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President Biden Outlines Path to Normalcy by July 4th; Florida Lawmakers Advance Bill to Ban Ballot Drop Boxes; Democratic Congressman Blasts GOP for Putting Culture Wars Over Economy. Aired 7- 7:30a ET

Aired March 12, 2021 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENET OF THE UNITED STATES: If we do all this, if we do our part, if we do this together, on July the 4th, there's a good chance you, your families and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout or a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN NEW DAY: Joining us now, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Sanjay, it was, I guess, comforting to hear actual dates certain, but are these the dates -- I mean, these are earlier than the dates that we -- May 1st, every American will be able to get themselves vaccinated, and July 4th, life could somehow look normal. I mean, are these the dates you would have come up with?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's interesting. I'm surprised that they did it only because they've been very careful, as we've talked about so many times on the program, about under promising and then overdelivering. So this was a distinct change, I think, in messaging and sort of represents a new phase, according to some of the people I talked to, who are responsible for the vaccine rollout.

I think numbers-wise, yes, it's totally possible when you start to look at the amount of vaccine that's available, look from Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, the additional doses that have been purchased. One of the challenges has been and will continue to logistics, just actually getting those vaccines into people's arms, and also into hard-to-reach communities. So it's not a slam dunk. I think the vaccine itself will be available but to make sure that people actually can have access to it, people who want it can have access, I think, is still a little bit of a question mark.

I also think that the idea then that they say by July 4th we're going to have this ability to basically, as he's describing, this return to normalcy. Again, I think it's very doable. It seems very realistic, but this is a different sort of change in messaging from this White House.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN NEW DAY: I was going to ask you, Sanjay, what you think the major obstacles are in the way of hitting these numbers beyond the logistics, and I think you got a little bit of a sense of what President Biden thinks the obstacles may be by the number of times he grabbed his mask to show the number of people.

GUPTA: Right, yes, exactly. So I think there's a couple things. So, certainly, what you're talking about in terms of are people going to let their guard down with public health practices, how much of an impact will these variants actually have, but it's interesting -- I think it's almost a little bit of the opposite as well, and what I mean is that things are obviously improving. We've talked about that for several weeks now. The numbers are coming down, hospitalization rates and death rates are coming down.

Vaccine hesitancy has been an issue but I would almost describe what they're worried about more as sort of vaccine fade in the sense that people who -- they are not hesitant necessarily about getting the vaccine but you're going into the warmer months, the numbers look a lot better. I'm good. I don't really need it. And then you go back into the colder months and you have a large percentage, too large a percentage of the country, that is unprotected and the numbers could go back up.

So I think that this idea you're going to get to May and a lot of people who, again, aren't necessarily hesitant but I don't think that's an issue anymore, that's what I think they're trying to avoid, so creating the sense of urgency. By May 1st, there's going to be eligibility for everyone. By the end of May, hopefully, everyone will be vaccinated that wants to be vaccinated and we hope that percentage is really high. So that's, I think, one of the big things he was addressing last night.

But I think your point about the variants and what could happen over the next several weeks, stuff that Michael Osterholm talks about all the time on your show, I think, is very real as well.

CAMEROTA: Sanjay, what's happening with Italy? Can we look at Italy -- the cases had been coming down dramatically, then they plateaued. Now they're going back up. We hear the prime minister is going to be addressing the nation this morning about a lockdown over Easter weekend because of this. Are they doing something different than we're doing? Do they not have as much vaccine? What's happening there?

GUPTA: Well, first of all, we should pay attention to Italy, right? I mean, this is feeling like deja vu. We watched Italy last year and people said, well, we're not going to be Italy, are we? I mean, that's Italy. And we surpassed Italy in terms of number of cases per capita.

They haven't vaccinated as much as the United States has. It's closer to around 3 percent. We have seen the numbers go up and the dominant strain is becoming this U.K. strain that we've talked about a lot. You see the numbers. I think we have the death sort of numbers, death rates as well in Italy and what you'll find is that obviously it's a lagging indicator but it has still stayed on a downward trajectory, the last seven-day average still lower than several weeks before that. So those numbers still coming down. Might they come up? Perhaps a bit because their vaccination rates aren't as high as ours. Even though we're 10 percent, we are vaccinating, I think, increasingly the right people and people who are at the greatest risk of actually getting sick and dying, and I think that's really going to help us in terms of hospitalizations and deaths.

