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Cruz Doesn't Endorse Trump at RNC; Interview with Ivanka Trump; Black Therapist Working with Patient Shot by Miami Police. Aired 2:30- 3p ET
Aired July 21, 2016 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:31:30] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. Bottom of the hour. You are watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin, here in Cleveland.
Today is a huge, huge day for Donald Trump. But let's talk Ted Cruz. Texas Senator Ted Cruz did not endorse him, and he got booed for it, right there on the stage here at the Q at the Republican National Convention. But Trump's runner-up and arch nemesis made it clear he will not be silent. Senator Cruz speaking out to his constituents this morning at the Texas delegation breakfast saying this is personal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father.
(APPLAUSE)
CRUZ: And that pledge as not a blanket commitment that if you go and slander and attack Heidi, that I'm going to, nonetheless, come like a servile puppy dog and say thank you very much for maligning my wife and maligning my father.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: We have two perspectives on this one. We have "Washington Post" "Right Turn" blogger, Jennifer Rubin; and Republican strategist, Boris Epshteyn.
Nice to have both of you here.
I'll defer to the lady first.
Reading your piece, you say this is the most consequence speech from '80 and Ted Kennedy. Why?
JENNIFER RUBIN, "RIGHT TURN" BLOGGER, THE WASHINGTON POST: Correct. In 1980, Ted Kennedy let it be known dream lives on. That's essentially what Ted Cruz has done today. It is astounding actually that the Trump people let him go on if they actually read the speech because --
(CROSSTALK) BALDWIN: They said they got it two hours ahead of time.
RUBIN: Number-one objective of this convention was unity. Even though they may be excoriating Ted Cruz, they're only proving his point that the party has not unified behind this individual. Just today, for example, we saw how prescient Ted Cruz was given his remarks about NATO, about the dissolution of NATO. I've been on the phone all morning --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Let her finish.
RUBIN: They tend to bully.
BORIS EPSHTEYN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I'm not bullying at all.
RUBIN: I spent all morning on the phone with European members of the British parliament. You create an international incident when you have the Brits, Germans, all the eastern Europeans. This is the big leagues. You want to be commander-in-chief, you want to be a world leader, and you created an enormous controversy even before you actually have taken the stage?
BALDWIN: Let me step in and say, basically part of the crux is "The New York Times" interview. The word wasn't dissolution although we've heard that. It was that the U.S. under a Trump presidency may or may not go to defend a NATO ally.
(CROSSTALK)
RUBIN: If you're not going to stand by your allies --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: That's a big deal. That's a big deal.
EPSHTEYN: Now can I answer?
BALDWIN: Please, sir.
EPSHTEYN: What actually happened in the transcript, Donald Trump spent a lot of time saying that I want to support our allies. I will support our allies. He says do you have the mic on to be sure you hear what I'm saying? I support our allies. But if they do not adhere to NATO, to the treaty where they end 2 percent of their GDP, that's a deal any organization, if I buy a house together, you put up half the price, I put up half the price --
(CROSSTALK)
EPSHTEYN: Now Senator Cruz, 82 percent of Republicans according to the "Wall Street Journal" supported Donald Trump coming into the convention. I will predict it will be higher coming out of the convention. Ted Cruz got booed off the floor.
BALDWIN: Inconsequential. Inconsequential
[14:35:14] EPSHTEYN: Ted Cruz right now is an absolute inconsequential Senator. But that's looking backward. We're going to look forward. The party is united.
BALDWIN: It was so personal for Ted Cruz. Donald Trump once upon a time basically said his wife was ugly and accused --
(CROSSTALK)
RUBIN: He said a lot of really nasty things about Donald Trump. Is father was involved in the JFK assassination.
EPSHTEYN: Cruz said nasty things about Donald Trump at the end of that primary before he lost in Indiana. He lost, he's out. People all over this media who support Cruz say to me, we're -- we as a party look forward to defeating Hillary Clinton November 8th. That's what Republicans are focused on, led by Donald Trump.
BALDWIN: Listen to Ted Cruz on Mitch McConnell. Not to go back to NATO, he totally disagrees with what Trump says, too, in "The New York Times," and also totally disagrees with the cacophonous chants of "lock her up, lock her up." Jeff Flake tweeting the Republican Party "jumped the shark" on that.
(CROSSTALK)
EPSHTEYN: It is up to those leaders to say what they wish, say what they want. 14 million voters voted for Donald Trump in the GOP -- and more voted against him, actually.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Let her jump in.
