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Wolf
Can Kasich Get Last-Minute Surge in N.H; China Cracks Down on Critics Beyond Mainland; Sanders, Clinton Performances at Democratic Debate. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired February 05, 2016 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:30:00] HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: There are a lot of hard days. There's a lot of disappointment. What seems obvious to you, for heaven sakes, raise the minimum wage, equal pay for women.
(APPLAUSE)
CLINTON: What is possibly an argument against that? Yet you got to get up every day and keep going after it, and it's the people I meet. It's their hopes, their aspirations that I keep in mind, but then you got --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to continue to watch Hillary Clinton deliver this speech.
We're also standing by. Bernie Sanders speaking in New Hampshire. I want to bring you some of his remarks as well. That's coming up.
Just four days to go before the state holds the nation's first presidential primary, a fact not lost on Republican presidential candidates, John Kasich, who is holding his 100th town hall in New Hampshire tonight. Governor Kasich is running fourth in New Hampshire, according to our latest CNN/WMUR poll, but he is only three points up from last week. Here's the question: Can the Ohio governor, who is very popular in Ohio, pull out a last-minute surge and do really well in New Hampshire?
CNN's Chris Frates is covering the Kasich campaign for us. He is in Manchester right now.
This is make or break. He himself acknowledges unless he does really well in New Hampshire, he smoked out for all practical purposes. What's the latest, Chris?
CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll tell you, the strategy for the Kasich people, Wolf, is pretty simple. It's to stay positive. The governor has almost aggressively stayed above the fray this last week. Not getting into the food fight that we've seen in that establishment between Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. He almost bristles when you ask him even to contrast himself against those guys. He makes the point that he is being attacked here, that those opponents are spending millions against him because he has the momentum here and that he is on top of that establishment. He likes to tell people, you know, in his town halls, he is a friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Arnold Schwarzenegger going to do a tele-town hall in New Hampshire later today. He likes to tell voters that when he told Schwarzenegger about the attacks, he does his best around impression, and he said that around told him, John, love the beating. He is a happy warrior, and that's in part because his team feels very good about their ground game here in New Hampshire. John weaver, a top advisor to the governor who also advised John McCain, who twice won this state, says he believes that Kasich's ground game is better than even John McCain's.
They feel pretty good. They have over 500 volunteers from out of the state knocking on doors even in this weather today making hundreds of thousands of phone calls over the last month. They feel like they're going to continue these town halls. They're going to do their 100th town hall today that they're going to bring out patriots linebacker, Mike, a Super Bowl champ. Lots of hats. He might see more town hall people there. He is going to keep doing what he is doing. He will do town halls, and they hope he can bring people out and find their voters and get them out here on Election Day -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Chris Frates doing an excellent Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation. I didn't know you could do that, Chris. But excellent work. Thank you.
Important note to our viewers. You can catch Governor Kasich later on tonight in "The Situation Room." He will be interviewed by Gloria Borger. He will also appear later in the night with Erin Burnett on "OutFront."
Let's take a quick break. Much more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:32:44] BLITZER: We'll continue to bring the latest from the campaign trail here in the United States throughout the hour.
But first, there's a major story we're following. We want to tell you about something out of China. The Chinese government is now going beyond its own borders to crack down on its critics.
CNN's Ivan Watson reports, after a series of arrests and strange disappearances, dissidents that thought they escaped Beijing's reach are still living in fear.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WATSON (voice-over): A desperate appeal from a wife to her husband imprisoned halfway around the world.
GU SHUHUA FEMALE (through translation): I want to tell my husband I hope we will see each other soon. I hope our family will reunite soon. WATSON: Gu Shuhua's husband, Dong Won Ping (ph), is a former police
officer in China who became a pro-democracy activist. Authorities threw him in prison several times for participating in protests. Last year, he fled with his wife and child to Thailand where they thought they'd be safe. He was suddenly arrested last October and, weeks later, despite objections from the United Nations, he and another Chinese exiles were extradited back to China where they appeared in this confession broadcast on Chinese state tv.
Gu Shuhua was left in shock.
SHUHUA (through translation): The Chinese government pressured him for so long that he ran away. Why did they still need to chase us?
WATSON (on camera): For decades, critics of the ruling Communist party ran across the border seeking refuge in Thailand. But now Chinese dissidents in Bangkok tell me they live in constant fear of being snatched and dragged back home by Chinese security services.
(voice-over): Yu Yong Qua (ph) is another Chinese activist who ran away to Thailand. She hasn't been back to her Bangkok apartment in days. Too frightened, she says, after at least four Chinese dissidents day peered from Thailand in less than four months.
(on camera): These are your UNHCR documents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
WATSON (voice-over): She and a fellow Chinese dissident have applied for asylum as political refugees with the U.N. in an effort to escape the long arm of the Chinese law.
YU YONG QUA (ph), POLITICAL DISSIDENT: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
WATSON (on camera): The decision to run away from your country, that's a very difficult and very big decision to make.
