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Trump and Pastor Spar over Speech; Michelle Obama on Campaign Trail; Clinton Delivers Speech in D.C. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired September 16, 2016 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00] PASTOR FAITH ELIZABETH TIMMONS, BETHEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Some United Methodist are Democrats. Some United Methodists are, what would you say, of no affiliation. We are all different. But what unites us is Christ, not our political party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So, David Lauter (ph), might a grand statement disavowing his birtherism be more effective than appearing in African-American churches?

DAVID LAUTER (ph): Carol, I think it's unlikely that there's much that Mr. Trump could say that is going to change the votes of African- Americans. That's a constituency he's alienated pretty - pretty consistently. And after seven and a half years of criticizing the president, the first African-American president, that's - that's probably a ship that's sailed for him.

I think what this is more about is trying to speak to white voters who feel uncomfortable about being associated with a candidate who they perceive to be playing with racial stereotypes or bordering on things that are bigoted. And he needs to win over those voters. It's not really realistic for him to win large numbers of African-Americans. But if he can convince a slice of suburban voters in places like Philadelphia, and the suburbs of Cleveland and Cincinnati that he's OK, that he's not - that he's not trying to legitimize the president, or things like that, then he has a shot at winning those battleground states that are crucial for his campaign.

COSTELLO: OK. And just a final question for you, David Swerdlick, this bloc (ph). So Donald Trump is building up the suspense for this supposedly big statement he's going to make, right?

DAVID SWERDLICK, ASSISTANT EDITOR, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Yes.

COSTELLO: Hillary Clinton's supposed to speak at any minute now and here we are talking about Donald Trump. So, in that sense, has he won the day?

SWERDLICK: Well, no, Carol, I think this is part of Donald Trump's problem, right? Everything for him is a big reveal. His health record, just something that the voters need to know, he went on "Dr. Oz." This, now. He could have just answered my colleague Robert Costa's question in his interview last night and moved on with it. Instead, it's a big reveal.

Look, I don't think the election is going to hinge on this question about his birtherism at this point. I agree with David that it's sort of baked into the cake. But I do think that this is a problem for Trump, at least in the sense that it's another day when he's not talking about his economic message, where he's talking about his past statements that are offensive to many Americans, not just African- Americans.

COSTELLO: OK, I want you all to stay with us because, as I said, Hillary Clinton is expected to speak at any moment and we'll break that down.

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:36:48] COSTELLO: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me.

We're keeping an eye on two big events this morning. On the left you see, that is the Black Women's Agenda. They're meeting for a luncheon in Washington, D.C. The keynote speaker, Hillary Clinton. On the right-hand side of your screens is the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. That's where Donald Trump will be holding a campaign event. We're not exactly sure what he's going to say, but he may or may not disavow his birtherism thoughts. We just don't know. But we're also keeping an eye on this event. And when they start, of course, we'll bring you back there live.

Hours from now, Michelle Obama will be in Virginia urging people to vote. It will be Mrs. Obama's campaign trail debut. And Hillary Clinton is hoping she will invigorate her campaign, just as she did the Democratic National Convention.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: There is only one person who I trust with that responsibility, only one person who I believe is truly qualified to be president of the United States, and that is our friend, Hillary Clinton.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Mrs. Obama brings high approval ratings with her today and charm and popularity and she has the cred for millennials. A recent shopping trip to CVS with Ellen to "Carpool Karaoke" with James Corden.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: That's my song.

JAMES CORDEN: This is it.

CORDEN & OBAMA (singing): This is for my girls all around the world. Stand up, put your head up, don't take nothing from nobody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right, so let's talk about this. With me now, Myra Gutin. She's the author of "The President's Partner: The First Lady in the 20th Century."

Welcome, Myra.

MYRA GUTIN, AUTHOR, "THE PRESIDENT'S PARTNER: THE FIRST LADY IN THE 20TH CENTURY": Good morning.

