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The Lead with Jake Tapper

New Poll Shows Hillary Still Front-Runner for 2016; Controversies Cast Shadow on Fraternity Culture; Charles and Camilla Arrive for Whirlwind DC Tour. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired March 18, 2015 - 16:30   ET

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

[16:30:12] After the 2012 attack on the U.S. mission at Benghazi, the Obama administration has upgraded its diplomatic security measures.

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: It's not lost on the global jihadi movement that the attack on Benghazi created a media sensation in the United States, and they will be trying to repeat that kind of media sensation, because it's useful for them for propaganda purposes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: As for that apparent threat to Ambassador Kennedy, Japanese media reporting, they are saying that it was phoned in by an English-speaking man. But authorities at this point either don't know or are not saying at this point who that person could be -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Jim Acosta at the White House, thank you.

And in our politics lead, she's not even officially running, but Hillary Clinton is still blowing away the competition. We have our brand-new CNN/ORC poll next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:35:06] KEILAR: Welcome back to THE LEAD.

Time for the politics lead. A new CNN/ORC poll out today leaving absolutely no doubt that the former secretary of state is still the unquestioned front-runner 2016. Even after two weeks of bad headlines against Democrats, she is holding a nearly 50-point advantage. She also trounces every single potential Republican opponent.

I want to bring in Bill Kristol of "The Weekly Standard." We have Karen Finney, the former deputy press secretary for Hillary Clinton, and we have CNN chief political analyst Gloria Borger.

So, we look at these numbers, they really show that Hillary Clinton, she is besting everyone here. It's a 15-point lead over Jeb Bush, 15 points over Chris Christie, 13 points over Marco Rubio. She's got 14 on Mike Huckabee, 16 on Ben Carson, 15 on Scott Walker. Rand Paul coming the closest here, he's within 11 points of her. That's not great striking distance. But you look at these, Gloria, is this about name recognition,

although you could argue Jeb Bush has some, or is it just -- what is it? People want to elect her? Does it matter? It's so far out.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: You're welcome. It's hard to know what it's about, but everybody wants whatever it is, because Hillary Clinton is doing unbelievably well. In her own party, she has an 86 percent favorability rating. Who has that? I don't have that in my own family, much less in...

(LAUGHTER)

KEILAR: I know you do, actually.

(CROSSTALK)

BILL KRISTOL, EDITOR, "THE WEEKLY STANDARD": Of course you do.

BORGER: But this is not only running as a popular incumbent. This shows you why every Democrat has been afraid of her. Every Democrat has been afraid to line up against her. You had the sitting vice president who has just 15 percent support. And so we wonder why more candidates haven't come out against her? This is why, in her own party.

KAREN FINNEY, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE: I would also say what's interesting is that this poll is consistent with what we saw last week as well in that she was very strong in the Gallup poll.

And then also Pew had a poll which suggested that there is really a partisan breakdown in terms of who was paying attention to the e- mail story, which -- and the one issue that everybody was paying attention to is the economy.

I do think that that suggests the e-mail story is a bit of an inside Washington story. It's not resonating as much outside of the Beltway and people still like Hillary Clinton and they want to see what she would do in the context of a campaign before they would make a different decision.

KEILAR: Is that an issue, Bill, of where we are and that a lot of Americans aren't really paying attention at this moment? The e- mail controversy, is it over or could this come back to hurt her later?

KRISTOL: I guess Republicans are going to have to draft Bibi Netanyahu to run against Hillary Clinton.

(LAUGHTER)

KRISTOL: He's shown an ability to come back against favorites.

FINNEY: Unify the Republicans.

KRISTOL: Totally. I think he would win a Republican primary if there were one soon.

I am a little -- I don't know about the e-mail story. I think it has got some potential. It's kind of amazing what she did. But we will see if it truly -- we will see what comes out in terms what have the truth -- how did she set it up? Did she sign whatever forms?

