: They don't want anyone to be kind of up for grabs. Eight years ago, Barack Obama was struggling as well. Hillary Clinton is different. She has a longer relationship with African-American voters, no question. But they're not taking anything for granted. They did not think it would be this close. You can tell it in the sound of her voice and as she's asking voters to please caucus for me. She means it. Eight years ago, she thought she had this won and she didn't. They are doing everything they can to get those people out to vote.

BALDWIN: You mentioned the president. We know being he hasn't officially endorsed anyone yet.

ZELENY: Not officially.

BALDWIN: Not officially. But he is hitting harder at some of the Republicans, at some of the rhetoric. Here he was speaking.

ZELENY: Right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're not going to build progress with a bunch of phony tough talk and bluster and over the top claims that just plays into ISIL's hands. We're not going to strengthen our leadership around the world by allowing politicians to insult Muslims or pit groups of Americans against each other. That's not who we are. That's not keeping America safe.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The president has said he wanted to remain relevant in this final year for him in the Oval Office, and in his is commenting more and more on the race, do you think that's his attempt to stay germane?

ZELENY: No doubt about it. Also that is his rebuttal to last night's Republican debate. He does not want Independent voters to think everything's on the wrong track here. He wants to remind people he's the biggest surrogate Democrats have. Never mind as the primary works itself out. He wants to remind voters of the progress he's made. So I think he'll be more involved in this race than we know. The question is, if this Democratic fight continues, if it goes to the convention or to the spring, will he become even more involved? That's what I'm watching for.

BALDWIN: We -- stay with me. I want you to watch this. We're turning around some sound from Hillary Clinton from an event happening just a bit ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: About three years ago on my birthday, I was 55, my daughter called and said they had found a mass in her forehead. And we found out that it needed to be removed. She at that time was at the age where she could be on my insurance from my workplace one more year. Don't think that that wasn't amazing for us. So she was on my insurance through the surgery, the radiation, the chemo, which the whole thing took about a year. And then once again she is without insurance. And we had some of those prescription drugs that cost everything that you would have for the month. But she then was able to use Medicaid for a year. And just recently she -- then I quit my job. I was 55, too young to retire. I needed health insurance. But I also wanted to stay home with my daughter. And so I looked to the market place and got myself some Affordable Care insurance. And so Obamacare has helped us twice then.

And recently my daughter got married in September. She was a beautiful bride. Her husband had health insurance through his work. But it was a skyrocketed price. They couldn't afford it. So then she went on the marketplace to find herself some health insurance. I have pre-existing conditions but the marketplace never asked me. My daughter had brain cancer and she was never asked, do you have any pre-existing conditions. So it was a great gift to our family.

(APPLAUSE)

[14:40:38] CLINTON: Thank you so much. Thank you.

You know, I want everybody to understand what's really at stake in this election. People can't wait. Your daughter calls and says she has a mass in her forehead, you can't wait. You quit your job to take care of your sick daughter, something I think a lot of us can relate to, you can't wait. We now have a system where you can go into the marketplace and, as Jo said, you don't get asked you have a pre- exiting condition. They just ask what kind of policy you want and how much help will you need paying for it. This is a truly big difference in this campaign. And it's one that I want you to think hard about between now and Monday night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So what she's saying but not saying, from this really is that you just raced back from, is the Bernie Sanders health care plan would blow this to bits.

ZELENY: Right. She is saying as great as it might sound to liberals to universal health care coverage for all, in this country, at this moment, it would not happen. So Secretary Clinton is using real people who are asking these questions to make the point now is not the most to blow up the Affordable Care Act. Bernie Sanders makes the argument, look, we should dream big, it is time for universal health care coverage. I think this is an effective closing argument in the end here, closing days. She's pragmatic, experienced. That was a moment at the rally that -- the room was silent. It was Grantview University, not far from here. But that's what she's doing as she's campaigning.

But Senator Sanders also has supporters who say, you know what, it's time to blow up the status quo here. So that's the argument. It's a duel for the direction of the Democratic Party as well. So that's why it's so fascinating in the final 72 hours before the votes finally begin.

BALDWIN: We're about to talk to a Sanders supporter. But these are moments they hope will resonate with folks in Iowa.

Jeff Zeleny, thank you.

Now to this, this comedian, known for his fondness for smoking marijuana, coming out with a video supporting Bernie Sanders. I'm talking about Tommy Chong, one half of the pot-smoking duo Cheech and Chong. He's standing by to join me in just a minute.

But first, I want you take a look at Chong's new video explaining why Bernie Sanders is his pick for the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOMMY CHONG, COMEDIAN: So the question is which one of these plants are ready for harvest. Some are obviously too immature. They need a couple more growth cycles. And yet others are done, finished. There's nothing left in them.

But there's one candidate that stands head and shoulders above them all, who has weathered many storms and is totally ready to be the commander-in-chief, or commander-in-kush, as I like to say. Oh, and, yes, Bernie does support the other form of legalization that I care so deeply about, legalization of the super-medicine marijuana.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Here he is joining me now, the man himself comedian, Tommy Chong, who, by the way, is preparing to sell his own line of marijuana products.

Tommy Chong, nice to have you on the show.

CHONG: Well, thanks. Nice to be here.

BALDWIN: All right, so Bernie is -- Bernie Sanders is your man. What was it that really said, all right, I'm supporting Bernie Sanders, I'm putting this video together?

CHONG: Bernie obviously is the most qualified of both parties. You know, he's got the experience. He's got the heart. He's got the brains. He's got the age. You know, a lot people knock him because he's older than the rest. But he's at the age where the only thing that matters is the people that he cares so dearly about.