(CROSSTALK)
RUBIN: The problem is he also has more Republicans vote against him. I think the Trump people may understand intellectually they don't really understand as to get 65 million Americans or more to vote for him. Hillary Clinton got more votes. Donald Trump's opponents got more votes. He has a problem. What are we talking about on a day that should be his crowning glory?
(CROSSTALK)
RUBIN: We're talking about that the party is united and this horrible gap that --
EPSHTEYN: Who's not united? Hillary Clinton?
RUBIN: Oh, please.
(CROSSTALK)
RUBIN: I would much prefer to have Bill Weld at the top of the ticket rather than the bottom, who was an excellent governor.
(CROSSTALK)
EPSHTEYN: Donald Trump leads Hillary Clinton by a wide margin without a libertarian in the polling.
BALDWIN: There have been surprises this whole time. Whether it was on Monday or the "lock her up" or the boos of Ted Cruz. Tonight is Mr. Trump's night. I know we'll be talking about it tomorrow. Hopefully -- good luck.
EPSHTEYN: It is going to be a great night.
BALDWIN: I know you are totally excited.
(CROSSTALK)
EPSHTEYN: We're going to have a blast.
BALDWIN: I'll have a conversation with you.
Jennifer and Boris, I appreciate you very much.
Coming up next here on CNN, from Cleveland, we will talk about one of the most highly anticipated moments, not just your man, Donald Trump, but before that, Ivanka Trump, his daughter, stepping into the spotlight. She will be introducing her father to the nation. Our Gloria Borger sat down with her to ask about Donald Trump as a father, as a businessman, and as a mentor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IVANKA TRUMP, DAUGHTER OF DONALD TRUMP: I, as a woman, I, as a person, could never support someone who was sexist or racist. I just couldn't. I would not be able to be OK with that. But I know who he is as a human being and I know that things are not true.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Stick around for an incredibly candid conversation about Ivanka Trump's dad.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:43:13] BALDWIN: Introducing Donald Trump for his big acceptance speech this evening will perhaps be his most effective supporter, his own daughter, Ivanka Trump. Ivanka has emerged as a key Trump asset. And all eyes will be on her this evening.
Gloria Borger, here with us at CNN actually, sat down with the eldest Trump daughter. Ivanka offered a candid take on her dad and exactly how much she really has her father's ear.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: Once in a while, he'll say things and I'll tell him he could probably do with ratcheting it back.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: And he listens.
TRUMP: Sometimes. And sometimes he doesn't. Or sometimes he listens for limited periods of time.
&: But you can tell him.
TRUMP: Look, I think it is part of what people love about him. It's also part of what angers people. He is authentic. You know, nobody tells him who to be. He is himself. He is his own man. He listens to the opinions of others. He respects the opinions of others. He profits from advice people give him but ultimately he makes his own decisions.
My father's always elicited strong opinions in people. He is bold. He's unabashed. He's very himself. And I think, for me, the ultimate -- the most important thing is I know the man. So when I hear things that are factually inaccurate, it's sometimes hurtful. I feel that as a daughter. But I still know the man.
I as a woman, I as a person, could never support someone who was sexist, or racist. But I just couldn't. I would not be able to be OK with that. But I know who he is as a human being and I know that things are not true.
And, not many people say those things, but when they do, it is easy for me to dismiss it because of that fact.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[14:45:21] BALDWIN: When Ivanka walks off that stage this evening, all eyes will be on her dad, Donald Trump, delivering the biggest speech of his life. Just for fun, the Republican nominee might consider taking a cue from an entertainer, Joe Piscopo.
JOE PISCOPO, ACTOR & COMEDIAN: Hi, Brooke.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PISCOPO: Let me see what life is like Mars
We're buying goods.
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Actor, comedian, radio host, former "Saturday Night Live" cast member, he is here in the Q.
Are you having fun?
PISCOPO: This town is great. I'm going down the street. You got to walk like two miles to get anywhere. A cop, I don't know if he knew I did Sinatra. He just flew into "Fly Me to the Moon." (SINGING)
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: So you're bringing this showbiz to me, to the CNN set. You know your old pal, 20-plus years, Donald Trump. He promised showbiz and pizzazz. And I don't know what was up with the LE lights last night. Has he delivered in your opinion?
PISCOPO: He really has. I'm not a Republican. You know --
BALDWIN: You're an Independent.
PISCOPO: I am an Independent. I was a life-long Dem. The Republicans have crushed it. I think it's great. It is inspirational. You walk on the floor at the Q over there. People are excited about it. Whether you like Donald or not -- you know what's weird? You can feel like as the week goes on, they would say Donald Trump from the podium one guy would go like this. You know? As the week goes on, after Rudy Giuliani did his speech and Mike Pence hit it home and Newt Gingrich, who people are undecided about, they said, wait, wait a minute, these people are talking in favor of Donald. Now everybody's on board.
