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Hillary Clinton Speaks in North Carolina; Trump Trash Talked About American Generals; Trump Prefers Russian President Over America's President. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired September 08, 2016 - 13:00   ET

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


HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (live): Everybody always says every election is important. I happen to believe that. I think it's one of the great gifts of our democracy, that we have the opportunity to choose our leaders. And people, brave people, going back for so many years have fought to preserve that right.

And that right is under attack right now. And it is under attack in North Carolina of all places. A state that often set the standard for moving everybody into the future and I admired that so much. Emphasis on education from literally preschool through college, emphasis on research, emphasis on job creation and innovation.

And now, North Carolina, under the current governor and legislature, has been trying to restrict people's right to vote. Well, you know it. North Carolina voters, though, won an important victory when a federal court just struck down this state's voter I.D. law. And the federal court brought back more days of what's called one-stop early voting.

And here's what the court said. This is not me talking. This is what the federal court said. The court said the North Carolina law was designed to target African-Americans with almost surgical precision.

Now, that's not just happening in North Carolina. Unfortunately, it's happening across America. And courts have been overturning restrictions that make it harder, not just for African-Americans, but low-income people, Latinos, young people.

One of the provisions in the North Carolina law was to make it really hard to vote where you go to school. So this has been a concerted effort to undermine the right to vote, even to make it hard for people with disabilities to cast ballots.

Well, what's the best way to repudiate that kind of underhanded, mean- spirited effort to deprive people of their votes? Get out and vote and make it clear we're not putting up with that. These laws are a blast from the Jim Crow past and they have no place in 21st century America.

We should be doing everything we can to make it easier to vote, not harder. That's why, if I'm elected president, I will work to expand early voting. We will enact universal voter registration so every young person in every state is automatically registered to vote when you turn 18. And we will repair the damage done to the Voting Rights Act and take on discrimination in all forms.

Now, HB two is another example of trying to discriminate against people that doesn't have any place in our modern society. You've seen this firsthand in North Carolina. Discrimination is not only wrong, it's bad for business. The NBA, you know, canceled the game. PayPal canceled bringing I think 400 jobs. Others are not coming to this beautiful state, because they don't want to be associated with the discriminatory bigoted policies of your governor and legislature.

Now, one thing you can do about that is change your governor in November. And while you're at it, change one of your Senators. We're going to need re-enforcements up in Washington. We've got a big agenda. And you know, people say to me, well, what is it you're going to try to get done? Well, I'll show you, real easy. We just published a book. Right?

Tim Kaine and I put this book out. It's called "Stronger Together." It's not very long, not a hard read. But we have this old-fashioned idea that if we're asking you to support us as president, we're ought to tell you what we're going to do. Not just bluster, not just empty words, not just demagogic rhetoric. Real plans that will improve your lives, make our country safer and better.

[13:05:13] So, you can pick this up. We're going to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. Sounds like a good idea. We're going to make the biggest investment in good paying jobs since World War II. Infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, clean energy jobs. We're going to make the economy fairer, raise the national minimum wage, get people to work full time out of poverty. And we are finally going to guarantee equal pay for women's work. It is long overdue.

Did any of you see the democratic convention? Well, I don't know, you might have missed one of my favorite sets of speakers. We had these two young people from Kansas, 17 years old, young man, young woman. I'd read about this and I said, let's contact these young people and find out their story.

Here's their story. Seventeen, had the same summer job, knew each other, working in a pizza restaurant. And they were pretty excited. I remember when I got my first real job. Not babysitting but, you know, actually showing up at a job and having to do it.

And so, one day after they finished work, they were talking and the young woman said, you know, I think making $8.00 an hour, I should be able to at least save something for college. And the young man, a friend of hers said, well, I'm making $8.15 an hour. And she said, well, why are you making 15 cents more an hour than I am? Neither of us had any experience to do this job. We're the same age. He said, well, I don't know, that doesn't sound right. Maybe there was a mistake. So, they go to the manager. They tell the manager. And the manager fired them both.

