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Wolf
Interview with Bernie Sanders; Interview with Dr. Ben Carson. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired July 06, 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] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Here is what they say, your critics. By you're not doing today what Hillary Clinton did, vis-a- vis, Barack Obama eight years ago. They say, you know what, Bernie Sanders is not a Democratic.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I), VERMONT & DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They can say whatever they want, you know. They can --
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Are you a Democratic?
SANDERS: Look, many of these great pundits are the people --
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: These aren't pundits. These are other Democrats.
(CROSSTALK)
SANDERS: I know. I know. They had a strategy by the way, which two years ago, I have to tell you, resulted in an incredibly low voter turnout and Republicans taking over the Senate and doing en better in the House. What my job is to make sure the American people understand that the Democratic Party is on their side, and not on the side of Wall Street and big money interests. That's what I'm trying to -- when we do that, Jake.
BLITZER: Wolf, Wolf.
SANDERS: Wolf, I'm sorry, Wolf. I'm looking at the sign over there. That there will be a large voter turnout, and I think Democrats will do just well.
BLITZER: I know you're sticking around. There is a lot to talk about, including the James Comey announcement yesterday, the FBI director, on Hillary Clinton, her use of private e-mail --
SANDERS: Yep.
BLITZER: -- servers, classified information. You're sensitive to this issue.
We'll take a quick break.
Much more with Senator Sanders and me right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:35:40] BLITZER: We're back with Senator Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, the presidential candidate, still technically the presidential candidate.
What did you think of James Comey's conclusion yesterday, very dramatic, no charges should be filed against Hillary Clinton for use of private e-mail server, but she was basically derelict in her responsibilities.
SANDERS: Well, as you know, the process continues. Yesterday was a big part of the process. The FBI released the results of its investigation. And now we'll hear from the Justice Department.
BLITZER: The Justice Department, Loretta Lynch, has already said before Comey spoke out yesterday, she will accept the recommendations.
SANDERS: Well, it goes to the Justice Department, and you know, she will, and we will see what happens.
BLITZER: You have confidence in Comey?
SANDERS: I don't honestly know him very well. Seems to have done a thorough investigation.
BLITZER: Was this a fair conclusion he came up with?
SANDERS: I didn't -- I don't know the answer to that. I mean, it seemed to be a reasonable -- he is a serious guy and it was a serious investigation.
BLITZER: What about Loretta Lynch, the attorney general? Do you have confidence in here?
SANDERS: Yeah, I do. Look, Jake, all I could tell you, you're asking me questions, all I can tell you is there a process underway.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: It looks like the process is over with.
SANDERS: No, it is not.
BLITZER: Except for them to accept -- apparently, the Justice Department will release a written statement saying they accept the recommendations.
SANDERS: Then the process is over.
BLITZER: So the question is do you have confidence in the way handled her four years as secretary of state?
SANDERS: I think what the FBI report said is it was serious problems. And you know, that's what the case is. BLITZER: The speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, says he doesn't think
she should have access to classified information if she is the Democratic nominee. As you know, both candidates get classified briefings on a daily basis after the conventions.
SANDERS: What we can be 100 percent assured of, the Republicans will politicize this issue and do everything they can to keep it in the papers.
BLITZER: Comey was tough on her.
SANDERS: I think he did a serious investigation. But when you have Republican out there, they want to keep out of the media they want to cut Social Security, cut Medicaid, they don't believe in climate change. Those are not the issues they want to talk about.
BLITZER: Should Hillary Clinton have classified information as the Democratic presidential nominee.
SANDERS: I'm quite sure she should.
BLITZER: What about Donald Trump?
SANDERS: I suppose he should as well.
BLITZER: You think they should --
(CROSSTALK)
SANDERS: Jake, you're asking me what's. What do I know? If you're the presidential candidate and crises around the world, your job is to know what's going on in the world. Both of them should.
BLITZER: You have confidence in her judgment? This was an issue that came up a while ago, and when you were still very competitive with her --
(CROSSTALK)
SANDERS: Hillary Clinton and I disagree on a number of issues, on a number of issues. Once again, we agree that every kid in this country regardless of income should have the right to get a higher education. We agree that we have got to move to universal health care where every man, woman and child in this country should have health care and do whatever every country should be doing. Wealth and equality in this country is appalling, and that the wealthiest people have to pay their fair share of taxes. What I believe, Wolf, as you know, Wolf, what I have run on, the concerns of the American people. Not just attacking candidates all over the place. It is no secret. Hillary Clinton and I have our disagreements. That's the way it is.
BLITZER: The issue of judgment?
SANDERS: On the issue of judgment, she voted for the war, I voted against the war. I think was right. I think history will indicate that. BLITZER: What does that say about her judgment today?