[07:05:10]

But the issue I think more than anything else is that their trigger for basically going into a lockdown is much lower, I think, significantly lower than the United States. I mean, the idea that we would go into some sort of lockdown, again, seems almost impossible especially as you see 16 states lifting their mandates at this point.

So would it work in this country? Yes, of course it would work. You keep people home, the virus can't spread as easily. Will that happen here? No. So I think we will probably have a greater impact in terms of cases because of these variants, but if the hospitalizations and deaths don't increase as much, I think that probably we're not going to see any aggressive measures in this country.

BERMAN: Sanjay, thank you very much.

GUPTA: Yes;

BERMAN: President Biden is going to hold a signing ceremony this afternoon at the rose garden. He's going to be there with Democratic congressional leaders, bicameral, not bipartisan, why not a single Republican voted for this massive relief bill. Then next week, the president and vice president begin selling the relief package across the country.

Joining us now CNN Political Analyst David Gregory. David, I want to play again part of what we played before, just the president's speech where he talks to the American people and asks them for things that I haven't really heard in a way from a president before. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I will not relent until we beat this virus, but I need you, the American people, I need you. I need every American to do their part.

I need you to get vaccinated when it's your turn and when you can find an opportunity and to help your family, your friends, your neighbors get vaccinated as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: You know, you were at the white house after 9/11, and I'm not saying presidents haven't called for sacrifice before, David, but I don't remember seeing a president lean over a podium like that and reach out and basically shake Americans by the lapels and say, I need you, help me. It was different.

DAVID GREGORY, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: It felt a lot more reading about FDR than seeing modern presidents that we've could have had in that setting in the east room who are more formal and are more grave. And certainly President Biden had the gravity, but I was struck by the same thing. He leaned forward.

And he's a very professional politician. He's been for decades, as we know, but he has not lost that common touch and that is really what defines him and the empathy. So to combine the empathy and the ability to lead the country in grieving but then say, I need something very specific of you. And as you were discussing with Sanjay, it's so important the weather is getting warmer. Look at our polling showing most people think that we're basically out of this thing.

There's still so much pain out in the country economically, of course, and there are more precautions to that take with regard to this virus. It was a fine line for the president to walk, and I thought he did it very well.

CAMEROTA: And given that there's so much economic pain, were you surprised that he didn't trumpet the $1.9 trillion more?

GREGORY: Yes, well, a couple of things. I'm really surprised where he put it in the speech, and I still think he has got, from a political point of view, some salesmanship to do here, which he will be doing across the country. And I raise the politics because no Republicans voted for this that we know.

I think the playbook there is to look to the midterms. It's very much like how Republicans stood in the way of President Obama's agenda. But there is a sense of do we still need all of this money? Is it targeted enough? Is this more of a progressive giveaway?

And Republicans after Trump are going to want to go back to the one thing that they felt was working against Democrats, which is to say be afraid of the left, be afraid of too much government. And this is going to be a big target.

I was a little surprised he didn't break down specifically what it would do and why it's still needed. Again, what Sanjay mentioned, the president still faces the obstacle of people feeling we're even further ahead than we are. If people are thinking, oh, great, July 4th we can gather, people are already doing that in a lot of quarters, and they'll do more of that. They won't just stay outside on July 4th. So I think the public health community realizes that, and they're trying to pull people back to a safer zone.

BERMAN: And one thing on the politics, it's a little different when people -- it's hard to imagine people being afraid of a $1,400 check in their mailbox or being afraid of an increased child tax credit, which an enormous number of Americans will be getting.

[07:10:0]

So I absolutely agree with you on the big government argument, that's one that the Republicans will try to make, but it's just a little bit different this time than has been made in the past.

GREGORY: No, I totally agree. And I think this is what -- yes, the fear really is that Republicans have of how do you oppose people getting free money? But, let's remember, major entitlements, even like health care reform, right, that was delivering health care to so many people, that was something that you'd be hard to turn down and yet a big government program of any stripe becomes a big target. Certainly in the shorter term it gets harder to take away.