As far as him wrecking health care, forget it. He will improve on Obamacare. He will improve on everything that deals with the middle class. Bernie, his thrust, his whole thing is take care of the people of America. He's like an accountant. He wants to come in and take care of the books of America. There's so much money being wasted and not being collected in taxes that could go to help the working class and the health of the people. So Bernie's my man.

BALDWIN: Bernie's your man. He wants to keep the books in order. I know some of it is about his stance on decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level. But I want --

(CROSSTALK)

CHONG: Not necessarily.

BALDWIN: I know it's more than that. Talk to me about that.

CHONG: No necessarily.

BALDWIN: But also it's about immigration for you.

CHONG: Is what?

BALDWIN: It's about immigration as well. But go ahead, tell me your thoughts.

CHONG: About immigration? Yeah, well, the Republicans, you know, especially the front-runner, you know, he's got so many cockamamie racist attitudes, it's scary. And Bernie --

BALDWIN: You're referring to Donald Trump.

CHONG: Bernie is Donald Trump with brains. He's like a Donald Trump with soul. You know, that recognizes that there are other people than rich white people, you know, and that's why I like Bernie.

BALDWIN: Bernie is like a Donald Trump with brains. What do they have in common, Tommy Chong?

CHONG: He commands a big crowd. People come to hear him. Same reason they come to hear Donald Trump. Donald Trump is telling the truth to a small minority of Americans, the racist Americans mostly, you know. Bernie is telling the truth to people like young people or people that are turned on, people that are hip people, people that are not afraid, you know. So that's what I mean. Bernie has everything that Trump has, except he has a heart and a soul. That's why I think Bernie Sanders has a really good chance of being elected.

BALDWIN: Spoken like a true Bernie Sanders supporter.

Hey, have a great show in Alberta, Tommy Chong. CHONG: Thank you. Thank you.

BALDWIN: Coming up next, there is a lot of talk today about the winners and losers of the debate. And Rand Paul scored major, major points on that stage, for going after specifically Hillary Clinton. We'll talk to his campaign manager next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:51:52] BALDWIN: Senator Rand Paul is getting plenty of praise today for his debate performance. He's even being called one of the winners as he and other president candidates faced off without having to share the stage with Trump. Paul seized upon the moment and pounced on fellow Senator Ted Cruz. He also Drew strong applause after weighing in on Democratic front-runner, Hillary Clinton, and her husband's past indiscretion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RAND PAUL, (R), KENTUCKY & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He can't have it both ways. What is particularly insulting is that he is the king of saying, oh, you're for amnesty, everybody's for amnesty except for Ted Cruz. But it's a falseness. That's an authenticity problem. Everybody he knows is not as perfect as him because we're all for amnesty. I don't blame Hillary Clinton at all for this. I don't think she's responsible for his behavior. But I do think her position as promoting women's rights and fairness to women in the workplace, that if what Bill Clinton did, any CEO in our country did with an internal with a 22-year-old, 21-year-old intern in their office, they would be fired, they would never be hired again.

(APPLAUSE)

BALDWIN: Let's talk about that moment and that candidate. Joining me here in Des Moines, Chip Englander, Rand Paul's campaign manager.

Nice to see you, sir.

CHIP ENGLANDER, CAMPAIGN MANAGER, RAND PAUL PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN: Great to see you.

BALDWIN: Just beginning with that, do you think Senator Paul's personal attacks on the Clintons, did you think they're sticking?

ENGLANDER: Well, I don't know if they're personal attacks but I think they have resonated.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Talking about indiscretions.

ENGLANDER: Well, it was strongly considered the strongest debate performance. We've seen a surge of volunteers and momentum.

BALDWIN: Attacking the Clinton, this is something he's done for a while. I'm curious, do you think he feels it's chipping away at her? ENGLANDER: Absolutely. When she wants to talk about women's rights

and yet she takes -- the Clinton foundation takes millions of dollars from countries that treat women like cattle. She's shifting. She talks less about some of those issues. That she wanted to be part of her standard stump. N thrown off her game and she's struggling.

BALDWIN: With regard to the debate and how it was referred to as the elephant not in the room, Mr. Trump, had he never entered this race, how do you think your candidate would be doing today?

ENGLANDER: Well, I think everybody would agree that Trump transformed the race. There was a "Washington Post" that had Rand Paul first place nationally with primary voters. The reality is he changed the dynamic of the race. But nobody has voted yet. We feel good we're putting together that coalition so we can make a big impact on women.

BALDWIN: How do you take the momentum from last night? Obviously translated into caucus goers saying yes to your guy. What one moment are you hoping for in these final 72 hours that really could change play for him?

[14:55:00] ENGLANDER: Sure. Votes are going to be counted on Monday night. We wanted to -- we think we can surprise people with a strong finish so we can move on heading into New Hampshire.

BALDWIN: What do you expect him to do?

ENGLANDER: He's barn storming the state. He's all around. He's speaking today for example a series of events. At Iowa University, we were at Drake University. Ron Paul's going to be coming and holding big rallies. There's a lot of energy. Right now at our office we've got 150 volunteers from all across Iowa, some from even across the country. Who come in because they believe in this message and they're excited. So we really feel the energy and we feel pretty good.

BALDWIN: OK, a few days to go.

Chip Englander, thank you very much.

ENGLANDER: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Rand Paul's campaign manager here in Iowa.

Just ahead, Ted Cruz, doubling down on his promise to carpet bomb ISIS. But not everything he said is entirely accurate. We'll talk to a lieutenant general and fact-check that.

Also ahead, my colleague, Brianna Keilar, cornering Donald Trump on an issue he repeatedly ducked. You will watch the exchange, judge for yourself, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)