BALDWIN: From the show and perspective, walking out on Monday with the "We Are the Champions."
PISCOPO: Oh, and the fog.
BALDWIN: Then you have the next night, the gold doors and him appearing life via satellite from Trump Tower. We talked about the chopper yesterday.
PISCOPO: That was great!
BALDWIN: What does he need to do, from a show man, producer perception, sir?
PISCOPO: Fly him in. Put a harness on m, fly him in, man. come in from the top. Like "Spider-Man." Just kind of land and run into a jog. Maybe parachute in from up top.
BALDWIN: That would be a little silly. People were laughing at the helicopter.
PISCOPO: I loved the helicopter. I loved the drama of it all. With due respect to the Bush family, what if Jeb Bush was running? No one would be excited. There would be none of this.
BALDWIN: You might have a little more pay unity. I'm just saying.
PISCOPO: Oh! No, I don't think there would be no show business, there wouldn't be any pizzazz.
BALDWIN: Are you voting for Trump?
PISCOPO: I am.
BALDWIN: You've known him for years. You were telling me during the break, you also like Bernie Sanders. Bernie/Trump. Can you explain that to me?
PISCOPO: It is the fact that they're very particular to the fact that they're committed. He's not part of the machine.
BALDWIN: Not part of the machine.
PISCOPO: When Bernie goes to the back-door meeting with Hillary, he doesn't say I want to be secretary of state, look, I want to be in this cabinet. He goes look, I want minimum wage, I want free this, I want free that. Whether that is right or wrong, the man is pure. Donald is pure in that way. It is all for America. I don't know that Donald Trump -- I think it is OK I say this -- he feed he has to do this. Look at his children.
BALDWIN: You can't fake good kids, according to Mike Pence last night.
All right. We'll have an over/under in the flying in, harness situation.
PISCOPO: What if I'm right?
BALDWIN: I'll bring you back.
PISCOPO: He should be singing.
(SINGING)
BALDWIN: Commercial break.
(SINGING)
BALDWIN: Joe Piscopo.
[14:50:51]PISCOPO: I've got it.
(LAUGHTER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: If you have not seen this video out of Miami, you do not want to turn away. Let me tell you this story. This unarmed therapist who was trying to help a man, an autistic man, says he was shot by police. There he is. In the yellow shirt, lying on the ground, hands up in the air, 47-year-old Charles Kinsey. Police responded to a 911 call after one of his patients ran out of this assisted living home. Kinsey, the therapist there, in yellow, tried to defuse the situation, throws his arms up in the air pleading with police, don't shoot. He tells police he's not armed. And that's his patient right sitting next to him, is holding a toy truck.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) (SHOUTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Let's go to Boris Sanchez. He's live in Miami.
Boris, how are police explaining this?
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, they're not explaining it in-depth. That's a big point of frustration. I'll get to that in a second. But first, Mr. Kinsey, at least according to his attorney is doing well. He is expected to be released some time this week. But Mr. Kensey's attorney says mentally he is extremely distraught and distress. Part of the reason he says because, as a father of five, he's struggling to explain to children how he should behave around police after he did everything you're supposed to do when confront by police officers and he was still targeted.
As we said, he was tending to this patient who had come out to the street. He what's in the middle of the street with that toy. At some point, there was clearly a misunderstanding with police. They initially were responding to a call that someone was suicidal with a weapon. Obviously, things did not go as Mr. Kinsey expected. Here's him describing how it unfolded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[14:55:45] CHARLES KINSEY, THERAPIST SHOT BY POLICE: When he shot, when he shot me, it was like a mosquito bite. When he hit me, I say I still got my hands in the air, I'm saying, I just got shot. I'm saying, sir, why did you shoot me? In his words, he says to me, "I don't know."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS: So getting back to police, the chief of police, Chief Gary Eugene, had a press conference this afternoon saying the department is dedicated to transparency and to justice. He started taking questions but almost immediately left the podium.
There is a lot of frustration in the community by the lack of answers from police. This happened on Monday. This is the first time we're hearing from them today.
The attorney for Mr. Kinsey says he's heard from police but he has spoken to the city manager and the city attorney in Miami and they hope to reach some type of settlement soon -- Brooke?
BALDWIN: We have a problem.
Boris Sanchez, thank you.
Special coverage from Cleveland continues in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