But I think that the opportunity here is for the president and his team to say there is this huge need, it's been there for a long time and we're going to be there for you while you're trying to recover and the country is trying to recover from the virus and from all of the effects of the virus that we're going to see.

He also has, I think, an obligation to really hit the idea hard of reopening schools. I think parents are waiting for this, this evidence that it's safe to do so. I think he is going to be judged on that and that has got to be a major piece. And he should be touting the money going toward that end as part of this bill.

BERMAN: David Gregory, thanks for being with us this morning.

So Republican states, Republican-led states, racing to roll back access to voting after the 2020 election. What is going on in Florida? What's going on that has even one Republican official calling it a travesty?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:15:00]

CAMEROTA: Republican lawmakers in Florida are trying to ban ballot drop boxes for elections despite bipartisan opposition to this from local election officials. 43 states are considering bills that would restrict voting access.

Joining me now is Allan Hays, he's the Lake County Elections Supervisor and a former Republican lawmaker. Also with us, Patricia Brigham, she's the president of the League of Women Voters in Florida. It's great to have both of you here to talk about this.

Senator Hays, you're a former state senator, you've called this effort a travesty. Why? What harm would this do?

ALLAN HAYS, ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR IN LAKE COUNTY: Well, Alisyn, the bill, as it sits right now, is just that, several things in it that are very unkind to the voter. It creates a tremendous burden on us, the administrators of the elections.

And, you know, it's a time like this when my legislative experience does come in handy because I realize that it's not time to push the panic button. Let's just everybody stay calm and recognize that while their intentions are probably good, their methods need some guidance. They need some adult supervision, if you will, from the elections professionals.

And our 67 election supervisors in this state did a tremendous job last year, and so we need to have the legislators come sit down and listen to how things should be done correctly. But for us to eliminate the use of drop boxes is a total, total mistake.

CAMEROTA: And, quickly, Senator, are they open to that, or are the Republican state politicians open to coming in and being educated about this?

HAYS: I expect they are. If they're not, hang on. We'll have some more interviews, I'm sure, because we supervisors are determined to do everything that we can to enhance the Election Day experience for all our voters.

That's one of the great things I totally enjoy about this job now is we can discard all the partisanship. We're all about good public policy. And to eliminate the use of drop boxes is bad policy.

CAMEROTA: So, let's talk about that. How many voters in Florida use the drop boxes and were there significant problems or even insignificant problems with that?

PATRICIA BRIGHAM, PRESIDENT, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FLORIDA: Well, good morning. About a million and a half voters in Florida used drop boxes. They're extremely convenient. You can avoid waiting in long lines as a result of those drop boxes, as well as using early voting in your mail. But the drop boxes were important last year because there were concerns about the United States Postal Service.

This proposal in Tallahassee is essentially a solution in search of a problem. Even Governor DeSantis has said that 2020 was a model election in Florida and then he immediately contradicts himself by saying we need election reform. That makes no sense whatsoever.

CAMEROTA: I mean, so, Senator, you are a Republican. You know these folks who are still in the state government. Why are they doing this?

HAYS: I didn't ask why because, frankly, I don't care why. It's not good policy and I'm going to oppose it. So why waste my time asking them why are you doing this?

CAMEROTA: Well, I guess because it begs the question, are they doing it to restrict voting access?

HAYS: Well, again, Alisyn, I don't care why they're doing it. It's not good policy, and I'm going to fight every day of the week to protect the voting privileges of the people of Lake County whom I represent and I answer to the people of Lake County and not to the people of Tallahassee.

CAMEROTA: So, Ms. Brigham, I mean, this is interesting to see bipartisanship about this and yet this effort. So who is going to win here and why do you think that they are so hell bent on doing this?

BRIGHAM: Well, we truly hope the voters win and we certainly support the supervisors of elections and the poll workers who put on a great election last year. Who will benefit if this legislation passes? Well, it certainly won't be the voters of Florida. You're going to be restricting the access to vote by mail.

[07:20:01]

You're going to be restricting the ballot boxes by completely eliminating them. One wonders just what's going on here. We think it's voting suppression.

CAMEROTA: And you think it's voter suppression because, why? Don't Republicans use drop boxes?

BRIGHAM: Absolutely. And that's why it makes no sense what they're doing. They're claiming we put on a great election, yet they want to make improvements. Why fix what is not broken?