But I would say what the poll tells me, I'm a little spooked, as someone who intends to imagine himself to be voting for a Republican in 2016, by Hillary Clinton's numbers, by her lead over those Republicans.

Part of it, she's so famous. Part of it is right now the Republicans don't have much of an agenda. What it tells me is, Republicans cannot win in 2016 by just being not Hillary Clinton or not Barack Obama. They might if the country just falls apart totally. I suppose they might just kind of back their way into victory.

But they need to have a serious, positive, conservative, reform agenda. And it puts more pressure on the Republican presidential candidates to come up with one. And I can't say they have been doing that, much of that yet, but it's early; it's early.

BORGER: But Hillary Clinton also -- have a serious positive reform agenda, and I don't think we have seen that from Hillary Clinton. Obviously, she hasn't declared her candidacy, et cetera, et cetera, but I think she needs to also have a rationale for running beyond, it's my turn, it's my time.

KRISTOL: Don't you think her huge lead is going to make her more cautious and defensive?

(CROSSTALK)

KRISTOL: It's a mixed blessing for someone like that.

BORGER: That's a problem for her, although who would turn down that lead?

KRISTOL: No, I agree.

FINNEY: Also, what's interesting about these numbers -- we were just talking about this before -- is this is about where she was when she -- in 2008, at the end. So she's starting from a pretty good point.

I don't think -- I think you are going to see her come out, whether it's April, whether it's whenever, with a pretty strong agenda. I do think that you are going to see a different candidate than you saw before, at least from what I'm hearing.

I think what's interesting for Republicans, though, is with these kind of numbers, where they are so clustered together, it's going to be who can break out, who is going to raise the money to actually then break out from the pack?

BORGER: Jeb Bush. (CROSSTALK)

KEILAR: And to be clear, Hillary Clinton is in a much better place than she was this time in the 2008 cycle for sure. She is in a much better place.

(CROSSTALK)

KRISTOL: With one exception. The Democrat in 2008 was going to run against the legacy of the Bush administration.

KEILAR: True.

KRISTOL: And the Republican this time...

(CROSSTALK)

KEILAR: Gets to run with the legacy of the Democrats.

(CROSSTALK)

KRISTOL: She has to run with the legacy of the Obama administration.

BORGER: She is not in as good a place as she was when she was secretary of state. When she was secretary of state...

(CROSSTALK)

BORGER: What this shows now -- again, nobody -- everyone envies these numbers -- but What this shows now is that people are regarding her as a politician, not as somebody above politics, secretary of state.

[16:40:13] And the e-mail issue, I think the way this affects the campaign coming up is that transparency becomes an issue, because if Republicans want to use it against her, then they have to be transparent themselves.

(CROSSTALK)

KRISTOL: And Bibi should just release all the e-mails.

(CROSSTALK)

KRISTOL: Look, he can be prime minister for another year. Then he moves here. Take care of Iran. Then he just moves here.

(CROSSTALK)

FINNEY: ... becomes just about Benghazi.

(CROSSTALK)

KEILAR: Definitely going to have to be.

All right, Karen, thanks so much.

Bill, thank you.

Gloria, as always, thank you.

Coming up next: another fraternity in trouble, this time over a secret Facebook site that included offensive and perhaps even criminal images of women. And now some say that it's time to really rethink whether frats belong on college campuses at all.

Plus, they were probably the only tourists on the National Mall not holding up selfie sticks. We will show you how the royals are living it up and letting loose in D.C.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:45:03] KEILAR: Welcome back to THE LEAD.

The national lead: pictures of naked girls lying unconscious with demeaning captions, photos of drug sales and hazing rituals. Police say those were among the disturbing images found on a Facebook page linked to the Penn State chapter of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity. And this is just one case in what's become a string of embarrassing and vile incidents linked to fraternities across the U.S. in recent weeks.

