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Albright, Steinem under Fire for Controversial Comment; Former Obama Supporters Backing Trump; Feud Intensifies Between Trump, Bush; Beyonce Debuts Politically-Laced Music Video. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired February 08, 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] CLAI LASHER-SOMMERS, GUN SAFETY ADVOCATE, EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY & HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: In terms of trolling, just because I have talked a little bit in public, I -- excuse me. I cannot believe what showed up on my pages.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: It's incredible, the hate online.
LASHER-SOMMERS: The hate.
BALDWIN: But can you understand -- you were chatting during the commercial break, the same school you attended years ago.
LASHER-SOMMERS: Right. Right.
BALDWIN: Can you understand the enthusiasm she has for Bernie Sanders? Roll back time, if it were 2016 when you were in school, do you get it?
LASHER-SOMMERS: I understand the enthusiasm. I also understand the enthusiasm that a lot of other women have for Hillary Clinton because she is talking about issues that we have been fighting for, for a really long time. We're talking about executive orders that just came out that could be nullified if we don't have a candidate who can win and get into the White House. We're talking about issues of, you know, children -- the children in this country starving to death --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Why do you -- these are her issues. What are your issues and why is Bernie the guy?
GABRIELLE GREAVES, STUDENT & BERNIE SANDERS SUPPORTER: For one part is free college education. You know, Hillary Clinton talks about implementing more grants and having a lot more money and placing a lot of the responsibility on the schools. Whereas Bernie Sanders is like, we should get the rest of the world, the major countries who have implemented free education, implemented universal health care. I think Hillary Clinton's about evolution, like this is going to take time, whereas Bernie Sanders is saying this is going to happen.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: But is that realistic? LASHER-SOMMERS: How's that going to happen now? We have Senate,
Congress where we can get one thing moved that works for children, that works for women, that works for black and brown people in the cities. We have nothing that we can get passed. So if we're going to have a revolution -- and I am so thankful that he has brought up the issues that he has -- but we cannot have a revolution in --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: In the current atmosphere in Congress?
LASHER-SOMMERS: It's not going to happen. It's just not going to happen.
BALDWIN: How would you respond to that?
GREAVES: Well, why not? I think for starters, one of the things we honestly completely keep talking about, especially in the University of New Hampshire, is that Hillary Clinton, again, she's saying -- and this is the analogy I make. Bernie Sanders wants to reach for the stars and maybe he'll land on Pluto, maybe he'll land on the asteroid belt. Hillary Clinton is reaching for the moon and maybe will land somewhere in the atmosphere. Still not fighting for the things we really want to see in this day and age. So is she really going to make her own legacy or continue the legacy President Obama has made? I think it's really great she's fighting for a lot of these things but, especially as a black woman, this is not exactly what I would like to hear.
BALDWIN: This is fascinating.
LASHER-SOMMERS: So you do not -- what do you think about Obama's legacy? You don't think he's done well enough?
GREAVES: Of course, he's done so much.
LASHER-SOMMERS: OK, so why is that -- if he is having to do executive orders to make our nation, just our nation safer --
GREAVES: Yes.
LASHER-SOMMERS: -- then why isn't that good enough? And why isn't someone who is coming out speaking about that publicly from the minute she hit the campaign trail, who will keep executive orders, who will keep women and children safe, why is that not good enough? How is he going to go in there? He has, in terms of gun violence -- I do know this -- in terms of gun violence, he has never, ever been on the forefront of this. He has stayed back from it in term also of the liability issues after mass shootings where people have --
BALDWIN: Brady Bill.
LASHER-SOMMERS: After a mass shooting, you know, after people are laying on the ground, after 20 children are dead and murdered on the ground, there has been a bill that we have been trying to get together so that gun manufacturers would be held liable. Bernie Sanders has not stepped up for that. He has said that is something that I am not going to pay attention to. The only reason that he has said that he will possibly co-sponsor that bill is because Obama came out and said, anyone who does not support my executive orders on gun violence, I will not support.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: This is something obviously very personal to you.
LASHER-SOMMERS: Right. Right.
BALDWIN: You speak from, sadly, from experience. You know what it's like.
Final, just final thought from you. Hearing all of that, it's fascinating to talk to you two women who come from very different perspectives, equally impassioned but on different sides.
GREAVES: One of the things I completely understand is I do resonate with a lot of the things you're saying but I think the reason Bernie Sanders has captured a lot of the young voters, and as far as Steinem, a lots of young women voters, is because he give us a voice. He really does give us a voice. When Hillary Clinton was asked a question at the town hall meeting, she said, you don't have to be for me but I'll be for you. Bernie Sanders is saying I want you to be for me. I see the issues you're facing, whether it be police brutality or the health care system or student loan debt, and I'm going to talk to you about these problems. And when he was able to speak at the University of New Hampshire, when he came, he said, that are the issues my campaign isn't covering, so I can look into these things and we my people can look into these things and we can get them on the forefront.
