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Obama Unveils Guantanamo Bay Closure Plan; Cruz Stumps in Nevada; Nevada Primary Voter Caucus Today; Battle over Supreme Court Vacancy; Agreement Deadline Looming in Syria. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired February 23, 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] KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: You have fought very hard against just that. But, Congressman, there are already terror suspects in prisons here in the United States. Are you concerned that the prisons here -- are you concerned that they can keep them secure? What are your concerns?

REP. JACKIE WALORSKI, (R), INDIANA: That's my biggest concern, Kate. Number one, let's talk about who we're looking at. These are not your run-of-the-mill criminals or prisoners. These are mastermind terrorists who still have a desire to kill Americans. These are the folks that killed our fellow Americans in Iraq and the Middle East and places like that. Let's not forget some of these terrorists have already gone back into the field and they've become great commanders to continue to lead the fight against our country. And I'm concerned about that. I'm definitely concerned about how in the world would we hold them in a U.S. prison. And I don't want them in the state of Indiana in our supermax facility. I don't think anybody in this country wants them here. We want them detained in a safe place where they will never harm an American again. And I would throw this to you as well, Kate.

In the future, as we continue to get deeper and deeper into Syria, we've sent forces now, we've sent operational forces and special ops now into Syria, and we continue in the Middle East with this developing situation in Iraq. What are we going to do with future detainees? Where are we going to put them for the purpose of interrogation, to get information to stop attacks in our own country? All that is wrapped up right now in Guantanamo Bay.

I'm going to fight and make sure that the president doesn't break the law, which is sending them here. I'm going to make sure I do what I can, and I have been fighting this for four years. I'm passionate about this.

BOLDUAN: You clearly are, but on the point of bringing detainees to the United States, The president points out there are already accused terrorists sitting in our prisons. Moussaoui (ph) is in a supermax in Colorado. The shoe bomber is in a prison in the United States. There are prisons that are holding terrorists already. The Pentagon has said that it believes it can keep them secure. Why do you not believe the Pentagon?

WALORSKI: Well, I would tell you because we're not talking, again, just about a couple of hardcore terrorists. That core that we're talking about to be released into this country, because nothing else can be done with them, are masterminds that mastermind attacks. They've masterminded the murder of our fighting forces that are overseas. And, no, I do not believe an American prison can hold them. I guess the greater question is why do you want to expose American citizens to these people right on our own soil? They're safe where they're at. They cannot escape where they're at. It's been proven true. And it's a facility for future detainees as well. I am not going to expose our American citizens on our soil to carry the threat and continue to want to kill Americans. I absolutely do not trust our U.S. prison systems, no.

BOLDUAN: To your point, you say the best place for them to be is in Guantanamo Bay. But the president pointed out today, John McCain agrees with him on this point, that Guantanamo has been used for recruiting purposes, propaganda purposes for terror organizations. ISIS uses -- puts their hostages in orange jump suits in their beheading videos. Do you not believe that they're being used, that Gitmo is used as a propaganda tool?

WALORSKI: You know, one of the issues that we've learned on the House Armed Services Committee the past four years is that there may have been a minimal amount of that recruiting, when this first opened, when this first happened. But as time has rolled on, let's not forget, there is a balance between what's the cost of keeping Americans safe, and I want to err on the side of keeping Americans safe, both in the homeland and even the guards that protect them in Guantanamo today. I don't think the tradeoff is worth it. I don't think I want to hedge my bet on what the Pentagon says they think would work. I'm going to err on the side of the safety of Americans.

BOLDUAN: Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, it's always great to have you on. Thank you so much for your time.

WALORSKI: Thank you, Kate.

BOLDUAN: The fight continues. Appreciate it.

Coming up next for us, it's a race to Super Tuesday. One week and counting to the biggest delegate day so far. 11 states voting. We'll take a look, a closer look at the contests and the strategy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:38:28] BOLDUAN: Senator Ted Cruz is speaking to voters in Fernley, Nevada. This is his first event of the day, but not his last. Let's listen in.

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: -- the same naive foreign policy. In fact, the exact same countries, Russia and Iran, openly laughing at and mocking the president of the United States. Now why is it that that analogy gives me so much hope and optimism? Because we remember how that story ended. All across this country, millions of men and women rose up and became the Reagan Revolution.

(APPLAUSE) CRUZ: And it didn't come from Washington. Washington despised Ronald Reagan. By the way, every candidate says they're going to stand up to Washington. You want to know who really will? Just ask the simple question, who is Washington attacking? But the Reagan Revolution came from the American people, who rose up, and it turned this country around.

Why am I so optimistic? Because the same thing is happening again. We're here today, election day, this whole crazy year of an election cycle, millions in attack ads and mud slung this way and that way and the other way, I don't like your face.

(LAUGHTER)

It's been a strange cycle.

