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Texas Crown Jewel of Super Tuesday; Interview with Texas Republican Party Chairman Tom Mechler; Coast Guard Boat Flips During Rescue; Lack of Diversity at the Oscars?; Donald Trump's Many Loves; Aired 10:30-11a ET
Aired February 25, 2016 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:30:02] LAURIE SEGALL, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: And this is the one that could absolutely set the precedent here.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I think we've been doing that for a long time, right?
SEGALL: Yes.
COSTELLO: The Internet sort of surprised everyone when it shouldn't have.
SEGALL: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Laurie Segall, thanks so much. Evan Perez, thanks to you, too.
I'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We are just hours away from tonight's CNN debate. Days away from Super Tuesday, and Senator Ted Cruz is putting it all on the line with his home state of Texas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Super Tuesday, I am convinced will be the most important day in the entire presidential election cycle. And the crown jewel of Super Tuesday is the great state of Texas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:35:06] COSTELLO: That crown jewel comment is no exaggeration. The state has 155 delegates up for grabs. But as our Gary Tuchman found out, winning Texas is far from a sure thing for the Tea Party favorite.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): George Brensovich (PH) is a ranch owner in El Paso County, Texas. His ranch a short walk from the Mexican border in one of the most violent border areas there is.
(On camera): Are you carrying a gun right now?
GEORGE BRENSOVICH, RANCH OWNER: Yes, sir. It's a normal thing out here.
TUCHMAN: Would you ever talk down here without carrying a gun?
BRENSOVICH: No.
TUCHMAN: Because?
BRENSOVICH: I'm no fool.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Brensovich has never voted for a Democrat for president and that string will continue this year. The illegal immigration, he says, has a lot to do with it.
BRENSOVICH: We need to secure the border and prosecute the -- those who came in illegally. Deport but you've got to secure this border first.
TUCHMAN (on camera): The Rio Grande separates the United States from Mexico from one end of Texas to the other. There are fences and walls in this state but not right here, and you can see the Rio Grande right over here which separates the two countries. Mexico is over here, has no water in it. It's just mud. Very easy to cross. The only water we see is right here in the swampy area.
(Voice-over): About a half mile away, there is a border fence, but it abruptly comes to an end. Anyone can just wander around it. One more reason George Brensovich and his wife want this area more secure ASAP. So who is their choice for president?
BRENSOVICH: I've got all my cards on the table for Donald Trump.
TUCHMAN: Brensovich says he has faith in the New York City billionaire.
(On camera): Do you think Donald Trump knows what he's talking about?
BRENSOVICH: I think absolutely. I think NAFTA is a big failure. We'll use all that money to build a wall you can't imagine.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): There are registered Republicans in the Texas border who don't much like Trump. Steven Brewer likes the immigration stance of Ben Carson whom he will vote for Tuesday.
(On camera): Do you think Carson is tough enough on that?
STEVEN BREWER, BEN CARSON SUPPORTER: I believe that he is tough enough, I believe that he's fair. I believe that Donald Trump is over the top. He really is. What he wants to do with immigration, especially in this area on the border is just -- it's going to breed ill will between the two countries.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): But this Republican says the former reality show host is not over the top, saying he was thinking of voting for Rubio, but will instead vote for Trump.
(On camera): Does it trouble you that he talks about sending everyone back who's undocumented in this country?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I'd help him. I think a lot of people would help him.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): And George Brensovich is one of them. He wants his land back from the people crossing through it illegally. He wants his safety back so he doesn't have to carry a gun nearly everywhere he goes.
BRENSOVICH: I'm retired. My roots are deep. My property is paid off. I'm staying.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, El Paso County, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: But it is Senator Cruz, not Donald Trump, who is king in Texas. Texas is Cruz's home state. He's Tea Party royalty there. But as you heard in Gary's story not only is there support in Texas for Donald Trump, but there is support for other candidates as well. Ben Carson and Marco Rubio.
Tom Mechler joins me now. He is the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.
Welcome, sir.
TOM MECHLER, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS: Good morning, Carol. How are you doing today?
COSTELLO: I'm good. I'm so glad you're with me this morning. Ted Cruz must win Texas if his southern strategy is to work. Do you foresee a win for Cruz in Texas? Is it a sure thing?
MECHLER: Well, nothing is ever a sure thing. But I think that certainly Senator Cruz is very well-positioned to take our state. As you indicated, 155 delegates are at play here which happens to be one- eighth of the number of delegates necessary to get the nomination. And so we're obviously the 900-pound gorilla in this race that's going to happen on March 1st.
COSTELLO: Absolutely. Could Mr. Trump win Texas? Is it possible?
MECHLER: Well, you know, I'm not a pundit so I'm not going to get into predictions or anything like that, but I guess theoretically anything is possible. But the probability is very strong that Senator Cruz will take his home state on Tuesday, and will do very, very well here in Texas. COSTELLO: As you well know, the Republican debate is tonight, and as
a Republican -- as the Republican chair in Texas, when the candidates go on the attack against each other and they're expected to go on the attack tonight, it's expected to be pretty nasty, what goes through your mind when you're watching them attack one another?
