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Trump: Japan's Softbank to Invest $50 Billion in U.S. Jobs; Emotions Running High after Oakland Fire, 36 Deaths; Republican Lawmakers Oppose Trump's 36 Percent Tax on Businesses Moving Job Overseas; Ryan's Prediction of Delayed Obamacare Repeal Causing GOP Rift; White Supremacist Invited to Speak at Texas A&M. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired December 06, 2016 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:30:00:] CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. With the Carrier deal as we saw him bringing jobs back to Indiana, that cost local taxpayers some money, right? So, we have to get the real details of these deals and what Donald Trump is talking about because he likes to go out there -- like with Boeing today, for example, he was out there saying it costs too much for Air Force One.
ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: And Boeing is a U.S. company.
ALESCI: He put a $4 billion out there, most average people look out there and say, wow, that is an extreme amount of money." But they don't know that the payments come in smaller portions and it's probably not even $4 billion, actually.
But putting all of that aside, what we have to do is take a step back and look at Donald Trump as a negotiator and someone who likes to raise lots of passions with the public and then he turns around and the CEOs of these companies and these businessmen are willing to take this from him, because they know they have his ear, right?
Last week, I broke a story about Donald Trump appointing a group of CEOs he'll meet with on a regular basis. They want lower taxes. They want fewer regulations. They know if they give Donald Trump a feather in his cap they can get something more valuable in return, right?
(CROSSTALK)
CABRERA: Well, we all know he is doing things differently than what we have traditionally seen from prior administrations. There's so much unpredictability when it comes to Donald Trump and, as you mentioned, the devil is in the details.
We'll let you go. We'll let you sort out what the details are.
(CROSSTALKK)
CABRERA: Come back and let us know, that's for sure.
Again, that breaking news about Donald Trump's announcement.
Thanks to Cristina Alesci and Jessica Schneider at Trump Tower. Let's move on to new information about the warehouse fire that claimed
at least 36 lives in Oakland, California and after searching 85 percent of the charred building, firefighters are telling us they don't expect the death toll to rise any further. So, a sliver of good news. But the damage is done and hearts are broken as hundreds of mourners have been gathering to remember the victims. The emotions running very high right now among both former and current residents of the warehouse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What do you want to say to those who are mourning who lost friends and loved ones? You yourself have lost friends.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's nothing I can say. There's nothing anyone can say. There's nothing. It's just tragedy, horror and tragedy. It's not a time to fight each other. There's just -- can we please embrace each other. It's just beyond.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: Also today, in an interview on NBC, the warehouse manager apologized but he also defended himself when he was asked if he's to blame.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROSSTALK)
DENCK ION ALMENA, WAREHOUSE MANAGER: I didn't do anything ever in my life that would lead me up to this moment.
UNIDENTIFIED NBC ANCHOR: Can I ask you --
(CROSSTALK)
ALMENA: I'm an honorable man. I'm a proud man. No, I'm not going to answer your questions on this level.
UNIDENTIFEID NBC ANCHOR: Are you -- are you worried that you would be --
ALMENA: I would rather get on the floor and be trampled by the parents. I'd rather let them tear my flesh than answer these ridiculous questions.
UNIDENTIFIED NBC ANCHOR: Mr. Almena, we'll - we'll --
ALMENA: I'm so sorry. I'm incredibly sorry. What do you want me to say? I'm not going to answer these questions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: I want to bring in Glenn Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Thank you so much for joining us, Glenn.
GLENN CORBETT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FIRE SCIENCE, JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Thank you.
CABRERA: First, we've seen that video of the rescuers and searchers and investigators combing through wreckage. What can they find and learn from the remains?
CORBETT: Sure. Well, they're going to basically as they've been doing methodically going through the building and locating the victims that are still in there at this point but more importantly to try to determine what was in the building at the time, how it was configured and, of course, any fire safety issues related to that we've heard quite a bit on the news in the last few days about the conditions inside the building so they'll try to reconstruct the building inside for all intense and purposes.