[13:40:34] BOLDUAN: It has been a strange cycle." And you can guess what someone is going to say very soon, I don't like your face. It happened already. Ted Cruz speaking there in Fernley, Nevada. He's making his final pitch before voters head to the caucuses this evening, and then he will be heading on to Super Tuesday.

Let's talk about that, if we can, as we look towards Super Tuesday. We are one week away from Super Tuesday. Here is how it all lays out. 12 states will take part on both the Republican and Democratic sides combined. And here is what is really at stake, 595 delegates for the Republicans, 865 delegates for the Democrats. So what did the contest look like? What is the strategy? What is it going to look like in the week beforehand? Messy, I'm guessing.

Joining me now from Washington is CNN political commentator, S.E. Cupp; and Democratic strategist, Jamal Simmons.

It's great to see you.

The two contests this week, Nevada for the Republicans, South Carolina for the Democrats. S.E., what do you think those results, what impact have on Super Tuesday?

S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know, it's interesting. Donald Trump looks to be in good shape going into Nevada tonight. And I expect him to be in good shape going into Super Tuesday as long as there are four other people in the race. I think he benefits tremendously by just needing a plurality to warp up primary wins and delegate wins. And it would be -- going into Super Tuesday with a great head of steam, coming off of a Nevada win, a South Carolina win, a New Hampshire win. That looks pretty good.

And as far as Hillary is concerned, I think she just needs to sort of double stamp her last win and say I was electable in Nevada. It was close. It was close. But here it is again. I'm the electable candidate. South Carolina now clinches it. You know, two very different parts of the country. I'm the frontrunner. I am, you know, your nominee going into Super Tuesday.

BOLDUAN: S.E., do you really think when you say Trump is ling himself up for Super Tuesday, if there are still all these candidates in the race, do you think really there's any possibility any of the guys that are hurting in the polls, Ben Carson or John Kasich are really going to drop out before Tuesday?

CUPP: Probably not, almost inexplicably, in some cases. But, no, I think it's very clearly become a three-person race at this point. You know, just looking at polls between Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio. And those are three very different candidates. Those are not three guys vying for the same kinds of voters. It's not like having those three candidates doesn't give Republicans enough, you know, choice I don't think John Kasich can really pull ahead. I think Ben Carson has been out of this for a while.

BOLDUAN: Jamal, one of the biggest prizes for Democrats up for grabs on Tuesday is Virginia. Bernie Sanders, he was stumping there in just the last hour. But I think everyone will very much remember a very close friend of the Clintons, Terry McAuliffe, is now the governor there. How will it play out, do you think?

JAMAL SIMMONS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Not only is Terry McAuliffe the governor, but Rodney Mook (ph) ran the campaign for governor, so he understands that state really well. He's also the one who won Nevada, because he ran that state in 2008 for then-Senator Clinton. So he's got a pretty strong hand to play. I think it's going to be a good contest. It also has a lot of African-American voters. They're in small pockets around the state. My family is actually from a little town just east of Charlottesville, so there are all these little pockets of people who are in Virginia you've got to get to.

A week ago, I was down in South Carolina and I saw Bernie Sanders investing a lot of time, a lot of resources and people down there. But I've got to say, I think clay Middleton, who runs a Clinton campaign in South Carolina, they've done a good job of matching them and pushing them back. So now you're not seeing Bernie Sanders spend as much time down there.

I think Secretary Clinton's numbers, it looks like they're going to hold in South Carolina, which is going to be bad for rd. He's got to beat her somewhere decisively if he hopes to shake loose delegates and have a chance.

BOLDUAN: And on the Republican side, everybody says this, for anyone to beat Donald Trump, they need to get a win. They need to get a win. Second and third place is not a win. I mean, it can only be a win for so long in these early states. Ted Cruz's campaign, they told me that Texas is a must-win for them. What do you think the state of the race is there?

[13:45:20] CUPP: Yeah, for sure. I mean, Ted Cruz has I think previously considered Iowa a must-win. But Texas would certainly be his wheelhouse, obviously, being a Senator from Texas. And spent a lot of time on ground game there. A lot of his staff is based in Texas. So that would be a must-win.

But back to Virginia, I've been looking at some state polling. That's incidentally where I will primary on Tuesday. I've been looking at some state polling. While Hillary's lead over Bernie Sanders is about 12 points, pretty solid, Marco Rubio is actually pretty close behind Donald Trump, sort of nipping at his heels. So the whole like northern Virginia, southern Virginia dynamic will really come into play in that Republican primary.

BOLDUAN: Jamal, S.E., it's great to see you guys. Thanks so much.

CUPP: Sure.

SIMMONS: Good to see you.

BOLDUAN: So many more states to discuss and so many days to discuss them. It's so good.

(LAUGHTER)

SIMONS: It will be fun.

BOLDUAN: It always is.