SANDERS: It says she voted for the war. I voted against the war. I'm not going to be sitting here analyzing or criticizing Hillary Clinton or anybody else. But it does say as a country, we've got to start focusing on the real issues. Maybe we've got to be talking about why the middle class of the country has been declining for 35 years. How much do we talk about the fact and how many of your viewers even know that we are the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care as a right. We don't talk about climate change and the scientists, despite Donald Trump, are almost unanimous in telling us we have a gigantic on our hands if we don't transform out energy system. Those are the issues in my mind, not just attacking one or another candidate.
[11:40:09] BLITZER: Don't you think President Obama, with Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, has done a lot to make sure that millions of Americans who didn't have health insurance now have access to health insurance?
SANDERS: Somewhere around 20 million more Americans have access to health insurance. That's a major step forward. But 28 million Americans still today have no health insurance, and even more have inadequate health insurance in terms of high deductibles and high copayments, and by the way, we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, and there are people dying in America today. They're dying, because they can't afford medicine.
BLITZER: We're getting out of time. Very quickly, the Democratic platform in Orlando, you say the TPP, that's the biggest issue, you need them to say the TPP in the platform won't come up for a vote.
SANDERS: In the lame-duck session.
BLITZER: What are the two or three biggest issues?
SANDERS: I want -- you are demanding? Demand is a strong word. What we're going to fight for is the federal government's minimum wage is $15 an hour.
BLITZER: You want that number, $15 an hour in the platform?
SANDERS: Yes. We ban fracking and that we go forward with a tax on carbon, which I think we need if we're going to address climate change.
BLITZER: If you get those four elements in the platform, what happens?
SANDERS: We got a pretty good platform right now. It is by far the Democrats have ever presented. I want to see it more progressive. Secretary Clinton and I are working on other ideas.
BLITZER: We're wrapping up. Are you a Democratic?
SANDERS: Well, I ran as -- (CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: You ran for the presidential nomination --
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: But if you're not going to the nominee.
SANDERS: Hold on a minute. Wolf, in my state, you can't even register, you vote. You get a ballot when you go in and vote. I always get the Democratic ballot.
BLITZER: Here is the question. You're going to stay in the United States Senate. Will it say "I" or "D", Vermont?
SANDERS: I think it will say "D."
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: When will you change it to "D.?"
SANDERS: You can't change it. I am an Independent. I will certainly go for the rest of this term, I was elected as an Independent, and that's what I'll certainly stay.
BLITZER: Until you finish this term?
SANDERS: Absolutely.
BLITZER: OK, good.
Thanks for joining us.
SANDERS: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Appreciate it. At least you got the name.
SANDERS: There you go.
BLITZER: Senator, thanks.
SANDERS: You looked a little --
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Thanks very much for joining us.
Coming up, the Trump campaign has just announced a big fundraiser. Dr. Ben Carson is standing by to join us live. We'll talk about what Donald Trump has just announced, the V.P. short list, a whole lot more. You see him, Dr. Ben Carson, standing by live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:47:01] BLITZER: Fast moving political developments today on the campaign front. Republican Senator Bob Corker, of Tennessee, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has taken himself out of consideration for the role of vice presidential running mate.
He explained why to CNN's Manu Raju.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BOB CORKER, (R), TENNESSEE: You know, I think, you know, at age 63, you know, I know what I'm good at, and I feel like I'm better suited for other kinds of things. I think there are probably better suited people for this particular job for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right, let's discuss this and a whole lot more with the next guest, former 2016 Republican presidential candidate, and Donald Trump supporter, Dr. Ben Carson.
Dr. Carson, thanks very much for joining us.
Let me get your immediate reaction to the news from Corker. Last night, he was on the campaign trail with Donald Trump in North Carolina. Everyone assumed he was on the short list. Now he has removed himself from the list. What's your reaction?
DR. BEN CARSON, (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & RETIRED NEUROSURGEON: Senator Corker has been a patriot, has worked very hard for this country. And is doing a good job for the people of Tennessee, and has decided that he wants to continue to do that job. I don't see anything unusual about that you know, people ask me the same thing. Why did you not want to be considered? I didn't think that it was a good thing for me to do, either. So you know, I don't think there is anything unusual about that.
BLITZER: Are you helping Donald Trump in the vetting process for vice-presidential running mate?
CARSON: It is a conversation that we have from time to time.
BLITZER: Any idea when he will make his decision? Selected?
CARSON: It will definitely be made obviously by the time of the convention. Whether it happens a few days before that or not, you know, he is taking this extremely seriously. Pouring a lot of effort into it and talking to a lot of people. I think he is going to make a careful decision and not the typical vice-president decision, where you look at who can bring me this state or who can bring me this demographic. He is looking for somebody who is philosophically aligned and can really help to carry out the various changes that will be needed to make America great again.