And you know what? That's legal. If you find out you're not being paid the same for doing the same job, you can be fired. So, this is not some made-up problem. And this would raise family incomes. And if you have a mother, a wife, a daughter or a sister who's working, it's your issue. So, we're going to get that done as well.

And like I said, we're going to make college affordable for everybody. Pay down debt. But we're going to do something else. I think it was a mistake when we got rid of all vocational education in high school. It needed to be improved, don't get me wrong. It wasn't training people for the jobs that were out in the marketplace anymore, but we got rid of all of it.

We need technical education in high school. We need more apprenticeship programs where young people can learn and earn at the same time. And we're going to go back to emphasizing that in high school, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, creative ideas like coding camps. We're going to have 1.4 million jobs in 2020 for people who have computer science skills. And we're going to only -- if we continue on our present path, only have 400,000 Americans prepared to do those jobs. I want those jobs to be American jobs, so we're going to help train people of all ages to be able to do those jobs.

We are also going to defend quality affordable health care for everybody but we're going to get the cost down. We're going to get the cost of prescription drugs down for sure. And we're going to emphasize two things that we have fallen short on, mental health and addiction services. People I've met here in North Carolina and across the America talk to me about that all the time.

So, again, we've got our ideas in here. We want you to engage with us, give us your ideas. This needs to be an ongoing conversation. We want you to hold us accountable, when we're in that White House trying to do all of this.

But we also have to keep America safe and we have to lead the world with steadiness and strength. Now, one of the biggest differences in this campaign is Donald Trump basically says I alone can fix it, whatever it is. Think of who that leaves out. That leaves out our troops on the front line. It leaves out our police and fire responders to emergencies. It leaves out our teachers, our educators who are working to help young people. It leaves out everybody.

[13:10:02] I alone can fix it? I was raised to believe that we're in this together, and together we can fix it. And that is exactly what we're going to do. That's why Tim Kaine and I are running a campaign of issues not insults.

Donald Trump has a different approach. He wants to build an economy that works even better for himself, starting with a $4 billion tax cut for his own family. He's built a career on stiffing workers, mom and pop contractors, small businesses that did jobs for him, and then he refused to pay them.

I take this very personally. My father was a small businessman. That's how he provided a good middle class living for us. He printed drapery fabrics. He would get the fabric and roll it out on these big long tables. You take a silk screen, and you'd put it down. You'd dump the paint in. You'd take the squeegee. You'd go across. You'd lift it up. You'd down the end of one table. Start at the end of the other table. You'd do it until the job was done. Sometimes I would be there helping him. And then, he would load the fabric into his car and he would deliver it.

I tell you what, I am a so grateful he never had a contract with Donald Trump's businesses. In fact, I just ran across the story in Las Vegas, when I was there a few weeks ago, of a small drapery business who got what they thought was the greatest contract ever for Trump's new hotel in Las Vegas. They delivered the goods, and they were refused payment for no reason other than it's a game to him. Everything is a game. It's like he's living in his own celebrity reality T.V. program. You know what, Donald? This is real reality. This is real people. This is real decisions that have to be made for our country.

He actually stood on a debate stage and said wages are too high in America. Now, he's got some new advisers. He's had a bunch of advisers. He's got new advisers, and they're all trying to make him look more presidential, sound more serious. It's not working too well. But remember what Maya Angelou who spent the last years of her life right here in this state at Wake Forest. Reminded all of us -- I think about it often. I was so privileged to know her. When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

You know, stronger together also means working together with our true allies and partners around the world. And last night, I offered some thoughts about ISIS, Iran, how we're going to reform the V.A. system to take better care of our vets. And just since last night when I appeared on that program back-to-back with Trump, just in the last 24 hours, more retired generals and admirals have signed up to support my campaign. People who have sacrificed and spent their lives protecting our country, valuing what makes us exceptional and already great.