[13:40:11] QUA (ph) (through translation): I thought I would get protection in Bangkok and wouldn't have to live in fear of arrest all the time.
WATSON (voice-over): Most frightening for Chinese exiles, the case of this man. A well-known Swedish publisher of books critical of the leadership. He mysteriously disappeared from his condominium in October and was next shown on state TV in China in January in police custody. Police in Thailand say they have no record that he ever officially left the country. And they are investigating his possible kidnapping.
MIKE CHINOY, SENIOR FELLOW, U.S./CHINA INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: The Chinese government is trying to extend its reach to intimidate and silence critics outside of China.
WATSON: China expert Mike Chinoy argues the cross-border crackdown is part of a broader campaign by Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, to remove any threat to the Chinese Communist Party. (SHOUTING)
CHINOY: The message is, if you cross us, our reach is so great that we'll get you wherever and it has, therefore, a deterrent on people who might think of doing the same thing.
WATSON: The Chinese government insists it's simply upholding the rule of law, adding that anyone who breaks the law will be punished.
A punishment Gu Shuhua says her husband does not deserve.
SHUHUA: (through translation): My husband told me he needs to see democracy in China. He will fight until the end.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Ivan Watson is joining us from Hong Kong.
Pretty shocking stuff. I understand at least four Hong Kong book sellers tied to the Swedish publisher mentioned in your piece also have disappeared in recent months.
WATSON: The short answer is yes. What's incredible about this is it took Chinese police nearly four months after these men disappeared until finally Chinese police sent a letter to their counterparts here at Hong Kong confirming that these missing men were, in fact, in Chinese custody, that they're under investigation on unspecified criminal charges in connection with this guy from Thailand who disappeared and then reemerged in this very creepy televised confession on Chinese state TV with these dubious story that somehow he smuggled himself back in to China to turn himself in for a traffic accident some 13 years ago.
What is also very disturbing about the story involving the world's second-largest economy, Wolf, is that China appears to be embarking on a very restrictive policy pursuing pro-democracy activists who flee the country, who flee repression and then when they're getting asylum with the assistance of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, they're still being dragged back to face Chinese law in their country for simply demanding freedoms and democracy -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Pretty shocking stuff.
Ivan Watson, in Hong Kong for us. Good reporting. Thank you very, very much.
Just ahead, we'll get back to the race for the White House. These are live pictures. Bernie Sanders speaking right now in Exeter, New Hampshire. He pledged not to run a negative campaign. What about Hillary Clinton's accusation that he engaged in a, quote, "artful smear" against her? We'll talk to supporters of both campaigns. We'll also hear more from with Bernie Sanders. Stay with us.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I), VERMONT & DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Koch brothers, Koch brothers, second-wealthiest family in America making -- (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:47:39] BLITZER: Earlier, we heard from Hillary Clinton. Bernie Sanders is at a rally in Exeter, New Hampshire. Let's listen in.
SANDERS: -- a criminal record, once arrested for possessing marijuana. Well, thank you very much but we have somebody else interested in the job. That's what happens if you are a young person caught with marijuana in New Hampshire or Vermont. But if you are an executive on Wall Street who was involved in activities illegal activities that cause the worst economic downturn since the great depression, which resulted in millions of Americans losing their jobs, their homes, and their life savings, guess what happens to you. Not much. You do not get any police record. No prosecution of your activity. How does it happen? The company settled for a $5 billion fine. Not chump change. $5 billion, but nobody gets punished.
I think when we talk about America, we believe our country was based largely on fairness, that people should get a fair shake in life. It didn't matter whether you were rich or powerful or whether you were poor. The criminal justice system should treat all people equal. Well, one of the things that together that we are going to do is bring justice back to the criminal justice system.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: All right, we're going to continue to monitor Bernie Sanders.
By the way, he's going to be heading to New York this weekend. He'll be on "Saturday Night Live." Larry David is hosting "Saturday Night Live." That should be fabulous. Larry David, of course, does an amazing Bernie Sanders.
Let's get some perspective. Jonathan Tasini, a Bernie Sanders supporter, the author of book "The Essential Bernie Sanders and His Vision for America." Also joining us, Michael Nutter, the former mayor of Philadelphia, a Hillary Clinton supporter, also a CNN contributor.
Guys, thanks very much.
Jonathan, what was the strongest moment for Senator Sanders in that debate last night with Hillary Clinton?
[13:50:06] JONATHAN TASINI, AUTHOR & BERNIE SANDERS SURROGATE: Well, I think in general, he repeated what he said before a number of times in rallies, debates and forums, which is this is really a campaign about a political revolution trying to change a rigged economy which has hurt so many working people. And his belief is when he gets into the White House, I do believe he will be the nominee, that the first task is to get rid of the lobbyists and corruption that makes it impossible for any of us to get done what we want to do for the people whether you're on Hillary Clinton's side or Bernie Sanders's side. I think it was a very strong moment. I think that was something that really resonated with the public. BLITZER: All right, Mayor Nutter, what was Hillary Clinton's
strongest moment?
