Return to Transcripts main page

The Lead with Jake Tapper

Police: Suspected Beheader Tied To Islam; North Korean Leader Not Seen In Three Weeks; ISIS On The Campaign Trail

Aired September 26, 2014 - 16:30   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Oklahoma, the FBI is now investigating Nolan's social media footprint, trying to determine if this vicious, deadly rage was revenge over a lost job or for a faraway conflict that's now hit the heartland.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Jake, we should point out that Alton Nolan actually survived being shot. He is being treated in the hospital. Last night, authorities said he was not able to talk to authorities, but clearly he is the one that provide the soonest answers as to what really motivated his actions.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: A shocking story. But I want to hear more about this man, the former company executive who is being hailed as a hero. Tell us about him.

SAVIDGE: Yes, Mark Vaughan is the company's coo, the chief operating officer, he is also the son of the founder, hence, the name Vaughan. But in 2010, he became a member of the reservist for the sheriff's department there in that county.

And in fact, he's undergone about 10 months of training and today many folks, while mourning the loss, they're also saying if it was not for this executive who literally put his life on the line for his employees, this tragedy could have been much, much worse.

TAPPER: Martin Savidge, thank you so much.

When we come back, he's not one to shy away from the spotlight, which is why Kim Jong-Un's disappearance is all the more puzzling. New speculation that his recent weight gain could be part of the reason he's hiding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. In other world news, he's been off the radar for three weeks. But when North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un missed a high-level government meeting yesterday, it became abundantly clear that something might be wrong.

His absence, so suspicious that North Korean state media was even compelled to put out a statement explaining it saying, quote, "He's suffering from discomfort." That's not vague at all.

Kim Jong-Un's low profile has fueled worldwide speculation. Some wonder if he has gout that might explain his recent limp or an unhealthy obsession with imported cheeses from Switzerland and there's the possibility that his low profile signals political problems within the regime.

Here to provide some insight is Professor Victor Cha, a professor of Asian Studies at Georgetown University and author of "The Impossible State, North Korea Past and Future."

Professor Cha, thanks for joining us. Were you surprised that state media in North Korea, which is obviously notorious for painting a rosy picture of anything going on with this leadership, they went so far as to acknowledge some type of health problem, discomfort?

VICTOR CHA, AUTHOR, "THE IMPOSSIBLE STATE": Yes, Jake, that is quite unusual. I think they had to do it in tandem with this supreme people's assembly, which is the major political gathering of the party and elite in the country. And so for him not to be present, it had to be explained somehow. So they provided this explanation of some sort of physical discomfort.

TAPPER: This isn't, of course, the first time a North Korean leader has fallen off the radar. His father, Kim Jong-Il, went missing for two weeks when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. Do you think it's possible that this disappearance could be tied to the current unrest in the Middle East?

CHA: It's certainly plausible. I think the one thing that is in common between the both of those two events is basically stress and extreme duress. In Kim Jong-Il's case, I think it was a genuine fear that the United States might also attack North Korea.

In this young fellow's case, he's under a great deal of stress as a 28, 29-year-old who suddenly took over the country. And essentially he's running it into the ground as he pursues his own little pet projects like ski resorts and amusement parks.

I'm sure there's a great deal of stress and there's not a good line of health in this family. There's been a lot of disease, heart disease and other problems in the Kim family.

TAPPER: Is there any reason to believe that it might be a sign of political instability? He executed his chief political rival, his uncle, could it be something else going on internally?

CHA: Certainly could be. We can't rule it out. On the one hand, it could just be that he's sick. He has a cold, the flu, gout, who knows? On the other hand, it could be something more serious. There's been a lot of turnover in the structure of the military and the party in North Korea, in addition to this famous uncle who was executed.

There's been a lot of turnover in the system. Usually when you have that rapid turnover in a regime like this, a dictatorial regime like this, it means some struggling, pulling and tugging is happening behind the curtain. It wouldn't surprise me if this is all related in addition to a health theory, something going on within the leadership.

TAPPER: If he is in failing health and it's more serious than the regime is letting on, which would be the case, obviously, they wouldn't let on really, who is theoretically next in line to take over North Korea?

CHA: There really isn't anyone next in line. This is a country that's been run by three generations of Kims. Kim Jong-Un, the current leader, has an infant child who certainly could not take over power. He has two brothers who have disappeared from the scene.

So there really isn't. There truly is a power vacuum. The most likely person would have been this uncle of his who was sort of like a senior mentor to him. But, of course, he was executed by Kim Jong-Un a while back. So there truly is a power vacuum were he to leave.