See Donald Trump and know he should not be anywhere near the White House. He is temperamentally unfit to be president and commander in chief. Now, tomorrow, I will hold -- I will hold a meeting of bipartisan. Bipartisan which is what I want to get us back to where Republicans and Democrats work together to make the changes, to protect our country. I'm going to be meeting with a bipartisan group of leaders and experts to focus more on these crucial challenges.

But it's hard to forget what Trump did last night. It was a test, and he failed it. He trash talked about Americas generals, saying that they've been, quote, "reduced to rubble." He suggested he would fire them all and hand pick his own generals, since, you know, he knows so much about what it takes to be a general. He attacked dozens of former flag officers.

At the same time -- and here's what I want you to really hear because even I was shocked by this. And I didn't know much could shock me, coming out of his mouth anymore. He praised Russia's strong man, Vladimir Putin, even taking the astonishing step of suggesting he prefers the Russian president to our American president.

[13:15:14]

That is not just unpatriotic, it's not just insulting to the office and the man who holds the office, it is scary. It is dangerous! It actually suggests he will let Putin do what Putin wants and even make excuses for him.

I said this morning, I -- I was trying to think about what other presidents would be imagining hearing that coming out of the nominee for the Republican Party. What would Ronald Reagan say about a Republican nominee who attacks America's generals and heaps praise on Russia's president?

We've never seen anything like this. And one thing you didn't hear from him was any plan to take on ISIS, one of the biggest threats facing our country. He says his plan is still a secret. Well, the truth is, he doesn't have a plan.

I served -- I served on the Senate Armed Services Committee. I served as secretary of state, as you know. I respect the men and women who put their lives on the line for the country that I love and that I believe in.

So whether you're passionate about more good jobs, better education, healthcare, whether you're passionate about protecting our country and the brave men and women who serve us, you have to realize, as so many Republicans are, that this is a time to put country over party. I would be saying that even if I were not running against him. We have never been threatened as much by a single candidate running for president as we have been in this election. As your commander-in- chief, I will not trash our country's most cherished values. I will defend them.

And that is especially on my mind because this weekend is the 15th anniversary of 9/11. I was a senator serving. And I will never forget the horror of that day or the bravery of our first responders, the victims, the survivors, people I had the honor to work with and represent. It's what kept me really so passionately involved on behalf of the people that I served all during those years.

And that is what I was thinking of 10 years later in the White House Situation Room. I was part of the small group advising President Obama whether or not the intelligence we had was good enough to take a chance, to go deep into Pakistan, to try to finally bring Osama bin Laden to justice. It was not an easy choice by any means. These never are. That's why who sits at the head of that table in the situation room has to be able to sort out fact from opinion, has to be able to ask the hard questions, pursue even the most difficult leads.

We went through that hour after hour after hour. And then the president went around the table asking each of us what we advised. And we were split because it was not some kind of easy layup. I believed it was strong enough that we needed to take action and I supported taking action that would determine whether or not we were successful. That meant sending in special forces.

Now, you know what happened. I was in that Situation Room watching that day. The most stressful 30 minutes of my life probably. Because you remember one of the helicopters nicked -- clicked on -- hit its tail on the wall going into the courtyard and became disabled. That meant -- thank goodness there were good contingency plans, but you had to get another helicopter in to take out the SEALs who would no longer be able to fly out on that one.

But here's what I want to tell you because it is a story that, to me, illustrate our values in such a clear, unambiguous way. You've heard Donald Trump say he would order our troops to torture. You've heard him say he would order our troops to kill family members of terrorists. You would know that he was advocating illegal actions against our own laws, as well as the laws of war. Thank goodness there's a code of honor in our military stronger than the bluster and the bullying of Donald Trump because here is what happened on that night.