MICHAEL NUTTER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR & FORMER PHILADELPHIA MAYOR: Well, Wolf, she had a number of strong moments last night, but I think one of the many was a very serious moment where she basically called out Senator Sanders on this artful language that he's been using to try to impugn her integrity. When she called him on it and said can you name a bill, a policy, anything, that she has changed her view on or not done something about, he was silent. And so we need to stay focused on the real issues that people in New Hampshire, people in Pennsylvania, people in the middle of the country care about, their jobs, their families and safety in America and around the world. Those are the things that Americans really care about.
BLITZER: She accused him of engaging in an artful smear and you heard Mayor Nutter say that was a strong moment for her. .
TASINI: Well, respectfully, I think Bernie Sanders has over the course of the campaign has been stating fact. It is a fact Hillary Clinton received over $600,000 from Goldman Sach's, in particular, which is a pretty good fee. I don't think most Americans in New Hampshire or across the country make $50,000 for the entire year, think that's anything but legalized bribery.
I think these are just facts. The reason I think Bernie didn't respect directly, that's the kind of person he is. He doesn't like to engage in that kind of back and forth. But I'll just turn to Elizabeth Warren, who has stated publicly that in 2001 she believes that because of the influence of the financial industry, the credit card industry and contributions, Hillary Clinton flip-flopped and ended up opposing a -- supporting the bankruptcy bill, which hurt many, many working American, millions of Americans. It was essentially --
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Go ahead, Mayor Nutter.
TASINI: Sure.
NUTTER: Yes, I think in the real world, in the court of public opinion, all of that is hearsay. We're now going to, you know, talk about what another Senator said and what that Senator believes. I obviously respect a great deal of Senator Warren. Americans care about jobs. They care about the environment. They care about infrastructure. They care about making sure the families are safe and that we're trying to bring this country together. Senator Sanders seems to believe that the best way to remodel a house is to set it on fire and burn it to the ground. And then somehow magically start over.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: All right, go ahead, Jonathan.
NUTTER: Secretary Clinton is an executive that knows --
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Hold on, hold on.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: I want Jonathan to respond to that.
NUTTER: Sure. Yeah.
TASINI: So that's the Hillary Clinton slogan, no, we can't. If Hillary Clinton had been in politics, say, when John F. Kennedy said, "Let's go to the moon," she'd have said, no, we can't, we can't do that. If she'd been around when they were giving civil rights speech, she would have said, no, we can't. Bernie Sanders is saying, yes, we have to change this rigged economy.
(CROSSTALK)
NUTTER: What is he talking about?
TASINI: I think that's why race, as you know, Wolf, in the Quinnipiac poll, is now tied nationally, because Bernie has developed so much support over the course of really a short campaign, seven months. Tied in Iowa, raising a huge amount of money. People are flocking to this message of the political revolution.
BLITZER: All right. This is what I want to do. I want both of you to come back and we'll continue this conversation on Monday, if your schedules allow. We're only just getting started.
Good to hear important differences between these two Democratic presidential candidates.
NUTTER: Absolutely.
BLITZER: Jonathan Tasini and Michael Nutter, guys, thanks very much.
I want to quickly wrap up this hour with the Super Bowl. Very different story. The Denver Broncos taking on the Carolina Panthers. Super Bowl 50 this Sunday. Peyton Manning playing in what could be his last game as a pro.
Let's go to Andy Scholes joining us the Super Bowl city in San Francisco.
Quickly set the scene for us.
[13:54:56] ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, you know, they're billing this game as the legend Peyton Manning taking on the rising star, Cam Newt. At 39 years old, Peyton Manning is the oldest quarterback to ever play in a Super Bowl. Of course the speculation is this will be Peyton's last game. When speaking with his dad, Archie, I definitely got the feeling this is it for Peyton. Cam Newton, on the other hand, he's going to be playing in his first
Super Bowl and after this season, he's likely to be the most valuable player. Win a Heisman trophy, college national championship, NFL MVP award and the Super Bowl.
The game is special for one Broncos player, wide receiver, DeMaryius Thomas. This is going to be the first time that his mother is going to be able to watch him play the big game in person. She had been serving a 20-year prison sentence for drug trafficking but President Obama commuted her sentence and she got out. And, Wolf, she is going to be here in Santa Clara for the big game on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEMARYIUS THOMAS, BRONCOS WIDE RECEIVER: It's like a dream come true. You know, I never thought I'd get the chance to play in a Super Bowl game in front of my mom because, you know, the situation she was in, and now that she's out and able to make the game, you know, I'm excited about that, and hopefully we can go out and get the win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: Very exciting. They're 5.5 point favorites.
BLITZER: We'll be watching together with you.
I've got to run. We're out of time.
Thanks very, very much.
SCHOLES: All right.
BLITZER: Big game on Sunday.
In the meantime, the news continues next right after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