COSTELLO: So - good morning.

So I was wondering, is this a first? Has a first lady ever campaigned for her husband's replacement?

GUTIN: Not to the best of my knowledge. First ladies have campaigned for senatorial campaigns. They've been in the field to back congressional candidates. But not their husband's former adversaries.

COSTELLO: It's just - so, so it's interesting that Michelle Obama has been tasked with getting people out to vote. Why is that, do you think?

GUTIN: Well, she's an enormously popular political figure and first lady. In July, her positive ratings were at about 58 percent, which is very high. And particularly in light of her speech at the Democratic National Convention, she's just become a tremendous political asset, and someone that I'm sure the Clinton campaign wants in their corner.

COSTELLO: Absolutely. But, you know, the big question always is, Michelle Obama's out there and people are listening to her, but - but will some of Michelle Obama really rub off on Hillary Clinton?

GUTIN: I - I think that people will listen. I mean certainly Mrs. Obama has had extensive experience with Mrs. Clinton. So I - I think that she becomes an exceptionally effective surrogate for her.

[09:40:03] COSTELLO: So, I'd just like for a moment, I want to step back in time and think about Hillary Clinton as first lady and then compare her to Michelle Obamas as first lady. What's the major difference there?

GUTIN: Mrs. Clinton was much more of a politically active first lady. When they came to the White House in January of 1993, Mrs. Clinton immediately undertook the cause of national health care. Michelle Obama, on the other hand, has been perhaps a reluctant conscript to partisan politics, and has tended to stay away from issues that might be divisive.

COSTELLO: Except she picked an issue which you wouldn't think was divisive, right, and that's getting kids to eat healthy and exercise. But that became divisive in itself.

GUTIN: That's true. It did. It did. And all first ladies face a certain amount of pushback no matter what they choose. I think perhaps, though, what she's achieved with "Let's Move" and eating healthy and more exercise is having more positive returns.

COSTELLO: So how would you rate Michelle Obama with other first ladies, if you do such a thing?

GUTIN: She's an exceptionally effective first lady. She's done a very good job in terms of advocacy. Not just for her initiative "Let's Move," but also with joining forces, encouraging efforts on behalf of the education of young women, but she's also been, even though not partisan, an effective political operative. She's fulfilled her ceremonial responsibilities as first lady. I think she's going to end up rating rather high on the first lady exchange.

COSTELLO: And I'm sure you'll be watching with interest no matter who wins this presidential election because if Hillary Clinton wins, there will be a first man, and if Donald Trump wins, we don't really know much about Melania Trump or how much of a role she'll really play publicly because we really haven't seen much of her since the Republican National Convention.

GUTIN: That's true. My guess would be that if Mr. Trump is elected, she's likely to be more of a ceremonial first lady than we've seen in many years. And certainly if Mrs. Clinton is elected, we're going to be in a whole new area of investigation with Bill Clinton as first gentleman.

COSTELLO: So, Myra - Myra, I'm going to interrupt you, because Hillary Clinton's about to speak.

[09:42:46] HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Hello, BWA. I thank you for that warm welcome. There's nowhere I'd rather be than right here with all of you this morning.

(APPLAUSE)

Please, everyone, be seated. This is such a great opportunity to lift up the work that so many of you have done for years. Your organizations, individually, and I am grateful for it because it has helped to guide me in a lot of the work that I've been privileged to do.

I want to thank Gwen Hess (ph) for her introduction. I want to acknowledge it's always great seeing a woman serve as president in any setting.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to congratulate today's honorees. Everyone is so deserving of this recognition. I also want to acknowledge a few others. We have some fierce members of Congress with us today, women whom I admire, who have been my colleagues and friends and with whom I am looking for to continuing our work. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, and I want to give a special shout-out to Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.

(APPLAUSE)

When I saw Joyce recently she said, "Well, you are coming, aren't you?" And I said, "I'm working hard to get it set." And I am so proud that it did work out. I thank Joyce for that extra push.