[13:20:35] Every single second counted. That helicopter had to be blown up, but before it was -- and, remember, the SEALs had gone in. They had taken out the two Kuwaitis, the bodyguards. They had taken out bin Laden's son, who was there. They took out bin Laden. They had to get his body out. They had to get themselves out.

But here's what they did first. They rounded up all the women and children, members of terrorists' families. They took them outside as far from the helicopter as they could get them in order that they would not be hurt. That, Donald Trump, is what American honor looks like and that is what we're going to stand up and defend in the face of your outrageous, disgraceful attacks on the men and women of our armed forces!

We're going to unify this country, my friends. We're going to bring us back together. We are going to get things done. Big things. That's who we are as Americans. I can't do any of this unless you join me in this campaign. You can start by going to hillaryclinton.com or texting "join," j-o-i-n, to 47246. You can knock on doors. You can make phone calls. Register your friends to vote. Attend a house party in your neighborhood. We're going to keep asking for your help over these next two months. There is so much at stake in North Carolina and in America. No one can sit on the sidelines. The stakes are high for everyone. Join the campaign. Let's build a future where we're stronger together!

Thank you!

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In Charlotte, North Carolina, Hillary Clinton delivering another campaign rally address focusing in on a whole host of issues, including national security. But there was one theme throughout, a theme of trashing -- trashing Donald Trump especially for some of his comments last night at that commander-in- chief forum.

Let's go to Jeff Zeleny, who's in Charlotte for us right now covering the Clinton campaign for us.

Jeff, what stood out in your mind?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, there's no question Hillary Clinton is trying to point out the deep differences in experience that she has than Donald Trump. It is all about judgment. The Clinton campaign believes this is a pivotal moment in this race to stop any growth of Donald Trump, particularly in an area of national security. So we heard Hillary Clinton really go through a laundry list there of how she believes Donald Trump is not prepared to be commander-in-chief.

This election has been about many things, Wolf. It's been about the economy in some degrees. It now is about national security and who would be a better commander-in-chief. One of the reasons she's here in North Carolina, obviously a heavy military state, and really going through chapter and verse about, you know, that story about Osama bin Laden and also reminding voters what Donald Trump has said before about the military. But specifically the respect of the military and the generals who he said he would, indeed, fire. She simply is calling him out on some of the things he said.

But, Wolf, we should note, many surveys show that actual members of the military and veterans have a strong affinity for Donald Trump. So she is trying to get some of those voters to her side. But, more importantly, stop any -- any growth and keep those questions that some voters may have in their mind about if Donald Trump is ready to be commander-in-chief.

Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jeff, stand by. I want to bring in my political panel as well. Our chief political analyst Gloria Borger is here, the executive editor of CNN Politics, Mark Preston is with us, and "Washington Post" reporter David Nakamura.

This was Hillary Clinton's first formal speech.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes.

BLITZER: She held a news conference before leaving Westchester, outside of New York City, earlier in the morning. But a formal speech and she referred several times to what happened last night.

BORGER: I -- I -- look, I think Donald Trump gave her a lot of openings last night. First and foremost, praising Putin, talking about his 82 percent approval rating. I'm not so sure we would trust those polls, would we, saying, look, he thinks I'm brilliant, so I -- I like the guy, right? And she is trying to remind voters that Vladimir Putin is not somebody that folks in this country should either love or respect. Talking about the generals and -- and came flat out, Wolf, and said that Donald Trump is scary. She said he's dangerous. And, again, it goes to the points that Jeff is talking about, judgment, temperament and how risky it would be.

[13:25:27] And that's a key word, risk. How risky it would be for Donald Trump to become president. And I think they believe that while people may not like her, there is a question when you go into that booth, do you want to take a risk with him? And that's what she's going to be talking about for a long time.

BLITZER: She said, Mark, that he praised the Russian strongman.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Right.

BORGER: Right.

BLITZER: She called Putin the Russian strongman. She said he prefers Putin over the president of the United States. And then she said Trump is unpatriotic, insulting, scary and dangerous.