CNN's Sara Ganim reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than just bad fraternity behavior, this could be criminal. Police are investigating the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity at Penn State for these photos that members allegedly posted to an invitation only private Facebook page -- photos of women who appear to be passed out, partially naked. Others in compromising, embarrassing positions with comments from brothers like this one, "LOL, delete those or we will be on CNN in a week." Well, here you are.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are looking for any victims, any potential victims to come forward and contact the state college police department and come forward so that we can do one of two things. We can aid in the identification of any perpetrators that will aid us in the investigation and prosecution of anybody responsible for these despicable acts.

GANIM: Police say some of those responsible are current students and some are alumni, and it's one of those alum who blew the whistle, going back to police with screenshots like this one, depicting a naked woman passed out. Police say other photos show illicit drug sales and this one of brothers showing their bare butts police say is a hazing incident.

The fraternity was swiftly suspended for a year. Penn State saying the conduct was, quote, "highly inappropriate and appalling, offensive and inconsistent with the university community's values and expectations." It's just the latest example of a fraternity exposed for bad behavior.

This week, the University of Houston suspended five members of Epsilon Chi, after a hazing allegation surfaced. Police are also investigating to see if criminal charges are appropriate.

Sigma Phi Epsilon shut its doors last year at the University of Mississippi after three of its members draped a Confederate banner and placed a noose around the statue of the school's first black student.

And this horrifying video of members singing a racist chant led to the shutdown of the SAE chapter at the University of Oklahoma. Today, the national SAE organization announced an initiative to combat racial discrimination and insensitivity among its members.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We started a comprehensive investigation of all of our chapters to determine if any others have engaged in behavior similar to what we saw on the video from our former chapter at the University of Oklahoma.

GANIM: Sara Ganim, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Thank you, Sara.

And, of course, fraternities and sororities behaving badly is nothing new, right? This is an aspect of Greek life that was even celebrated in 1978 classic "Animal House".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "ANIMAL HOUSE")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys up for a toga party?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Toga! Toga!

CROWD: Toga! Toga!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Now, what we are seeing goes well beyond the lines of wild parties and beer guzzling. It's led some to question whether Greek life no longer has a place on college campuses.

And joining me to talk about this, we have Brandon Weghorst, he is the associate executive director of communications for Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

We also have Alexandra Robbins. She is the author of "Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities."

And, you know, Brandon, I mean, this is obviously a really tough time for SAE, following what happened at the University of Oklahoma. Your fraternity's very much under fire. But what do you say to those who feel that fraternity culture is really doing more harm than good?

BRANDON E. WEGHORST, ASSOC. EXEC. DIR. OF COMMUNICATIONS, SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON: It's -- when we look at the incidents or these types of things that are very shocking and it's just -- it's hard to believe how anybody could act that way, it's disheartening because I know from being in the fraternity and also, we know in the organization, all of the great things that fraternities and sororities do out there every day that just don't get recognition.

It's because they are doing the things that our founding fathers and other people who, you know, have said this is what we are about, they are living up to those expectations. When it deviates from that, that's where we see these types of instances. And it is unfortunate because it does give the entire community a black eye.

KEILAR: So, you are saying this is the exception, not the rule?

WEGHORST: I would say this is definitely the exception.

And other people have questioned, well, you say these cases are isolated, you say these are individual behaviors, but that really is the case in just about all the things that may have happened to the decades.

It's not acceptable. It doesn't make it acceptable.

[16:50:03] But, you know, most people who have been part of or still are members realize there's a lot of good to come of it and really, they have had a good experience that people out there do know the good things, they just don't always get the exposure because of other things that get the headlines.

KEILAR: What do you think, Alexandra? You think this is an anomaly, or is this -- is this the culture?

ALEXANDRA ROBBINS, AUTHOR, "PLEDGED: THE SECRET LIFE OF SORORITIES: There are an awful lot of exceptions if they are considering these exceptions. We see the same appalling headlines again and again year after year. Sure, fraternities and sororities say they are not acceptable and they aren't, but they also support an atmosphere conducive to these behaviors.