MECHLER: Well, I certainly would prefer that there would be a very positive discussion about the future of our country and the future of how to go forward as a team. Ultimately I think the successful candidate is one that can bring everybody together on the Republican side of the aisle. And so I hope that they'll be gracious to one another. I understand they have to show separation and differences between themselves for the voters, but at the same time, what I'll be looking for is to hear a clearer articulation of people's vision for this country and how to move us forward and to address the issues that we're facing as a nation.
[10:40:11] COSTELLO: As you probably know, Mitt Romney has injected himself into the race. And he's pressuring Mr. Trump to release his tax returns. Mr. Trump says he'll release his tax returns when he's good and ready. Do you think that Mr. Trump should release his tax returns?
MECHLER: Well, you know, I think there's a bigger question here, perhaps, that deals with transparency with respect to what the people have a right to understand and know about the different candidates. So whether he chooses to do that or not, I know that that's part of his political strategy. But I think that the voters probably have a right to receive that kind of information and I think it's important whenever they decide how they're going to decide to make their vote. So, you know, I think it's helpful that all candidates release their -- those tax returns. I think it's an important part of transparency to the people.
COSTELLO: So is it possible as Romney has intimated that there could be a bombshell in Donald Trump's tax returns?
MECHLER: Well, I certainly wouldn't go down that -- I'm not going to speculate as to -- I think even Mitt Romney indicated yesterday he's not saying there's something there. He has no intimate knowledge of anything. So, you know, it's -- I wouldn't want to speculate as to what's there or what's not there so.
COSTELLO: And just a last question, because this election season is perhaps one like no other, so if you step back and you look at this, I don't know. I just want to pick your brain. What do you think about it? Some people say it's crazy. Some people say it's good for the country. What do you think?
MECHLER: Well, it's certainly one that I've never seen. I've been doing Republican politics for over 30 years. And I think this is one like none other. It's certainly been an interesting experience to see 17 candidates initially and now of course we're down to five. But, you know, I think there's a tendency for people to say that well, there's a problem with this one or there's a problem with that one, but I think we need to remember that the perfect candidate is never running.
There is no perfect candidate, and so it's an opportunity for people to get to know the voters, to hear their visions of what they would do and what they think is appropriate on how to lead the country. And I think that -- you know, it's a unique experience, for sure, and it's a good time to be a Republican. I certainly like our side of this situation much better than what the Democrats have.
You know, you have a socialist in Bernie Sanders. You have Hillary Clinton who her activities are being investigated by the FBI. So I certainly like our team and our choices much better than I think what the Democrats are fretting over at this time.
COSTELLO: All right. Tom Mechler, thank you so much for joining me this morning.
Five Republicans, one stage. Head-to-head. Tune in to the CNN Republican presidential debate live from Houston, Texas. That's tonight, 8:30 p.m. Eastern only on CNN.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, devastating and deadly. Powerful storms slam parts of the East Coast. Today we're getting a look at the damage left behind.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:47:23] COSTELLO: Virginia is under a state of emergency after unusually violent storms spawned powerful twisters and rain hail the size of golf balls up and down the East Coast. Over the last 48 hours more than 50 tornadoes were reported in eight states. The town of Waverly, Virginia, was hit especially hard. A toddler among three people killed when their home was lifted in the air and slammed into a church.
Meteorologist Chad Myers is following the latest developments from the CNN Center. Good morning.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol. It started on Tuesday. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. And then yesterday across the Virginias, Carolinas, and all the way on up even into Pennsylvania with some damage up there. Even big thunder and lightning in Boston overnight. 4:00 in the morning, maybe you woke up without an alarm clock this morning in Boston.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Wow. That's amazing. Chad Myers, thank you.
Well, there was a dramatic rescue this morning off the storm-battered East Coast. The Coast Guard lifting a fishing crew to safety after the vessel carrying them ran aground near Rockaway Beach, Queens. The waves so violent one Coast Guard -- one Coast Guard boat, rather, flipped over as it rushed to the fishing vessel.
Jean Casarez is following this part of the story. Those are scary pictures. JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very scary. One emergency suddenly
becomes two emergencies. It all started this morning at 2:00 in the morning. And that is when a fishing boat in the far Rockaway waters, and that's on Long Island, outside of New York City. 2:00 a.m. they make an urgent call to the U.S. Coast Guard saying their fishing boat with five to seven fishermen on board was filling up with water. So the U.S. Coast Guard immediately comes out.
[10:50:02] They get out there, their boat capsizes because it was 10 to 12-foot waves. So now suddenly somebody called emergency personnel. And a helicopter came and rescued the fishermen. U.S. Coast Guard. The five Coast Guard officers, they swam to shore, Carol. Everyone is accounted for. No injuries. But pretty scary. Can you imagine?
COSTELLO: You're not kidding. I can't imagine how cold that water must have been. But I'm glad everybody made it to shore safely.
