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Trump Lashes Out At Khan Family; Dad Of Muslim U.S. Soldier: GOP Leaders Must Repudiate Trump; Kaine: "I Can Brag About" Clinton; Clinton Building Trust: "I Have Work To Do"; Transgender Woman Makes History At DNC. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired July 31, 2016 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[14:00:04] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. He is the standout speaker from the Democratic National Convention, whose powerful message is resonating across the country, but provoking outrage and criticism from Donald Trump.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

KHIZR KHAN, FATHER OF MUSLIM-AMERICAN SOLDIER: Donald Trump, you're asking Americans to trust you with their future. Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution?

(CHEERING)

I will gladly lend you my copy.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Khizr Khan, the father of fallen U.S. Army captain, Humayun Khan, talked with CNN to further his demand and condemn Trump's response. In a written campaign statement, Trump said, quote, while I feel deeply for the loss of his son, Mr. Khan, who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the Constitution, end quote. Trump further tweeting this this morning -- Captain Khan, killed 12 years ago, was a hero, but this is about radical Islamic terror and the weakness of our leaders to eradicate it.

And just in to CNN, Hillary Clinton now issuing this remark campaign trail.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Mr. Khan made the ultimate sacrifice in his family, didn't he? And what has he heard from Donald Trump? Nothing but insults, degrading comments about Muslims, a total misunderstanding of what made our country great -- religious freedom, religious liberty. It's enshrined in our constitution, as Mr. Khan knows, because he's actually read it.

(END AUDIO CLIP) WHITFIELD: In the interview with CNN, Khizr Khan is also calling on Republican leaders to repudiate Donald Trump and pleaded with Trump's family, quote, teach this man some empathy.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald Trump released a statement last night, I'm sure you've seen it, calling your son a hero. As a matter of fact, he tweeted as much just a few moments ago. But he also said in that statement last night that you have no right to stand in front of millions of Americans and say he has never read the Constitution. What is your response to Donald Trump this morning?

KHAN: I appreciate his response, his press release that was issued last night confirming that he accepts my son as a hero of this country. But to answer your question, his policies, his practices, do not reflect that he has any understanding of the basic fundamental constitutional principles of this country, what makes this country exceptional, what makes this country exceptional in the history of the mankind. There are principles of equal dignity, principles of liberty. He talks about excluding people, disrespecting judges, the entire judicial system, immigrants, Muslim immigrants -- these are divisive rhetoric that is totally against the basic constitutional principle. If you read the Constitution, you will either deliberately would be violating those principles, or you have not read. That is why I have watched the whole year, and the rest of the world has watched, and the love and affection and support that we have received after my statement, at every corner of the street, at every place, the affection, the support, the love that I have received, that we continue to receive, is a testament that he is talking about ignorance. He is not fully aware of these principles.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And in the same interview that Donald Trump gave in response to your speech, he seemed to go after your wife, suggesting that perhaps she didn't speak at the convention because of your Muslim faith. Let's take a listen to that.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: His wife, if you look at his wife, she was standing there, she had nothing to say. She probably -- maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say, you tell me. But plenty people have written that.

[14:04:58] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your response to that?

KHAN: That's, again, height of ignorance on the part of a candidate for the highest office of this nation. Two things are absolutely necessary in any leader, or any person that aspires, wishes to be a leader. That is moral compass, and second is empathy. This candidate is void of both traits that are necessary for the stewardship of this country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't believe he's fit to be president?

KHAN: I do not believe his whole year long rhetoric, division, excluding people, talking about them derogatorily, has prepared him. He promised to the Republican leadership that he will change his manner. He will not be as ignorant as he had been. But he had continued. Those two traits of moral compass and empathy are absolutely necessary for the leader of a free world, leader of a nation like United States.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And for all of those viewers out there who are wondering why your wife stood by you silently during the convention?