CABRERA: We heard from the building manager, the person leasing out this building. Surprised to hear him get in front of the cameras and take questions at this point?
CORBETT: I am surprised he's talking at this point. Obviously, he was there. He, apparently, was the person who brought in the tenants and the folks who moved into the building as well as the people that were using it for party purposes. So, this is a code -- fire code and building code enforcement nightmare, this building. It has all sorts of issues.
CABRERA: We heard the manager trying to deflect blame. Who is to blame? The city if it is a code issue or would he be responsible if that case?
CORBETT: Ultimately, the building, owner and if he's the tenant in the building, both of those are, ultimately responsible for what happened that day. That doesn't mean the city isn't responsible from an enforcement standpoint, if they had gone there and didn't follow up on inspections they made. So, there's a lot of folks that have the part in this but, ultimately, it's the building owner and the tenant.
[14:35:15] CABRERA: How much trouble could they be in? Is this something where it comes back that it was a co-violation that led to an electrical problem for some reason is that something that could result in jail time? People losing their jobs in the city?
CORBETT: Well, certainly, there will be lawsuits here, civil lawsuits. As far as criminal litigation, we don't know whether that will happen or not. In our history in America, we've had fires in nightclubs and other places where people have been held responsible, and other places they haven't been. It's a patchwork of laws we have in the U.S. that sometimes you can apply them to situations like this, sometimes they don't apply so we'll have to see how this pans out over the next few weeks.
CABRERA: Thank you so much for joining us and helping us walk through the process. CORBETT: Thank you.
CABRERA: Glenn Corbett, good to have you here.
CORBETT: Thank you.
CABRERA: Up next, the first fault lines between the GOP and Donald Trump since his victory. Hear why many Republicans on the Hill aren't happy with one of his latest proposals.
Plus, a white supremacist invited to speak at one of the country's largest universities tonight. The school responds, live, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:40:41] CABRERA: Is it the first big fight between the president- elect and Republican lawmakers? Donald Trump's plan to tax companies doing business overseas with a whopping 35 percent transfer, well, one GOP lawmaker described this plan as a punitive measure. Others, including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, say a better plan would be comprehensive tax reform.
Let's discuss. Shelby Holliday, politics and business reporter for the "Wall Street Journal" is joining us; as well as A.B. Stoddard, the associate editor and columnist with Real Clear Politics. That's a mouthful.
A.B.., let me start with you.
Do you think this is a sign that now lines are being drawn in the sand between Trump and some of the other GOP establishment figures who have been maybe against some of the Trump proposals all along?
A.B. STODDARD, ASSOCIATE EDITOR & COLUMNIST, REAL CLEAR POLITICS: Well, Republican leaders heard his rhetoric about this during the primary campaign and the general election campaign. They're not surprised to see it coming but I guess they were hoping it would come later. They were put on the spot about it. He tweeted all Sunday about slapping 35 percent tariffs on any company from the U.S. wanting to move their operations overseas. And when asked about it, Mike Pence dodged the question three times in an interview. And, you know, the House majority leader, Kevin McCarthy, basically came out and said, no, we're not for trade wars, we're for the free markets, that he wouldn't support a tariff like that. And when you heard the speaker talk about it, he's talking about a broad economic policy that involves tax reform so that they're not going around company by company week by week and making threats or cutting deals like the one they did with Carrier. While it's a feel-good sugar-high symbolic accomplishment, it's picking winners and losers and it's cutting deals that could lead to companies sort of taking the government hostage, looking for better deals before they threaten to leave our shores. That is not -- that goes up against everything conservatives have stood for in their economic agenda for decades.
CABRERA: And yet, Shelby, we did hear Kevin McCarthy say there needs to be something to level the playing field. What are the alternatives? Are they suggesting something else?