It's not clear if there would be infighting are between party and military or between members of the family with other members of the family. It really is truly a black hole at that point.

TAPPER: A bizarre and opaque country. Victor Cha, thank you so much.

Coming up, the battle against ISIS now turning up on the campaign trail. Why candidates from both sides hope changing the topic to national security could help them in November.

Plus, it's the restaurant that inspires the '80s cult classic movie "Mystic Pizza." Now the restaurant with the same name has been fined for mistreating its employees.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. Now the Politics Lead, the threat from ISIS and the debate about what to do about the terrorist group could have an impact on who takes control of the U.S. Senate. A look at these polls explains why Americans today are more likely to believe that terrorists could strike again here at home than they were just a few months ago.

And some potential 2016 presidential hopefuls are already taking full advantage, talking about the issue. Today at the Conservative Value Voters Summit, the so-called ISIS impact was front and center. And the target, of course, was President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ISIS is now a threat to our consulate in Erbil. They are a threat to our embassy in Baghdad. We should act but we should act within the rule of law. The constitution says that only Congress may declare war. Yet this president has in Libya and then this week in Syria committed our sons and daughters to a war that is not authorized by Congress.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: ISIS references are also showing up in political races nationwide. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux has just returned from New Hampshire where a very tight, very critical Senate race is under way. And even there in New Hampshire, ISIS references?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Jake. It's really unbelievable. If you look at this, this is a state whose motto is, live free or die. New Hampshire voters are fiercely independent. They are suspicious of gimmicks deeply entrenched in the retail politics.

So that's lifting the hood, kicking the tires of these candidates, which is why you might be surprise that this race has turned into a dead heat because of the fear of terror and the concern over national security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): In competitive races across the country, Republicans are seizing on national security as their weapon of choice to defeat their Democratic opponents.

ANNOUNCER: These are serious times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got a very unstable world out there.

ANNOUNCER: A world in chaos and Obama's answer is weakness.

MALVEAUX: Nowhere is that more obvious than in New Hampshire.

SCOTT BROWN (R), NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE CANDIDATE: It's starting to feel like the world is on fire.

MALVEAUX: Republican challenger, Scott Brown, is using the war on ISIS to try to take down his opponent, the incumbent senator and former governor, Jean Shaheen.

BROWN: I'm not sure she realizes even now the disastrous consequences of complete withdrawal.

MALVEAUX: At a carefully orchestrated campaign event in Manchester, Brown echoed a tax he recently unleashed in his ads.

BROWN: President Obama and Senator Shaheen seem confused about the nature threat. Not me.

MALVEAUX: Shaheen despite a 54 percent favorability rating and deep ties to the state and finds herself locked in a dead heat with Brown, who moved to New Hampshire last year after losing his own Senate race in Massachusetts.

SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN (D), NEW HAMPSHIRE: He doesn't want to talk about state issues because he doesn't know about state issues.

MALVEAUX: Brown's national security strategy appears to be paying off. The threat of ISIS is especially personal to New Hampshire voters because the two American journalists who were beheaded by ISIS have ties to the granite state.

Steven Sotloff attended a boarding school there. James Foley grew up in Rochester. Shaheen, who sits on both the foreign relations and armed services committees, accuses Brown of fear mongering.

SHAHEEN: He's grandstanding for political purposes. This is a time when that's not helpful.

MALVEAUX (on camera): Can you respond to your opponent who says you're using this war for a political game?

BROWN: My comments speak for myself.

MALVEAUX: Can you respond to your opponent who says you don't have a record in New Hampshire to run on?

(voice-over): So far, Brown appears far more eager to nationalize the election, portraying Shaheen and President Obama who has a 60 percent disapproval rate here, as one in the same.

BROWN: She has a record that can be readily summed up in one single number -- 99, 99 percent. That's how often Senator Shaheen votes in support of any policy of the Obama administration, whatever it is.

SHAHEEN: Scott Brown is just wrong and he's not running against the president. He's running against me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: I talked to voters in New Hampshire. Many who do say that ISIS and national security, they are concerned, and they want a change from Shaheen. But just as many voters say they want good jobs, higher pay and local security, just the ability to walk home at night.

What was overwhelming, the number of voters who were suspicious of Scott Brown for moving from Massachusetts to run in New Hampshire. Many saw that, Jake, as opportunistic.

TAPPER: And yet a dead heat right now.

MALVEAUX: A dead heat. Six weeks to see which way this is going to swing and it all depends on which message you're listening to. It's almost as if they're running two different races on parallel tracks. One on national security, the other on domestic issues.

TAPPER: Fascinating race. Suzanne Malveaux, great work. Thank you so much.