(APPLAUSE)

I also want to acknowledge someone who had such a profound effect on my life in every way, someone whom I admire and love, Marian Wright Edelman.

(APPLAUSE)

[09:45:11] CLINTON: This audience is filled with longtime friends and people I went to Wellesley College with that became lifelong friends to me. And so many of you who have been on the front lines. Everyone associated with the Black Women's Agenda. I'm thrilled to be with you. I'm thrilled to be associated with you. I'm also thrilled to be back on the campaign trail.

(APPLAUSE)

As the world knows, I was a little under the weather recently. The good news is, my pneumonia finally got some Republicans interested in women's health.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

Now looking back, I know, I should have followed my doctor's orders to rest, but my instinct was to push through it. That is what women do every single day.

(APPLAUSE)

And I felt no different. Life has shown us that we do have to work harder at the office while still bearing most of the responsibilities at home, that we always need to keep going because our families and our communities count on us. And I think it is more than fair to say that black women have an even tougher road. And...

(APPLAUSE)

You, your daughters, your granddaughters -- I was pleased to meet Gwen's beautiful granddaughter earlier -- leave the house every morning, put on that game face that we all practice and enter a society that consistently challenges your worth. With the images you see, the lower pay that so many take home, that try to silence your voices and break your spirits.

Yet you remain fierce in the face of these challenges. We see that every day in the businesses you start, the art you create, the children you teach and the communities and organizations you lead.

Now, while your stories are often missing from the history books, make no mistake, you are the change makers, the path breakers and the ground shakers. And...

(APPLAUSE)

You are proof that yes, indeed, black girl magic is real.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, I've been blessed to see this magic's influence on kids and communities up close for decades. Starting with my first job after law school working with Marian at the Children's Defense Fund. Marian's belief was that every single child had worth and potential and deserved the opportunity to live up to their God-given potential with the tools and the support that every child needs, and that if we just improve the odds a bit for those suffering in poverty, they could flourish.

So she led our team into some very poor communities. We met kids who had dropped out of school because they couldn't afford textbooks or transportation. Some didn't have decent clothes and stayed home to avoid being humiliated in class. Some had untreated medical and dental problems that made it practically impossible for them to learn. Those stories really hurt my heart. But Marian always believed we could deliver help and hope if we never, ever gave up.

So she taught us ways to think creatively, as well as strategically, to take our advocacy and turn it into action and results. She sent me to New Bedford, Massachusetts to go door to door looking for children who weren't in school. That was back before we had a legal requirement that every child, regardless of disability, deserved to get an education. I met a young girl in New Bedford and sat and talked with her on the small back porch of her house. She told me how badly she wanted to learn, but couldn't because schools weren't accessible or welcoming.

CLINTON: So Marian had us work to change that. We gathered evidence and built a coalition. We helped convince Congress to ensure access to education for all students with disabilities. Marian showed me that to drive real progress, you have to change both hearts and laws, you need both understanding and action.

(APPLAUSE)

[09:50:17] And there is no question in my mind, I am here today because of her example. I also want to recognize pioneers like Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm.

(APPLAUSE)

Who sacrificed and struggled so that I and so many other women running for office could soar. I'm here because of friends and colleagues, like Donna Brazile, Reverend Leah Daughtry.

(APPLAUSE)

And Congresswoman Marsha Fudge, three black women who ran the Democratic National Convention in July.

(APPLAUSE)

It was a great four days and it goes to show that black women deserve more than a seat at the table. It's past time you had a fair chance to run the meeting.

(APPLAUSE)

And let's be clear. I would not be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States were it not for black women like all of you, who made noise at the polls this year in support of our campaign, who did surrogate events, went to barber shops and beauty salons and cafes, got on local radio and local TV to make the case. We've come far together.