BLITZER: It sounds like you're thinking of someone along the lines, I don't know if you want to get into this, let's say, Newt Gingrich, the former speaker, Chris Christie, people along those lines with a lot of political experience, is that what you're saying?
CARSON: I'm saying someone who is philosophically aligned who can help him, who can fill in, in the areas where he may not have as much experience, but who also can, you know, take on major programs, and kind of oversee them.
[13:50:00] BLITZER: The Trump campaign just announced that -- it's pretty important -- the June fundraising, with that they have raised $51 million. Hillary Clinton raised almost $69 million. Do you think that Donald Trump can compete on a fundraising level with Hillary Clinton in the coming months?
CARSON: I don't think it will be any problem at all. The fundraising has really just begun. You can see how quickly it's accelerated.
BLITZER: A little while ago Hillary Clinton blasted Donald Trump in a speech. I want to play a little clip and then we'll get your reaction.
CARSON: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: This isn't about Democrats versus Republicans. This goes far beyond that. Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit to be president of the United States.
(CHEERING)
CLINTON: So we can't let him roll the dice with our children's futures. We need to write a new chapter in the American dream, and it sure cannot be Chapter 11.
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: She was referring to the bankruptcies he's filed in Atlantic City over the years in connection with his various casinos. Your reaction?
CARSON: First of all, when people are involved in multiple businesses, not all of them are successful. I remember sitting in the living room of John Kluge, he used to be the richest man in America. At his peak, he had 200 businesses. Not all of them were successful. Some of them failed. The more endeavors you're in, the more likely it's going to be. It's a matter of risk and benefit and weighs things, so that is a part of business. Most people who are business in business will tell you that. So I'm not sure that Hillary Clinton, who doesn't seem to know that much about business is really the right person to be weighing in on this.
BLITZER: A short while, the president made an important announcement about U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan. I'm going to play a clip for you on that as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Instead of going down to 5,500 troops by the end of this year, the United States will maintain approximately 8,400 troops in Afghanistan into next year through the end of my administration. Today's decision best positions my successor to make future decisions about our presence in Afghanistan. In January, the next U.S. president will assume the most solemn responsibility of the commander-in-chief.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You want that next U.S. president to be Donald Trump, Dr. Carson. If he's president of the United States, what do you think he will do in Afghanistan?
CARSON: Well, first of all, you know, let me congratulate president. He does seem to learn. That's a good thing. He recognizes that withdrawing too many too quickly leads to disaster. So I'm glad about that.
I believe that Donald Trump will set down with his generals, with, will have an actual strategy that can be articulated, that actually makes sense, and then will do the things consistent with that strategy.
BLITZER: Over the weekend you gave an interview to the Family Research Council's "Washington Watch" radio program. You said that Donald Trump is now turning to prayer to become less self-centered -- your words. One of his latest tweets said this -- "I don't think the voters will forget the rigged system that allowed Crooked Hillary to get away with murder. Come November 8th, she's out."
Do you think that kind of tweet represents more prayer on his part, a more subdued candidate, if you will?
CARSON: You're talking about his personal relationship with God. I think that is moving definitely in the right direction. I don't have any problem, quite frankly, with him calling out some of the things that Hillary has done, particularly, you know, with Benghazi. I think that is the major issue that's been swept under the rug for way too long. Some honesty is necessary. And the American people are tired -- they're just sick and tired of dishonesty and, you know, sticking our heads in the sand. I just hope, Wolf -- I pray that individuals like yourself, individuals and the media, will stop picking sides and be objective about this, and recognize that our children, our grandchildren, our future is dependent on integrity and honesty. We can't just turn or heads and say, well, it's legal, well, let's dot this "I" and cross this "T" and it's OK. That's not doing a good job for those coming behind us.
BLITZER: I raise the question because of the tweet you put out yesterday, when you said, "Social media provides a great platform for discourse, but we must be careful with the messages we send out."
That seemed to be a reaction to that controversial tweet he had with that, what was seen as the Star of David. I want you to clarify what you meant by that tweet.
[13:55:15] CARSON: I meant that social media has of importance that is tremendous in our society today. And, you know, we all, Democrats, Republicans, you know, conservatives, liberals, need to be careful about how we use it. It wasn't directed at any one particular person.
BLITZER: Dr. Ben Carson joining us.
As usual, thank you very much.
CARSON: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. That's it for me. Coming up, the Trump campaign announces a big fundraising haul, over $50 million. We'll break down the numbers next. A lot more is coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
[14:00:06] PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Pamela Brown, in for Brooke Baldwin.