KHAN: Her medical condition -- she has written an op-ed in her own words, her own voice, why didn't she speak, (inaudible). When you come to the stage, can you say, thank you for inviting us, my husband will speak further? She said, you know my condition. When I see my son's picture, I cannot hold myself together. For this candidate for presidency to not be aware of the respect of a gold star mother standing there, and he had to take that shot at her, this is height of ignorance. This is why I showed him that constitution. Had he read that, he would know what status a gold star mother holds in this nation. This country holds such a person in the highest regard. And he has no knowledge, no awareness -- that is height of his ignorance. She is ill. She had high blood pressure.

People that know her, looked at her face, and she said, I may fall off the stage, and I told her that you have to assemble yourself and stand for the beauty of this tribute that is being paid. This person is total incapable of empathy. I want his family to counsel him, teach him some empathy. He will be a better person if he could become, but he is a black soul. And this is totally unfit for the leadership of this beautiful country. The love and affection that we have received affirms that our beliefs, our experience in this country had been correct and positive. The world is receiving us like we have never seen. They have seen the blackness of his character, of his soul, that he is void of recognizing, empathizing with people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you mention that constitution that you keep with you in your pocket. You have it with you right now? Why do you have it with you?

KHAN: I always have it because it embodies, it enshrines the existence of this nation. This nation, we live here so often, we are here -- we become unappreciative of the goodness of this country, but we are testament to that. We live every day. I have a stack of this beautiful document at my home. When guests come, I am so delighted to start the conversation by handing them a copy. Luckily, I had it in my pocket. I didn't know that I have it. My words were different. My words were, I hope you have read the Constitution. I hope you will look for the words of liberty and equal justice and equal dignity. When I was getting ready to get in the cab to go to the convention, when I put my coat on, I touched it and it was in my pocket. It is always, when I wear a coat, it is in my pocket.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Trump accused you of having these words written for you by the Clinton campaign. Is there any truth to that? Did you write the speech yourself?

KHAN: There is no truth to that. You're listening to me, you're talking to me. And over there, I had limit of the time. I had written a longer speech, and I'm going to say the rest of the speech to you right now. There is no Clinton campaign here. There is no prompter here.

[14:09:58] I am an articulate person. I can utter my thoughts and my feelings, and I address -- which my wife asked me to not include those things, but this is the time to say those things. I wanted to address, and I address them now. I address the Senate Majority Leader, a patriot (ph), and I address the Speaker of the House, a patriot American. It is their moral obligation -- history will not forgive them. This election will pass, but history will be written. The lapse of moral courage will remain a burden on their souls.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you want Republican leaders to do? Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan.

KHAN: To repudiate him. They have suggested, they have sat with him, as we are aware, in public. They have advised him. They have counseled him. Entire leadership of the Republican Party, I know Republicans are as patriotic as Democrats, as independents -- but he had promised them to mend his ways, divisive ways, harmful ways, hurtful manner, and policies, yet he comes back again on the same thing. It is majority leaders and speakers' moral, ethical obligation to not worry about the votes, but repudiate him, withdraw their support. If they do not, I will continue to speak, and I am speaking -- I have received tremendous support from Republicans saying to me that in last -- they have never voted for Democrats. This year, they are not going to vote Republican because for the office of president, because of this candidate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've obviously received an overwhelming response to your speech, and you just mentioned that many Republicans have reached out to you to say that they appreciate your words. What about the supporters of Donald Trump? Have you heard from them? What are they saying to you?

KHAN: The people that have called, left messages, I do not know what their political affiliation is. But it appears from the overwhelming response and affection and support that we continue to receive, is, that is what captain Humayun Khan died fighting for, the liberty, equal dignity. That is what these patriots fight the war for America, to keep it safe, to keep it -- in addition to this, there was, in the speech that my good wife asked me to refrain from saying, I wanted to say, we reject all violence. We are faithful, patriotic, undivided loyalty to this country. We reject all terrorism. She asked me not to say that because that was not the occasion for such a statement.