And, you know, I do apologize that he isn't talking about the gun laws. And maybe that's something he can do if he sees this. I do think that Bernie Sanders is for the people and, unfortunately, I don't think it's Hillary Clinton's time, female or not, I just don't support her where she stands on a lot of her policies. I don't think she's consistent with the way she feels about certain issues.
[14:35:23] BALDWIN: OK, we have to leave it.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: I can see -- we'll talk during the commercial break. I promise, we're not finished. We're not finished. But for now, we're finished here.
Gabrielle Greaves and Clai Lasher-Sommers, thank you so much.
This is so emblematic of what's happening on the ground in New Hampshire. It's such an important conversation. So thank you.
Just ahead, why are some of Trump's biggest supports Obama voters? Wait until you hear this. Plus, we'll speak live with Trump Rockingham County co-chair about the feud erupting between Donald Trump and Jeb Bush.
And breaking news on Wall Street today. The Dow plunging almost 400 points as fears grow about the world's economy.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:40:22] BALDWIN: We're back here live in New Hampshire. Donald Trump's monster lead among likely Republican voters might be getting a boost from some unlikely voters, being Obama supporters. Several who jumped on the 2008 "Yes We Can" bandwagon to elect the president are getting off. They say they are ready to embrace Trump and, quote, "make America great again."
CNN political reporter, M.J. Lee, talked to some of them and is here to explain exactly why they are making the change.
M.J., explain that for me.
M.J. LEE, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: It's a really fascinating phenomenon. When you look at Barack Obama of 2008 and the Donald Trump of 2012, you really think sort of polar opposite candidates in a lot of ways. Barack Obama had this soaring and optimistic rhetoric of hope and change. Donald Trump, on the other hand, also campaigning on change, but his message is harder and it's a little angrier.
The voters that I've spoken to that supported President Obama in the past but are now leaning towards Donald Trump, they say that because of national security issues being so much at the forefront this time around, that they want a tougher and an angrier candidate.
Of course, in New Hampshire, winning over Independent voters is so, so important because they make up such a large and influential bloc of voters in the state. And Donald Trump, last week, did very well among GOP caucus goers who say they're Independent. Trump is right now leading in the polls. We'll find out in just over 24 hours if those polls hold up and Trump is able to come in, in first place, in the state.
BALDWIN: All right, M.J. Lee, thank you very much. Like the coat. I know it's pouring snow. Good for you for covering yourself up.
(LAUGHTER)
Thank you, M.J., here in Manchester.
Now, I have the Lou Gargiulo, the co-chair of Trump Rockingham County here in New Hampshire.
Nice to see you in person.
LOU GARGIULO, CO-CHAIR, TRUMP ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Nice to see you, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Thanks for having me in New Hampshire. GARGIULO: Good to be with you today.
BALDWIN: Gorgeous. Just a little chilly.
Let's just begin with this whole -- really, the story line today on Trump is the attacks continue against Jeb Bush. Listen, to be fair, Jeb Bush is attacking back, or in some places, starts the attacks. Why attack Jeb Bush singularly and so forcefully?
GARGIULO: I think that Jeb's attack at the debate on Saturday night on the whole --
BALDWIN: Eminent domain.
GARGIULO: -- eminent domain hit a chord when Jeb and his family have used eminent domain on at least one occasion in Texas to build a baseball stadium. And to be so disingenuous to attack Mr. Trump on something like that I think certainly deserves a response, and I think Mr. Trump is responding to him clearly.
BALDWIN: Why -- it seems personal to me because other candidates have attacked Trump. But with Jeb -- when I heard him on the phone with Wolf just this last hour or two, he said Jeb Bush is "pathetic, desperate person gone crazy, he's a nervous wreck, he's a liar, lying about Marco Rubio." He said they're not friends. Jeb Bush says yes we are. Is this personal for Mr. Trump?
GARGIULO: I don't think it's personal. I think Mr. Trump is just speaking from the heart as he has done in all parts of this campaign. I think he takes a lot of the personal attacks personally. I think he's responding in like kind.
And on the issue of Marco Rubio, it's hard to believe in the attacks that Jeb has put forth. What Mr. Trump said, I have to agree with. I think the friendship is long gone because of the blistering attacks. And Jeb spending over $20 million on attacking him clearly doesn't speak to a friendship.
BALDWIN: Meantime, Jeb Bush would say that Marco Rubio quite simply isn't ready for prime time and he is the candidate to be president and not Marco Rubio but they are still friends. This is what Governor Bush says.
Let me move on and talk about Donald Trump in terms of his tone. Going into Iowa, it was all about winning, right, and the language we have become very familiar with and much of America enjoys actually in Trump. Post Iowa, the second place, a strong second, we started to see a more reserved Donald Trump, then we saw this when he was talking to Dana Bash. Just paraphrasing, he said, I will not be happy with second place. Is this back to the bombastic "I will win" Donald Trump?
GARGIULO: I think Mr. Donald Trump has always been a winner and think he continues to be a winner.