SHELBY HOLLIDAY, POLITICS AND BUSINESS REPORTER, WALL STREET JOURNAL: They have floated the idea of what's essentially a consumption tax. It would level the playing field. It would not tax certain imports or companies as Trump has proposed to do. But they want to make clear, and Republicans have gotten good at polishing their responses to Donald Trump's comments, instead of going after him saying this is an anti-capitalist idea, they instead say we understand his frustration but we think it would be better to let the free market decide. Or we think it would be better to let our tax plan -- let businesses thrive and keep jobs in the U.S. So, they've come up with this better way mantra and that's now how they're responding to Donald Trump. But if you read between the lines they're countering his ideas.
CABRERA: Let me pivot to Obamacare. Another potential rift we're seeing develop here in the timetable to repeal Obamacare. Paul Ryan said it could take up to three years to come up with a replacement plan. That's not going over so well with the House Freedom Caucus.
However, realistically, A.B., how can we expect this to unfold?
STODDARD: Well, I wrote about this today. I think it's a really foolish political gimmick on the part of the Republicans. They've had six years to come up with a plan. Donald Trump has made conflicting statements, and makes this challenge steeper and more difficult. But the Freedom Caucus is basically saying, if we're going to repeal it and we promised we would, we have to replace it in the next Congress in the next two years. The proposal they're criticizing that's out there is to take a vote in January, in a few weeks, that repeals it and gives it a three-year expiration. It will technically expire three years from now. So, they can feel they're not taking anyone's insurance away. The problem is this will produce more chaos in a market that's already in a death spiral. Etna and United HealthCare have pulled out of the exchanges. The coverage is becoming thinner and more scant and deteriorating. The prices are skyrocketing. This will only cause more insurance companies to leave the market and leave the people who are covered who are mostly sick in real trouble.
CABRERA: Democrats are having issues as well, internally. We know Democratic leaders asked a couple of their Senators, don't take jobs in the Trump administration if offered.
Explain for us, Shelby, why they don't want their own people inside Trump's cabinet and having influence in some way.
HOLLIDAY: Well, right now, the Democrats already have a minority. They have a 48-person minority. So you would think losing one seat wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Now, we have representatives in the White House. We can have our voice heard in the Trump administration. However, that's a huge blow to Democratic leadership in the Senate if either of these people take jobs with the Trump administration.
I just spoke to someone who worked for Harry Reid, and his leadership, when he was a Senate leader. He said, you know, you want every single body. It matters, your negotiating power is stronger even if you have a minority. 48 is better than 47.
The ironic thing, he says, is these are two Senators being considered for Trump jobs that would push the Democratic Party to negotiate with Trump and to back some of Trump's policies, which are controversial in the Democratic Party. So --
(CROSSTALK)
[14:45:49] CABRERA: So much for bipartisanship, right?
HOLLIDAY: Should you send them the White House or keep them in the Senate? They want to keep them in the Senate.
CABRERA: All right. A.B. Stoddard and Shelby Holliday, thank you both for being here.
Up next, a white supremacist, who saluted Donald Trump's victory, speaking tonight at Texas A&M. You'll hear from the man who invited to him, and the school's response next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
14:50:04] RICHARD SPENCER, WHITE SUPREMACIST: We were not meant to beg for moral validation from some of the most despicable creatures to ever populate the planet. Hail Trump! Hail our people! Hair victory!
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: Remember this video? Looks like something out of Nazi Germany. Richard Spencer is the man before behind it. He gave this speech in Washington last month as he promoted white supremacy. He praised President-elect Trump while giving the Nazi salute.
And now that same man will speak at Texas A&M University tonight. He got the invite from a university alum, not the school.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What do you think of Richard Spencer?
PRESTON WIGINTON, A&M ALUM: I think he has some valid points.
Do you think this is a white nation?
WIGINTON: I think it was at one time. And I think that the reaction of Trump being elected and the reaction that's going on with the Alt-Right being popular is reaction to the declining of it being a
white nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CABRERA: So that's the guy who invited Richard Spencer to talk.
Joining me now, the school's senior vice president of communications, Amy Smith; and Hannah Wimberly, the student helping to organize a counter protest.
First to you, Amy.