We say to his ignorance, I address his ignorance, that, the direct effect, the most effect of the terrorism, the menace of terrorism, had been Muslims in the world. Muslims hate this menace of terrorism as much as any other place. It is our duty to keep this country, our country, beautiful country, safe. We have always thought of that way. We will continue to do our part to keep it safe and beautiful. What he cites in the name of Islam and all that, that is not Islam at all. I wish he would have -- somebody would have put something in his head that these are terrorists, these are criminals. These folks have nothing to do with Islam.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Khizr Khan, we appreciate your time this morning. Thank you for coming in. We also appreciate the sacrifice of your son, Army Captain Humayun Khan. Thank you very much for joining us this morning. Appreciate your words.

KHAN: Thank you very much.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Khan's messages, Trump's reaction, all of it provoking more questions about clarity from the man who wants to be commander- in-chief. Today, Trump campaign's Senior Communications Adviser, Jason Miller, told CNN's Brian Stelter, what he feels is at issue.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JASON MILLER, SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER, DONALD TRUMP CAMAPIGN: This is about radical Islamic terrorism, and this is about what's really going on here and the fact that the media doesn't want to pick up and cover what's going on with this country. Where was the media outrage following Cleveland when he had supporters and survivors of those who had either been hurt or killed by illegal aliens in this country? There was no media outrage following that. But again, what we're talking about here is radical Islamic terrorism and that's what's important.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You keep mentioning radical Islamic terrorism as if that's somehow linked to Mr. Khan. Why do you keep responding that way when I mention him?

MILLER: Because that's the broader debate that we're having. The broader debate that we're having is about the screening and the vetting that we're having for people who are coming into this country.

[14:15:07] STELTER: But that has nothing to do with this family, with this Muslim-American family.

MILLER: No, this is what this whole broader debate is about right now. This is not about Mr. Trump and Mr. Khan. This is about Mr. Trump and Hillary Clinton.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, lots to talk about with our panel coming up next. Plus, we expect Hillary Clinton to speak this hour in Columbus, Ohio. We'll bring it to you live as it happens. Much more, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:20:12] WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. Before the break, we heard a powerful interview with Khizr Khan, the father of a fallen Muslim-American soldier who spoke at the DNC, and what he said is eliciting quite a lot of reaction.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

KHAN: I address the Senate Majority Leader, a patriot, and I address the Speaker of the House, a patriot American. It is their moral obligation -- history will not forgive them. This election will pass, but history will be written. The lapse of moral courage will hold them, will remain a burden on their souls, on their leadership.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you want the Republican leaders to do, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan?

KHAN: To repudiate him.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Joining me right now, Sajid Tarar, the founder and chairman of Muslim Americans for Trump; Dean Obeidallah, a contributor for "The Daily Beast" and co-founder of the Arab American Comedy Festival; CNN's Senior Political Analyst, Ron Brownstein; and Larry Sabato, director for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Thanks so much to all of you. Appreciate it.

All right, Sajid, to you first. You are a Trump supporter. Are you happy with the way your candidate has handled all of this?

SAJID TARAR, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, MUSLIM AMERICANS FOR TRUMP: I am very happy. No question about it, it's a supreme sacrifice, and Mr. Trump has said several times that he appreciates his sacrifice. He has said nothing against Captain Khan. But at the same time, I wanted to say that this is not the right thing to do, gaining the political capital on the death of somebody. So many other soldiers have died and sacrificed their lives, so many other Muslim soldiers, they have died. That's not fair.

WHITFIELD: Are you suggesting that even appearing at the DNC means that this was wielding political capital for him, for this gold star family to speak on behalf of their son, that was capitalizing on the politicization of their situation?