PRESTON: And let's put in perspective of where she's actually saying this. She's saying it in the state of North Carolina that has an Army base, has an Air Force base, has a Coast Guard base and has a Marine base, OK? They have more than 700,000 veterans that live in the state. A very big military presence. And so when she talks about that and she goes on to say that Donald Trump trash talked about the generals who were executing the war and the flag officers that -- many of them had been leading the folks who are still in the service right now, clearly trying to send a message to those that Donald Trump is not adequate enough, not good enough to be their commander-in-chief.

BLITZER: And North Carolina, as Mark said, David, clearly in play. The polls show it's very close right now in the state of North Carolina. A key battle ground state.

DAVID NAKAMURA, REPORTER, "WASHINGTON POST": She was -- she was up there just a few weeks ago. Now we're seeing a flip on those numbers. The recent numbers you guys showed earlier suggest she's a few point down. I think the bigger question, though, is, she continues -- we saw this at the DNC Convention, to talk about, you know, she's a woman who's been in the arena, has been there right with President Obama in the Situation Room, going after bin Laden. She loves to tell this story. Told it again to show that she has the good judgement and temperament, which she says that Donald Trump does not have.

What was interesting, though, about yesterday, still defensive, to some degree, about her vote on the Iraq War. Again, a question of judgment and one that certainly Donald Trump has obfuscated (ph) his own position, evolving position on the Iraq War, but something that she continues to sort of defend and sort of maybe make up for by saying she won't put anymore boots on the ground there, now maybe trapping herself when -- if and when she does become president.

BORGER: Well, Donald Trump, in fact, says he always opposed the Iraq War, when we know that in 2002 he, in an interview with Howard Stern, said, I guess I support the war. So that is, you know, that's a question that will be asked and asked over and over again.

And I think what was stunning to me, and she didn't mention it in these comments, but she did mention it earlier today, because she was asked about it. This notion that after a classified briefing -- and, yes, he was asked about it. He was asked about it last night. But he seemed to insinuate that as a result of his briefing, he -- there was something explosive in it that allowed him to believe that the president and Hillary Clinton had made some huge mistake. And this kind of insinuation -- you know, many people are saying insinuation that we hear from him over and over again was very surprising to me to come out of a classified briefing that a candidate for president would even hint at some kind of insinuation without then being able to offer evidence because, of course, he can't. But doing that was surprising. I've never heard anyone do that.

BLITZER: She -- she announced, Mark, this morning, she's going to have a briefing tomorrow.

PRESTON: Right.

BLITZER: With a bipartisan group of national security experts, including Michael Chertoff, a former Republican secretary of Homeland Security, presumably now is supporting Hillary Clinton for president of the United States. She says, "it's important that all these Republicans put country over party." How realistic is it that a lot of Republicans are going to vote for her?

PRESTON: Well, I think we've already seen a lot of Republican former office holders or administration officials have come out in support of Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump's biggest problem in this general election campaign is that he was never able to solidify the Republican base right after he won the Republican nomination through the summer. We are seeing now, according to the polls, that they are starting to come around to Donald Trump right now. so Hillary Clinton really needs to try to create a wedge and get enough of those Republicans to come to her side. And to that point about trying -- about noting that it is a bipartisan meeting tomorrow, she also noted that Ronald Reagan -- what would Ronald Reagan say about the criticism of Barack Obama, the praise of Vladimir Putin, and the attack on the U.S. military? Clearly trying to use that as a wedge issue.

BLITZER: Clearly that's going to be a major line in her speeches going forward.

PRESTON: Yes.

BLITZER: Hold on for a moment. I want to bring in our global affairs analyst, "Daily Beast" contributor, Kimberly Dozier, and CNN military analyst, retired Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton.

Colonel, what -- when you heard Donald Trump say last night, that, you know what, these generals, they aren't necessarily all that trustworthy, and if they don't do the job, he's going to get a new set of generals. What was your reaction?