The school is being blasted for allowing Spencer to come and speak. What is your response to this criticism?
AMY SMITH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, TEXAS A7M UNIVERSITY: First, Ana, thank you for allowing us to join you today. Texas A&M, including staff and student groups had no part in this. This is an unsanctioned campus event. We have public rooms because we are a public university. Private citizens can rent them, cub scouts, first robotics, other things and the administration was made aware on November 22nd that he had rented a room for, in fact, this purpose, and we were surprised and find the beliefs reprehensible.
CABRERA: OK.
Hannah, the man who invited Spencer, who we heard a little bit from earlier, Preston Wiginton makes no excuse about the way he feels.
Listen to what he told Gary Tuchman about diversity in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WIGINTON: Why would I want to see America become less white? Why would I want to be displaced and marginalized?
TUCHAMAN: Here's the thing --
WIGINTON: Only people with a mental illness wants to be displaced and marginalized.
TUCHMAN: Here's the thing. You and people like you have a hang-up about the color of people's skin. What's the difference what color people's skin are? What matters is the kind of people they are. So why does it matter the pigment of their skin.
WIGINTON: It's not just pigment.
TUCHMAN: What is it?
WIGINTON: People's behavior. People's I.Q. People evolve over --
TUCHMAN: OK --
WIGINTON: -- different times and different places. There are lots of things.
TUCHMAN: There are lots of white people with low I.Q.s. There are lots of black people with high I.Q.s. There are lots of red people with low I.Q.s and high I.Q.s. everyone is different. You're stereotyping. So, my question is --
WIGINTON: Better the devil I know than the devil I don't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: Hannah, what's your reaction to what you just heard.
HANNAH WIMBERLY, STUDENT, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: I'm sickened to hear that. My experience here even at Texas A&M we have a beautiful diverse campus and I think that should be cherished, and loving your neighbor and getting to understand other's experiences. And we may not know what it's like to live as someone that's other than us but we can try to understand and learn from their experiences and celebrate our diversity and join in unity and see others as a foe. That sickens me.
CABRERA: How do you feel about how the school has handled the situation?
WIMBERLY: I'm proud we're going to be hosting an event called aggies united to fight this negative speech with this incredible positive act. We have faculty, staff, students, community members coming together to join and celebrate our unity, sell the beautiful diversity of this campus. Say that hatred and bigotry has no place at Texas A&M, so I'm very proud of the way Texas A&M students, faculty and staff have handled this.
CABRERA: Amy --
(CROSSTALK)
SMITH: I would echo that, Ana.
CABRERA: Let me ask, though. The question I have, that is, I get it, free speech has to be protected. That's not just important to the university but the democracy. How do you keep these students safe, protecting them from harassment? Some of this is hate speech, is it not?
SMITH: Well, we want our, first and foremost, to protect our students and the environment in which they are and as I said before this person had no invite for from my member of our campus. At the same time, our First Amendment protects the right to free speech. And we decided it protects the right to our free speech, too. So, we are going to gather with thousands of students, alumni and our whole network and the greater community in which we are tonight at our football stadium to celebrate our unity and what we stand for in a productive and peaceful way.
CABRERA: Amy Smith, Hannah Wimberly, thank you. Good luck with that counter event tonight.
WIMBERLY: Thank you.
SMITH: Thank you. [14:55:11] CABRERA: More on our breaking news, on Donald Trump's announcement, moments ago, as he talked about bringing jobs to America, including tens of thousands coming here to the U.S. through a Japanese company. We'll have more on who is behind it, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CABRERA: Welcome back. Voting is under way for the 2016 "CNN Hero" of the year. The all-star tribute airs this weekend on CNN. Don't forget to vote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: They are the kind and the caring. They are the strong and the brave. They are the ones who see a need, fill a void, make a difference.
UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: I'm trying to give them the opportunities they deserve.
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ANNOUCNER: They don't do it for themselves. They I do it for the rest of us. They are a reminder of what's good in this world, and what it truly means to be a hero.