TARAR: Yes, I do. There are so many other soldiers who have died. But on DNC floor, and then offering a copy of the Constitution, Mr. Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, a highly prestigious school. And then making fun of it without knowing everything about what kind of opinion he has, even though I believe that Mr. Trump and Captain Khan has the same issue, fighting against radical Islam, or trying to make America safe. There's no difference in between. And people are sick of the low energy politicians. Hillary Clinton has 40 years in politics. What she has done before, why she needs another 40 years? Current administration, and what they have done for Muslims, or making this country safe again, open borders and the globalization idea. People have rejected it.

WHITFIELD: So Sajid, you weren't offended either by the presumption that Donald Trump made that the fact that Mrs. Khan did not speak, he was making an assumption that she wasn't allowed to speak, as opposed to in her "Washington post" op-ed, she spoke very eloquently about the fact that it's very difficult for her. It was very difficult for her to even look at the photograph of her son, let alone to speak.

TARAR: Yes, you know, "Washington post," the most liberal newspaper in this country, and second thing, look at the Saudi Arabia -- the women there still cannot drive. How can you say that she was allowed to speak? Donald Trump, Mr. Trump just said -- and it was an assumption, why she was not speaking anything. He was not aware of the situation, not aware of the medical situation. But look in the Muslim countries -- most majority of female --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fredricka, this is outrageous. I have to be honest with you. First of all, Sajid, to compare Donald Trump to Captain Humayun Khan, who gave his life, is a disservice to everyone who ever wore military in this country. Donald Trump had a chance to serve in Vietnam. He didn't. He's a chicken hawk. He said he had medical disability when he was 22, but then his doctor gave him --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His doctor gave us a letter last year -- please. I know Trump --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Wait a minute, Sajid. Let's hear.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- to interrupt people because you don't like others telling the truth. Donald Trump's doctor gave us a letter last year saying, he's in astonishing health. Donald Trump is one of those rare people who are healthier at 70 than he was at 22. Donald Trump didn't serve in the military. Donald Trump this week gave us an example of the most despicable conduct in a campaign that was already vile and horrific.

TARAR: That is your opinion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is my opinion, sir. Sexism, bigotry, and racism. I'm not sure what you like best, Sajid, of those three. You can tell us afterwards.

TARAR: This is the liberal media. I reject it.

[14:25:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's the thing about Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump was given two opportunities --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: OK. So Mr. Khan said no words were given to him. These were his words that he spoke. Whether it be on the DNC --

TARAR: He has said --

WHITFIELD: -- as well as his wife, who said these are her words in "The Washington Post" where she said, I cannot walk into a room with pictures of Humayun. For all these years, I haven't been able to clean the closet where his things are. I had to ask my daughter-in- law to do it. Walking onto the convention stage with a huge picture of my son behind me, I could hardly control myself. What mother could? Donald Trump has children whom he loves. Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak? What do you make of Trump's presumption? And how is it that the mother and father's, I guess feelings, their sentiments here, are being challenged like this, Sajid?

TARAR: Let me tell you, the thing is this. People -- most of the Americans, they know "The Washington Post" is the far left newspaper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's an op-ed. She wrote it, Sajid. Do you understand what an op-ed is?

TARAR: No, Donald Trump -- let me tell you, Donald Trump has tweeted several times that he appreciates the sacrifice, and he is a good man. But the thing is this -- when the liberal media is twisting every single thing on the wrong way, there is no solution. But at the same time, people are rejecting the social media spin, and Donald Trump has said several times, only 30 percent journalists --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sajid, this week, Sajid, Donald Trump told Katy Tur, an NBC reporter, to be quiet. So he's really concerned about women's rights when he tells a reporter, be quiet, some women (ph) dogs and pigs, and you're telling me he cares about women? That's what you're going to really say -- you're going to come on national TV and say that what Donald Trump -- you're kidding me, Sajid. You're kidding me.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: These are the representation of the sentiments that are now dominating this race for the White House. And so, Ron, while Donald Trump had tweeted a lot about his response to what happened at the DNC, and also as a result of this interview, at what point does this shape the electorate, particularly as it pertains to Donald Trump?