BALDWIN: He didn't win in Iowa. [14:45:08] GARGIULO: He didn't win in Iowa, but I think there were
some underhanded things done in Iowa, and the results might have been very different if those things weren't done.
BALDWIN: Underhanded things?
GARGIULO: Yeah, in the last two hours of the election. When you look at the numbers, I think clearly it may have been a different result. But we don't know that at this point.
But Mr. Trump is going forward. And he's going forward with an aggressive campaign. He's talking about the things that people are concerned about, things like security, jobs, the deficit and taxation --
BALDWIN: Heroin addiction.
GARGIULO: Oh, yeah, heroin issues, which are horrific here in New Hampshire. And clearly, the border security issue, there's a direct correlation. Much of the heroin and drugs are coming across the southern border. If we secure that border, it certainly will have a positive impact on reducing the heroin epidemic.
BALDWIN: Lou Gargiulo, thank you so much.
GARGIULO: Thank you.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
Coming up next, overshadowing the big game, the Super Bowl halftime show, specifically Beyonce, who is bringing a message with her music. We'll talk to the artist who inspired Beyonce's new song. Do not miss this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VICTORIA MAXWELL, ACTRESS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER: Cuckoo, gonzo, schizo, wacko, weirdo.
(LAUGHTER)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Victoria Maxwell knows what it's like to be called names. Because that, this actress, who once worked for David Duchovny on the "X Files," was in denial for five years.
MAXWELL: I was hearing thing, seeing things, believing things that weren't there.
GUPTA: Victoria has bipolar disorder, which can cause severe episodes of mania, depression, even hallucinations.
MAXWELL: I ran down the street naked looking for God in a psychosis and even that did not wake me up.
GUPTA: A nurse convinced her to seek therapy. It took two and a half years to find the right medication.
MAXWELL: There's a big stigma about being on psychiatric drugs, that somehow it's like because I can't cope I'm on medication. And, no, it's because I have a certain kind of system and an order to function really well, I need medicine.
GUPTA: In 2001, she saw a flyer for a disability festival and entered.
MAXWELL: Schizophrenic man attacks police. I mean, they never splash the headline, diabetic man attacks police.
(LAUGHTER)
GUPTA: For the past 15 years, Victoria has performed her critically acclaimed shows to help remove the stigma of mental illness, an illness she knows all too well.
MAXWELL: To me, it's about rediscovering joy in your life. A lot of people don't ever have that chance, even if they don't have a mental illness.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:51:42] BALDWIN: ColdPlay was the headliner, but Beyonce stole the Super Bowl halftime show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: The new song is "Formation," an anthem that delves into racial and social politics, feminism, and what some are calling southern blackness.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Adding her voice to the socially conscious single New Orleans royalty, the one and only Big Freedia. Big Freedia is the author of "God Save the Queen Diva," and she stars in the reality TV show "Big Freedia, Queen of Bounce." She also has a new album coming out later this month, February 23rd.
Big Freedia, it is an hour, a pleasure. Thank you so much for joining me.
FREDDIE "BIG FREEDIA" ROSS, REALITY TV STAR, SINGER & AUTHOR: Thank you for having me.
BALDWIN: If people don't know what New Orleans bounce music is, just get on the Googles. Let me begin with this question. You know, with this whole Beyonce, video from New Orleans, it is dripping with so much texture. What happens when Beyonce calls you? Can you tell me about that phone call?
ROSS: I literally just died in my own skin when she called. I was just overwhelmed, excited. I was just blown away. And to get that phone call was very special and I was just so excited.
BALDWIN: The excitement is one thing, the richness of the video is another, you know, the themes of Hurricane Katrina, police brutality, specifically on young black boys, the images of Black Lives Matter.
Here's another clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: With all of the themes that she brings up, Big Freedia, how does this make you feel?
ROSS: It makes me feel if that she's able to get her message delivered and just be free and do what she wants to do on her track. Beyonce is so phenomenal in everything that she does. When she puts out a new song, and you get her message and you feel it, you know, we go through these things in our everyday life. Just to be able to relate to this artist, it's just amazing. She's just an amazing person.
[14:55:29] BALDWIN: On the, you know, halftime performance last night, we were all sitting around, a bunch of CNNers, just sort of screaming at how phenomenal it was, but Rudy Giuliani slammed the performance as outrageous and a politically charged attack on cops. He said what we should be doing in the African-American community and all communities is build up respect for police officers. Is that a fair criticism?
ROSS: I don't think so. I think that, you know, we respect police and people have to respect police. When they see them, just their uniform and their authority, people freeze up. So that definitely is a different situation they want to take to a whole different level.
BALDWIN: OK, Big Freedia, I'll see you in New Orleans.
ROSS: Yes, definitely. Come turn it up with me.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
ROSS: Thank you so much, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Coming up, back to --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Thank you, thank you.
Next, back to politics. Hours before voters in New Hampshire go to the polls, a feud has erupted specifically between Jeb Bush and Donald Trump. It is getting quite persona. You'll hear from both candidates, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