And before Super Tuesday, the five Republican candidates will be battling it out in a debate in Texas, and CNN's Wolf Blitzer will be moderating that debate this Thursday, 8:30 p.m. eastern, only on CNN.

Coming up, still, for us, the battle over the Supreme Court. We've just learned that according to some top Republican Senators, there will be no confirmation hearings on any Supreme Court nominee coming from President Obama. We're going to go live to Capitol Hill for those details after a quick break. Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:50:40] BOLDUAN: New information just in to CNN. A new salvo in the battle over the successor for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Top Republican Senators now say they will not hold any confirmation hearings for any nominee this year.

For more, let's get to CNN's senior political reporter, Manu Raju, on Capitol Hill.

Manu, this has been hinted at since Scalia's death but this is the strongest statement yet coming from Republicans. What are you hearing?

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Absolutely, Kate. It started off today with Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, saying the Senate would withhold its consent on any nominee, the furthest he has gone. He met with Senate Republicans who serve on the Judiciary Committee and that committee, of course, is the first line of defense to vet the nominee.

The Republicans came out of that meeting and said they were prepared to deny any hearings whatsoever to whoever the president sends up. Even people like Lindsey Graham, who voted for Elena Kagan, he said there's a widespread consensus against any nominees in this election environment, citing Joe Biden's own comments, similar comments he made, against a perspective George H.W. Bush nominee. He said he wouldn't even meet the nominee.

Typically, would do courtesy calls to members. Republicans are lunching right now, discussing this as a full conference. I'm told by Republican Senators in that lunch there is unity behind this idea of denying a Supreme Court nominee any sort of proceedings whatsoever. Only two Republicans so far have broken ranks, Mark Kirk of Illinois and Susan Collins of Maine. Democrats hope those fissures will widen once there's a nominee -- Kate?

BOLDUAN: We'll have to see if the pressure builds, if there is a nominee, if there is any movement. From what you're saying and what you're hearing, sure does not sound like it now.

Manu, thanks so much.

RAJU: Thanks, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Still ahead, Syria is only days away from a proposed truce, but there's one potentially big problem -- not everyone has agreed to it. Those details are coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:56:57] BOLDUAN: Welcome back. The Syrian government is now signing on to a cease-fire agreement due to take effect in just a few days. A main opposition group also backs the truce brokered by Russia and the United States. Sounds great, right? Two of the most powerful forces on the ground on the battlefield, ISIS and al Nusra Front, they aren't part of the deal. That means attacks by them and against them could continue, raising a whole lot of questions and concerns over what this deal really means.

Let's go to CNN senior international correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh, who's following the situation from Beirut.

Nick, they've been trying to hammer this truce out for several weeks. Without agreement from the terror groups, what does it really mean?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Depends what point of view you have. If you are John Kerry, who just told the Senate this is a good chance potentially to unite in the fight against ISIS, to focus the fight inside Syria against ISIS, then potentially things are going according to plan so far.

We've just heard the Syrian government say, yes, they'll go along with this truce. They won't expect it to include ISIS or al Qaeda in Syria, the al Nusra Front. Also the put in a little room there, saying they also think they can target al Qaeda-linked groups. That isn't really part of the deal but it might be a loose interpretation of what some of the parts of the deal actually say. That's going along with the deal so far.

We've heard from the political representatives of the Syrian opposition, they're on track. We haven't heard from the Syrian armed opposition. They've often been the stumbling block in deals like this in the past. So the potential error there. That could, John Kerry says, provide a potential moment of opportunity for a lull in violence, for a focus against ISIS.

But the other side of the coin here too, deep suspicion held by some western governments, I think a lot really by the United Kingdom, who look at this as a chance for Russia to repeat what they accuse of doing in the past. Moscow always says we're going after ISIS, but been accused and actually in reality been hitting Syrian opposition rebels, often the moderates, who oppose the regime in Damascus. Many are concerned they'll use this truce to continue doing that. And at the end of the day, you'll actually see Russia and the regime solidifying their military positions rather than causing a lull in the violence.

But we are going to have to go through a week of tremendous transformation. This weekend had one of the bloodiest incidents of the entire war, a suicide bombing near Damascus. Now we have to go through midnight and Saturday for a lull in the fighting.

With that extraordinary caveat, ISIS and Nusra, the groups everyone agrees to be terrorists, still being part of the battle, still being able to be targeted by both U.S. jets, the regime, and Russian air strikes potentially as well -- Kate?

BOLDUAN: Nick, as you follow this, the back and forth and the many weeks this has been going on, the one thing that is very clear in how you lay this out is just how immensely complicated this horrific situation is in Syria and how those alliances are not alliances, how to get them all together, it just almost seems impossible as they continue to work this out.

It's great to see you, Nick. Thanks so much.

Thank you all for joining us.

For our international viewers, "AMANPOUR" is coming up next.

For out viewers in North American, NEWSROOM with Poppy Harlow starts right now.