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: It already is.

TARAR: I want to add --

WHITFIELD: OK, hold on, Sajid. Let's hear from Ron Brownstein.

BROWNSTEIN: (inaudible) talk, or are you just going to shout through the whole interview? Look, I think this is significant, because it goes directly to one of the principal obstacles of Donald Trump that he's facing in this election. You look at the electorate, the two principle personal doubts that he faces are, one, whether he has personal qualities and temperament to serve effectively as president, 60 percent saying that he's unqualified to be president, in the ABC/Washington Post poll, immediately before both conventions. And the second problem he's facing is that a majority of Americans say that he's biased and bigoted against women and minorities, 56 percent nationally in the ABC/Washington Post poll, including key, 51 percent of college educated white voters, where he is significantly underperforming other Republicans.

I think the biggest misstep he had since he became the nominee were his attacks on Judge Curiel in late June. That was when he dipped the most in the polls, that's when we have Paul Ryan saying he engaged in a textbook example of racism. And I think this is another example like that, where -- he chose not only to defend himself, which is certainly his right, and to say that the real issue here is defending ourselves against radical Islamic terrorism. But he also chose to make an aspersion on the mother, the gold star mother, in this case, and he basically argued, to imply that for religious reasons, she was barred from speaking. I think most Americans who have doubts about whether Donald Trump is a divisive figure, who is deliberately trying to divide the country along racial, ethnic, and religious lines in order to get elected, are going to hear that much the way they did his attacks on Judge Curiel, and I think this does speak to a principle challenge he faces -- and I said, one of the reasons why he is underperforming with college educated white voters significantly, relative to other Republicans, I think Larry would agree that it's probably the biggest single obstacle in his way to the White House, and I think this kind of episode, which kind of calls to mind the famous Joseph Welch (ph) comment, to Joseph McCarthy, in 1954 -- at long last, sir, have you no sense of decency? This is exactly what gives the pause to many of the voters who are in Trump's way.

WHITFIELD: And Larry, you're nodding in agreement. How big of a problem is this potentially? And, there is a deafening silence among the Republican leadership. You heard Mr. Khan challenging Mitch McConnell, challenging Paul Ryan to repudiate Donald Trump. We've reached out to see if they would join us, but it doesn't seem as though, except for Senator Jeff Sessions earlier today, there is much of a defense coming from Republican leadership right now.

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Yes, Fred, the silence is deafening. I happen to like both Senator Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan. But I believe this is a perfect example of why they are going to be haunted for years to come by the Trump candidacy.

[14:30:02] Trump just can't help himself. Precisely as Ron Brownstein has just described.

This was pointless. He should simply have said I salute Captain Kahn. He is a hero. I will have no further comment. You can't win an argument with a gold star family. But Donald Trump doesn't understand that.

Instinctively, he cannot understand that. And Fred, I simply have to add this. I'm at the University of Virginia. I've been here for 46 years. We are very proud of Captain Kahn. There is an award named for him here.

WHITFIELD: He attended at UVA?

SABATO: He attended the University of Virginia. He's a graduate of the University of Virginia. We're exceedingly proud of him and our sympathies are 100 percent with the Kahn family.

WHITFIELD: All right, Larry, Ron, Dean, (inaudible), we're not done. We're going to take a short break for now. When we come back, we'll continue our conversation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:02]

WHITFIELD: All right, we are going to resume our conversation now about the emotional words from a family about their fallen soldier son during the DNC. The father, Khazr Kahn, being very outspoken and again joining CNN today on "STATE OF THE UNION." And the mother, Khazala (ph) Khan writing an op-ed in the "Washington Post."

Back with me, Sajid Tarar, Dean Obeidallah, Ron Brownstein and Larry Sabato. Good to see all of you again. So Donald Trump has tweeted today even after a statement was sent out last night.