And as I said yesterday in North Carolina, I'm going to close my campaign the way I began my career all those years ago at the Children's Defense Fund and the way that I will serve as your president, should I have the great honor of being elected. I will be focused on opportunities for kids and fairness for families. The American people deserve something to vote for, not just against. And together...

(APPLAUSE)

Together, we will make this a freer, fairer and stronger nation. We're going to fight for the parents struggling to balance family and work, push for affordable child care, paid family leave and yes finally, equal pay for all women.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll fight for the young girls who want a fair chance in life, which is why we'll make universal pre-K available so that every child, no matter what they look like or where they live, can rise up and be prepared to fulfill their academic destiny.

We're also going to do a lot to emphasize STEM education, particularly for girls and women, and I thank the agenda for making that a priority.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll fight for the entrepreneur who said that more businesses die in the parking lots of banks than anywhere else, which is why we're going to increase access to capital and we're going to help African American women continue to represent the fastest growing segment of women-owned businesses in America right now.

(APPLAUSE) We're going to invest in communities that have been left out and left behind, urban reinvestment and restructuring that's going to give more people decent housing, access to jobs, the transportation to get to those jobs, rural communities that are too often ignored and denied the services they need.

I am a fan of Jim Clyburn's 10-20-30 plan and I'm going to do everything I can to push that forward.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll remember the pain of the mothers of the movement and fight for a criminal justice system that actually delivers justice.

(APPLAUSE)

And a future where everyone has respect for the law and is respected by the law. And we are going to pass common-sense reforms to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and keep our communities safe.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: We'll remember the families neglected in Flint and take action so no child's life is ever put at risk again when brushing their teeth or drinking a glass of water at dinner.

[09:55:08] We'll advocate for everyone concerned about their parents and grandparents as they age, and lift up caregivers and home care workers so older Americans can live in comfort with dignity. And we're going to protect and enhance Social Security, which is the main source of income for older women.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll stand side by side to make sure that all of our rights are respected and protected. Civil rights and women's rights, LGBT rights, workers rights, and of course, voting rights.

(APPLAUSE)

We are coming together at a pivotal moment for our country. Now, I do believe every election is important, but this one feels different, doesn't it? That's because it is.

(LAUGHTER)

The next 53 days will shape the next 50 years. The future of our children and grandchildren hangs in the balance. On the one hand, we have my opponent, Donald Trump, and in recent weeks, he's tried to restrain himself and clean up his image, but as Maya Angelou once said, when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

(APPLAUSE)

And we know who Donald is. For five years, he had led the birther movement to delegitimize our first black president. His campaign was founded on this outrageous lie. There is no erasing it in history. Just yesterday, Trump again refused to say with his own words that the president was born in the United States.

Now, Donald's advisers had the temerity to say he's doing the country a service by pushing these lies. No, he isn't. He is feeding into the worst impulses, the bigotry and bias that lurks in our country.

(APPLAUSE) Barack Obama was born in America, plain and simple, and Donald Trump owes him and the American people an apology.

(APPLAUSE)

So my friends, there is no new Donald Trump. There never will be. Donald Trump looks at President Obama after eight years as our president, he still doesn't see him as an American. Think of how dangerous that is. Imagine a person in the Oval Office who traffics in conspiracy theories and refuses to let them go, no matter what the facts are. Imagine someone who distorts the truth to fit a very narrow view of the world. Imagine a president who sees someone who doesn't look like him and doesn't agree with him and thinks that person must not be a real American. Donald Trump is unfit to be president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

We cannot become insensitive to what he says and what he stirs up. We can't just accept this. We've got to stand up to it. If we don't, it won't stop. In addition to the president, Donald Trump looks at a distinguished federal judge born in Indiana and he sees a Mexican, not an American. He looks at a Gold Star family and sees them as Muslims, not patriotic Americans. He looks at women and decides how our looks rate on a scale of one to ten.

CLINTON: I look at America, I see everyone. I see our great diversity which is one of our core strengths, not our burden. We know who Donald Trump is.