CASAREZ: But what about the boat? Because that's their vessel for employment. That fishing boat. That's another issue.
COSTELLO: Yes. That's a big issue.
CASAREZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: Jean Casarez, thank you so much.
CASAREZ: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Another developing story we're following this hour. Evacuations now underway in Malibu, California, as firefighters work to contain a brush fire. The fire started just after 3:00 a.m. California time. Around 120 kids at nearby camps have been on standby to evacuate. So far no reports of any structures being burned and of course crews are working to protect homes and buildings around this fire.
If you're watching the Oscars this Sunday, keep an eye out for Vice President Joe Biden. He'll be introducing Lady Gaga and advocating for awareness on sexual assaults. But another message also taking center stage, the lack of diversity among the nominees.
Stephanie Elam has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The focus is supposed to be on the best in film.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, ACTOR: And the Oscar goes to --
ELAM: But much of the conversation leading up to the Oscars is being dominated by what the acting categories lack -- diversity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Best Actor is -- oh, my god, I knew it. It's a five-way tie. All the white guys. ELAM: For the second year in a row, the Academy Award acting nominees
are all white. The immediate backlash dominating social media and led by Jada Pinkett-Smith.
JADA PINKETT-SMITH. ACTOR: Let's let the Academy do this. Let's all grace in love and let's do us differently.
ELAM: And filmmaker Spike Lee.
SPIKE LEE, FILMMAKER: My wife Tonya, in all good consciousness, we cannot attend the Academy Awards.
ELAM: So in response to the controversy, the Academy's leadership moves swiftly to institute more changes to increase diversity among Oscar voters. The goal? To double the number of women and people of color by 2020.
MATTHEW BELLONI, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: The Academy is overwhelmingly white and overwhelmingly male. A lot of Academy members believe their new roles are ageist. They believe they are reverse racism.
DON CHEADLE, ACTOR: I don't think there's a cabal of white people going, let's make sure we don't give anybody -- anybody who is black or Latino, I don't think that's what's happening. So it's about a multiplicity of the people that this country represents. Not having access at a very early point in this process.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You all just got a snapshot of how Americans really feel people.
ELAM: Indeed Academy voters can't cast their ballots for movies that represent a wider range of the human condition if those films are never made in the first place.
BELLONI: The ultimate change here needs to come from the top echelon of Hollywood executive suites. It's getting those kinds of minority- driven movies into the Oscar conversation. That is the difficult part.
LEE: I would like to see more people step up because we're going to be in the right side of history.
ELAM: Stephanie Elam, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Donald Trump is known for his attacks. But there are a lot of people Donald Trump loves.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:57:47] COSTELLO: All right. The gloves will be off tonight in Houston at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The last Republican debate before Super Tuesday gets underway. Of course CNN will be covering. Wolf Blitzer is the moderator. You will want to be sure to tune in. Donald Trump, of course, will be attacking his rivals, but he also has
a lot of love to share. Here's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump is a man in love with love. And we're not just talking about his wife Melania.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I love my kids. I love the bible. I love our police. The Beatles I love. And do we love our vets? I love the evangelicals.
MOOS: But the Donald's latest love left some dumbfounded.
TRUMP: We won with highly educated. We won with poorly educated. I love the poorly educated.
MOOS: Instantly, #ilovethepoorlyeducated started to trend. It ended up on merchandise. It was mocked on Twitter. "Make America Dumb Again." But Donald seems smitten with various demographics.
TRUMP: We won with women. I love the women.
MOOS: But why stop at love?
TRUMP: I cherish women.
MOOS (on camera): Of course there is geographical love.
TRUMP: We love Nevada. I love Iowa. I love Las Vegas. I love the country.
MOOS (voice-over): And there is passive aggressive love.
TRUMP: I love protesters. I love "The New York Times." It's great.
MOOS: But the kind of love that tends to worry the recipient is often followed by a but.
TRUMP: I love the Mexican people. I love the Muslims. I think they're great people. I love China.
MOOS: But --
TRUMP: They are ripping use.
MOOS: There is one sure way to win Trump's affection.
TRUMP: So Kanye West, I love him because he loves Trump.
MOOS (on camera): Even when the Donald expresses his devotion to a cookie.
TRUMP: Oreos. I love Oreos.
MOOS: In the next breath, he bites back.
TRUMP: I'm never eating them again.
MOOS (voice-over): He's boycotting Nabisco because it moved some jobs to Mexico.
Trump's never-ending supply of love is apparently contagious.
MELANIA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S WIFE: We love you.
TRUMP: I love you folks very much. We love you.
MOOS: To the Donald, love is blind.
TRUMP: I don't know who the hell is in this room, but whoever it is, I love you. OK.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos --
TRUMP: I love you.
MOOS: CNN --
TRUMP: Everybody loves me.
MOOS: New York.
TRUMP: Everybody loves me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Thanks for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello. "AT THIS HOUR WITH BERMAN AND BOLDUAN" starts now.