His tweet saying, "He was viciously attacked and that this is about radical Islamic terrorism." You see the words right there from his tweet.

So Sajid to you first, is this about radical Islamic terrorism or is this issue about a gold star family mourning the loss of their fallen soldier son?

TARAR: There is no doubt, there is no question about the gold star family and their sacrifice. Nobody has challenged or said anything against this. Donald Trump has not said anything.

WHITFIELD: Except Donald Trump did comment about the silence of the mother onstage.

TARAR: Yes. What is the assumption regarding Muslim females? I mean, that's what he was trying to bring up. And my question is this, what they have done for Muslims, and Hillary in four years, she hasn't done anything.

Why she need another four years and ISIS has grown up under watch once she was a secretary and as Barack Obama, all of his eight years, half of them, he was saying it's JV league.

So my question is this, who's going to fight this growing terrorism issue all over the world? People are sick of low energy politicians, corrupt politicians and the 40 years is enough? I think she's out of -- she has too much knowledge of politics.

WHITFIELD: OK, so Dean, Sajid is Muslim. He said he's making the same presumptions as Donald Trump did. What's the matter with that?

DEAN OBEIDALLAH, CONTRIBUTOR, "THE DAILY BEAST": I'm not sure where to begin, but let's be honest about something here. Donald Trump has no clue how to fight terrorism. Donald Trump has never served in the military when he had a chance to do that. Donald Trump has never served on our government. The only fight --

TARAR: But Barack Obama never did --

OBEIDALLAH: -- Donald Trump has ever done is on Twitter I know. This is how it works in TV. Other people get to speak. I know it's remarkable.

TARAR: But it's such negative and not true.

WHITFIELD: Let's hear from Dean for a moment.

OBEIDALLAH: Donald Trump yesterday also equated his work in business as the same sacrifice as those who wore the uniform to serve our nation. That's insulting to every man and woman who ever served our nation, every gold star family out there.

Flying in your corporate luxury jet and plush boardrooms is not like serving the United States of America in the military. Radical Islam has nothing to do with Captain Kahn's service to this nation.

This is Donald Trump trying to pivot to an issue. Nor it does have anything to do with Donald Trump saying after an 11,000 of Muslims were cheering in New Jersey, never confirmed.

The fact even Rudy Giuliani said that wasn't true. It's not Donald Trump saying Islam hates us. It has nothing to do with radical Islam. That's Donald Trump demonizing Muslims.

Donald Trump saying we have to profile Muslims in this country, and I have less rights because of my faith. You would have less rights too under Donald Trump because of your faith. That's not radical Islam. Donald Trump demonizing us, scapegoating us to get points. That's what this is about.

(CROSSTALK)

TARAR: There are videos of people cheering in New Jersey. There are videos of people cheering in New Jersey. I was here myself.

OBEIDALLAH: They were not. I'm from New Jersey, they were not.

WHITFIELD: So Ron, how worrisome is it that this kind of debate, in the words of Dean, this kind of division exemplified may further splinter the vote.

TARAR: It's just a poison. Socialism is not the answer.

WHITFIELD: Sajid, thank you. Ron?

TARAR: This is not fair.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: OK, again, someone else talking. It's part of democracy. So the problem Donald Trump faces is that as is often the case, he went beyond the boundaries, the borders of traditional political debate.

It is reasonable and basically he is arguing that the threat of Islamic terror is so great that we extraordinary departures from American tradition. We need a ban, a kind of involving ban on the entry to the country of Muslims and we need some further level of surveillance again of all depending on the interview of the Muslims in the U.S. The Kahn family was a powerful rebuke to both of those ideas. But it is reasonable for Donald Trump and his advocates to make the counter case that despite the heroism of this family, there is a threat that requires extraordinary measures.