Our Money Lead now, Ford is recalling 850,000 vehicles because of a glitch with their airbag technology. Software that controls the airbags could cause a short circuit and that could make them deploy late in those vital seconds during a crash.

Recent models of the Ford C-Max Ford Fusion and Escape and the Lincoln MKZ are all being recalled. Ford says it will replace faulty control modules at no charge to customers. A spokesman says the company is not aware of any accidents due to the faulty software.

You've got mail may soon become, you've got groceries. The U.S. Postal Services is applying for permission to deliver milk, eggs and all your favorite pre-packaged products right to your door before you even wake up.

Under a pilot program, grocers could team up with the post office to deliver goods. Retailers would drop off their orders at the post office overnight and letter carriers would deliver them in the early morning hours.

Amazon's tested the home deliveries with the post office in some areas of San Francisco and this new program would expand that testing to other cities. The postal service hopes new revenue from the deliveries will help it recoup billions of dollars in annual losses.

Coming up on THE LEAD, it's something you almost never hear about when we talk about the struggles of troops, single moms coming home from the battlefield. We'll talk to the Hollywood actress who's bringing one incredible story to the screen.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. In our Pop Culture Lead today, coming home from war to a child who hardly knows you and knowing that before too long, you'll probably be leaving again, are you picturing a father?

Our guest today, Michelle Monaghan stars in the new film "Fort Bliss" that highlights the struggle of female service members to strike a balance between their roles as soldiers and their roles as moms.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I reenlisted.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I was in theater, I reenlisted.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why would you do that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I'm good at my job.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Look at me!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can see you, buddy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maggie, I don't believe you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's the thing. If a guy has to go away to work, nobody questions it. But if a woman leaves her family to go to work, she's a bad mother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Michelle Monaghan joins us now. It's really tough to watch, I have to say and probably even tougher to portray. Your character is proud, diligent, she's an army medic. But the film focuses a lot on what she faces as a parent. It's not at all your typical war movie.

MICHELLE MONAGHAN, ACTRESS, "FORT BLISS": It's not. It's original in the sense that we're focusing on the struggles that the family incurs. This is a woman who is very devoted to her country, but she's also a devoted mother.

And moms are coming home from deployments, multiple deployments and are faced with having to reconnect with their children. And their children not necessarily even recognizing them. So they're really struggling a lot. And that movie -- this movie sheds light on that.

TAPPER: In fact, there was a recent study from the disabled American veterans showing that as lacking as this country is when it comes to providing support for male veterans, it's even worse for female veterans. Your character goes through so much in this film, war, death, sexual assault.

But what I found so interesting is that unlike other war movies, the central dilemma really is about this choice that your character has, between serving and between being a mom. Here's one scene showing how her lack of connection to her son hurts her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maggie?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, he didn't want to come, all right? I tried to talk him into it. And he didn't want to come. I think he's a little bit confused right now. It's been 15 months since you've been gone. That's a long time for a little kid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Michelle, the film was shot at Fort Bliss. Amid the men and women serving there, what did they tell you about their experiences and did it inform your character at all?

MONAGHAN: It did absolutely. I spent a lot of time with female soldiers down there who are parents and they're struggling. This is a voluntary military now that we have. So these people enlist, they reenlist because they are good at their jobs and they are devoted.

They have a real strong sense of duty and these women are oftentimes sort of judged, I think, as bad mothers because they decide to go to work and not stay home. And so I think that these women really want to be acknowledged and recognized for their service.

But also for being devoted parents and knowing that they still can parent long distance and that there are struggles reintegrating back into society and into their families. But yet it's still a very honorable and respectable thing to do.

TAPPER: Michelle Monaghan, it is a great film. I really hope it gets a big audience. Thank you so much. Best of luck with it.

MONAGHAN: Thank you very much, Jake.

TAPPER: "Fort Bliss" is in theaters and on demand now. I do recommend that you see, it's very moving.

It's the cult classic that launched the Hollywood careers of stars Julia Roberts and Matt Damon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to be slinging pizza for the rest of my life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The best pizza!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: But now the actual pizza parlor on which the movie was based, "Mystic Pizza," is in trouble for stiffing its employees. The Connecticut Department of Labor says the restaurant has underpaid its workers by more than $100,000. Some earned less than minimum wage and they did not get overtime pay.

In the movie, Julia Roberts enjoyed a happy ending, well, maybe not so much for Mystic Pizza, the restaurant. It's been fined $23,000 and ordered to pay the back wages.

That's it for THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. I now turn you over to Brianna Keilar. She is filling for Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM." Have a great weekend -- Brianna.