CAMEROTA: So, Senator, you -- at the end of the day, you do not think that this bill will pass?

HAYS: No, ma'am, I do not. I think our association has offered language to make it acceptable and to keep the use of the drop boxes, and they will be secure. They were secure. We have no evidence, nobody yet has put anything before us and said on this day at this place at this time we saw this dastardly act take place. None of that is here. And to Patti's point, this appears at this time to be a solution looking for a problem.

And so our association is offering to the legislators the language that will put in the statute the proper kind of security and still allow the voters to use these drop boxes, which are a very important part of our election process.

CAMEROTA: Well, Patricia Brigham, Allan Hays, you both make a very compelling case. We'll see who is listening. Thank you both very much.

HAYS: Okay, thank you.

BRIGHAM: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: So the massive relief package is now law. It is supported only by the Democrats in Congress. One representative is taking issue with what his Republican colleagues are focused on. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:25:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TIM RYAN (D-OH): Heaven forbid we pass something that's going to help the damn workers in the United States of America.

We talk about giving them the right to organize, you complain. But if we're passing a tax cut here, you'll be getting in line to vote yes for it.

Now stop talking about Dr. Seuss and start working with us on behalf of the American workers. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That's Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan blasting his Republican colleagues for focusing on culture wars the same week that the House passed the $1.9 trillion relief package passed.

Joining us now is Congressman Tim Ryan. Congressman, why so much yelling?

RYAN: Well, sometimes you have got to try to penetrate the thickness of their skulls. I mean, it's just maddening to think that we're going through a global pandemic, we are going through an economic collapse, millions of people are unemployed, people are not able to pay their rent, their utilities, people are -- the anxiety level is up, mental health issues are on the rise and they want to talk about Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head. I mean, it's crazy what's happening now and we just have to try to refocus. So I needed a little emphasis there to try to help with the penetration.

BERMAN: You were talking about the American worker. In your mind, how much better off is the American worker this morning than yesterday morning before President Biden signed the relief bill?

RYAN: Well, I think you could hear a collective sigh of relief and I thought Joe Biden did a magnificent job last night of really being the adult in the room, setting the course for the country, being calm, saying we have got to come together. And these people are going to be better off, our citizens are going to be better off.

They have unemployment extended until September. That's a big sigh of relief that they're going to be able to make ends meet until then. And then the president is talking about, you know, June/July, things starting to open back up so people can go back to work, they can get a job. So I think they feel a lot better. It sounds like these $1,400 checks are going to start getting out the door here real quick. So people are going to feel immediate relief.

But it's the emotional toll that has been taken on so many families, so many people that just -- and you're cooped up, and you don't have social interaction and all of these things, it's been the perfect storm. So I think ignoring those needs and all of a sudden talking about, oh, my God, budget deficits. And no one was talking -- no Republican was talking about budget deficits for four years when Trump was in.

So it's time to start taking care of the American worker.

BERMAN: I noticed the last couple of nights on a different cable station, not a news station, this guy, Tucker Carlson, using his soapbox to criticize the military for, I think -- and I don't really understand what he's saying because it's hard to follow along there, but for making military uniforms for women who are pregnant. Is that the type of thing you are talking about, pulling the focus from what matters to the American people?

RYAN: Yes, no question. And I don't think there's anything like an economic -- a severe economic challenge for the country to really refocus people. And so what Fox is doing, what Tucker is doing, what the right-wing media apparatus is doing is they're fighting the last war, honestly. And that stuff worked in good economic times. That stuff worked when the stock market was going crazy and people were back to work, but now it's tone deaf.

And so they're going down the road of culture wars and the Democrats are moving into a space that I've been advocating for a long time, the economic space and they're leaving it wide open. And so there's an opportunity here for us to say, look, this is the mature party. We're the ones who understand how to govern the country and the other side is just out in left field talking about things that aren't relevant to the economic needs of the American people and they're going to pay a big price for that.

BERMAN: Well, are they? I mean, I do wonder because politics, of course, in some ways is a free market system. I mean, there's a supply and demand. And it's possible that that side is doing this because they think there is a demand.

[07:30:04]

In places like Youngstown you represent, which there is a tremendous amount of support for the former president.