Most Americans do not agree at the moment, but certainly most Trump supporters do. But what was characteristic about this was that he went beyond that in his response to cast an aspersion based on religion, based on division, that the mother, the gold star mother was not allowed to talk because of her religion.

And it kind of continues along the train of what we saw in June when he said that the Indiana-born judge was incapable of ruling fairly on a case involving him because he was "Mexican."

[14:40:11]So what you have is Trump consistently poking at division to cut the fault lines, precisely at a time when with Democrats, one to the central messages was embrace of this new diverse tolerant of America.

That has made this, I believe, the single most important fault line in this America. Trump is mobilizing a coalition of restoration that is uneasy with the broader demographic changes in America.

And Democrats very clearly at this convention identify with a coalition of transformation that embraces what America is becoming, and that is the central fault line in this election.

WHITFIELD: And Larry, do you see this as potentially continuing over the next 100 days?

SABATO: Absolutely. And few things do, but this has become a powerful symbolic example of the problem with Donald Trump. He cannot help himself. As Ron just said, he should have left it alone. Left it where it was.

The issue of terrorism, Islamic terrorism, whatever you want to call it, that is an important separate issue. You do not bring it into the discussion of a gold star family, and the kind of powerful emotional presentation that we saw at the Democratic National Convention.

But Trump not only couldn't help himself in doing that, he had to cast aspersions on Mrs. Kahn for not speaking and he's getting a tremendous backlash, which he richly deserves, and I've seen today many, even Trump supporters, but certainly Republicans saying he completely and totally mishandled it as he usually does in these circumstances.

Muslim-Americans are only 1 percent to 2 percent, although they're important in swing states like Michigan, but I guarantee you and I bet Ron agrees with me that we can now add Muslim-Americans to Hispanic- Americans and African-Americans and Asian-Americans, who are going to be voting overwhelmingly against Trump.

That's what he has done to the electorate. He's made it easier for Hillary Clinton to carry a massive majority of every single one of the minority groups that together will comprise 30 percent of the vote in November.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thank you to all of you. Appreciate your honesty on a very delicate and powerful subject today. Ron Brownstein, Larry Sabato, Dean Obeidallah, Sajid Tarar, thank you, Gentlemen. Appreciate it. We'll have much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:47:18]

WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. Hillary Clinton is about to speak momentarily in Columbus, Ohio. The Democratic presidential candidate and her running mate, Tim Kaine, have embarked on a three- day bus tour through the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

And before boarding, the stronger together bus, Kaine spoke with our Jake Tapper on how he can help Clinton connect with voters who have trouble trusting her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Hillary Clinton and you have another challenge in how many Americans perceive her in terms of her honesty and how trustworthy she is. Can you help with that do you think?

SENATOR TIM KAINE (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can brag about her more than she's going to brag about herself. Hillary is a -- I call her kind of Midwestern Methodist Church kid. You heard President Obama the other night talk about the Midwestern thing and I'm from the Midwest.

We don't like to talk about ourselves much. That's not her natural way. Frankly, it ain't mine either, but I love to brag on other people. So I talk about Hillary.

When people ask a question like that, I'd say, look, if you want to know the character of somebody in public life, what you do is you look to see, did they have a passion that was obvious before they got in public life, and that they maintain that passion all throughout their career, hell or high water, good or bad, victories or defeats. Hillary's got that passion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, with me now is political analyst, Ellis Henekin, author of the book, "The Party is Over, How I Became a Democrat." Also with me Brian Morgenstern, a Republican strategist. All right, good to see both of you.

OK, so not long ago, Hillary Clinton actually addressed her trustworthiness issue this morning. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have work to do to make sure people know what I have done and what I will do. That's part of what this convention was about. I feel very comfortable that the more people learn about what I've actually done, not the caricature, but the real deal, as my husband said in his remarks. They will understand why I was elected twice to the United States Senate. The second time with a 67 percent vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, so, Ellis, what would she need to do that she hasn't done already to kind of reintroduce herself to people?

ELLIS HENICAN, POLITICAL ANALYST: You know, just stay calm. I don't buy all of this she's got to repackage and represent and have some new Hillary. All this crazy stuff going on around her, just walk forward slowly and just be Hillary. She'll do fine as long as she doesn't get rattled.

WHITFIELD: Brian, why is it people feel like they don't know her and is that really true?

BRIAN MORGENSTERN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, because she has been in public life for so long, and had been on every side of every issue when it comes to foreign policy, when it comes to domestic policy and banking regulation and everything else.

[14:50:04]She's trying to repackage herself as this new progressive, you know, I don't know scion now that Bernie's out of the race and it's phony. So she needs to get voters to actually identify with her as a human on some level instead of seeing her as an incompetent, corrupt alien robot.

So it's a heavy lift based on all these decades in public service and having had to switch her position on everything for so long. It is a heavy lift to get people to identify with her as a person.

WHITFIELD: All right, this was the appetizer of Brian and Ellis because we'll have you later on and we'll have the main dish.

All right, we are going to take a short break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: History made in many ways during the Democratic National Convention. Among those commanding the podium, this young lady, Sarah McBride, national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign.

She's a former White House intern and became the first transgender woman to address a major political convention. Sarah joins us now from her hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Good to see you, Sarah.

SARAH MCBRIDE, FIRST TRANSGENDER WOMAN TO ADDRESS MAJOR CONVENTION: Thanks for having me.

[14:55:08]WHITFIELD: OK, so what was that moment like, is it still with you? Is it still being replayed in your mind while you're awake and even while you're asleep? MCBRIDE: It was incredible. It was such an honor to have an opportunity to be the first transperson to speak at a major party convention. It was a huge honor to tell my story and hopefully educate the country a little bit more about what it means to be transgender.

More than anything else, it was an honor to be part of a historic convention, a convention that really demonstrated that, and in Hillary Clinton's administration, every voice will be welcomed at the table.

WHITFIELD: So how is it, you're hoping, that your personal journey might change the views, alter the views, of people who are listening?

MCBRIDE: Well, I think so often in this national conversation around transgender rights, we've lost the humanity behind this issue. We forget at the center of this conversation are real people who hurt when they're mocked, who hurt discriminated against and who just want to be treated with dignity and fairness.

Transgender people are people who hope and dream and fear and laugh and cry just like everyone else. And I hope that in sharing my own personal story, I can really reinforce that fact for folks.

WHITFIELD: As Clinton supporter, what are you hoping the Clinton White House will focus on if, indeed, it's Hillary Clinton in the White House?

MCBRIDE: Well, Hillary Clinton has laid out the most LGBTQ inclusive platform of any major party nominee in our history. And I think in her administration, one of the things we need to push forward is the equality act, which would provide comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, throughout our daily life.

Despite our historic progress on marriage equality, LGBTQ people are still at risk of being fired from their job, kicked out of a restaurant, or denied a home simply because of who they are. Hillary Clinton has pledged to change that, and to bring us full federal equality. Nothing more and nothing less.

WHITFIELD: Will you be campaigning for Hillary Clinton?

MCBRIDE: Absolutely. I am ready to do whatever I can to make sure that Hillary Clinton is elected president. And I think last week in Philadelphia really underscored the stark contrast in this election between a nominee who calls for more love and kindness, and a nominee whose entire campaign has been built on fear, division, and discrimination.

And I hope to do everything in my power to make sure that Donald Trump never finds himself near the White House and that Hillary Clinton is in the oval office on January 20th.

WHITFIELD: Sarah McBride, thanks so much.

MCBRIDE: Thank you. WHITFIELD: The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM begins right after a short break. We are waiting for Hillary Clinton to speak in Columbus, Ohio, in fact. And we'll take you there as soon as it happens.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hello again, everyone. And thanks so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.