KEILAR: What do you think are some of the solutions to solving some of these issues? I mean, some people have said, you know what, Greek life needs to be taken off of campus. It needs to not be part of the college experience.

What do you think?

ROBBINS: I am almost at that point but not quite. I think there are still enough good-hearted people involved with these organizations and some good things going on that they are worth saving. However, there needs to be a complete overhaul because what's going on now just can't continue.

KEILAR: And, Brandon, I mean, how are you doing that? I know that certainly, the national organization for SAE is trying to approach this, but how do you really make a dent in this when we are seeing so many of these incidents? How do you root out the problems in the culture where you have these kids who are going to college, it's really the first time they're on their own, they have access to alcohol, that's very much a part of Greek life?

WEGHORST: We have an opportunity to be able to educate them, to give them personal and professional development, but also to say, look, there are actions that you have to be held responsible for those consequences. But if you really do believe in everything that we have put forward and you are somebody who lives up to our values and expectations, that you have to understand you are part of a bigger community.

We don't want to be at the center of this controversy but if that's what it takes in order to have the discussion which a lot are having, and an awareness of, look, this is how --

KEILAR: So, what is it, though, Brandon? Is it when they're pledging, how do you lay down the law here?

WEGHORST: Well, in our case, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, we talk about things we addressed last year at this time. Sigma Alpha Epsilon's leadership said, we're going to eliminate pledging. Does that mean we eliminate the problems that come along with some of the issues that face fraternities? No.

But just as the other initiatives we announced, the training we have done, education about sexual assault awareness and also now, of course, with today's announcement, and how we're going to talk more and tackle cultural diversity and inclusiveness, those are important things.

But ultimately, the other thing is making sure that our brothers are brothers, in addition, to anybody in the fraternity and sorority, you are responsible to watch out for each other in the sense of that when you see something going on that's really not what you stand for, you have an obligation to intervene.

KEILAR: Sure.

WEGHORST: Watching (ph) their behavior isn't going to help anybody in any particular case.

KEILAR: Sure. I see you shaking your head, Alexandra.

ROBBINS: Talk, talk, talk. They have been doing these professional development, personal development things for years and years. They do not work.

They need an overhaul. Yes, great, eliminate pledging. That's fantastic. I applaud that.

Let's also eliminate the rush process the way it is that needs to be changed. Let's change the financial commitment. Let's get rid of the fraternity houses. Oh, wait, then how would people get drunk and fall out of windows? Maybe they won't go for that. I don't know.

KEILAR: That is the final word. Alexandra, thank you so much. Brandon, really appreciate you being with us for this conversation as well.

And when we come back, royalty in D.C., Prince Charles and Camilla on a whirlwind tour of Washington. What was their most surprising stop today? They had a bunch. We'll show you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:57:54] KEILAR: Welcome back to THE LEAD.

In the buried lead: Prince Charles and the duchess of Cornwall have arrived in our nation's capital for a whirlwind tour.

Talk about March Madness, Tom Foreman. They are all over the place today.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, it's honestly remarkable what the royal couple is doing during this visit. They are racing through D.C. like 16 year olds, even though they are in their 60s, doing more things in a couple of days than many tourists would manage in an entire week.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN (voice-over): The prince of Wales and the duchess of Cornwall went out this day, they zipped by the Lincoln Memorial all smiles, and then continued on their royal way.

They quietly contemplated the statue of King and all the great changes he managed to bring, pointing and posing the way most folks do. But they're not really quite like me and you, because nearly as fast as that stop was done, they were off to the house of George Washington. Iconic, ironic, yes, that was the buzz considering how anti-British George was. Once again, there was posing, once again there was pointing, photographers snapped, it was not disappointing.

But Charles and Camilla stopped there only a bit, then like the Brits long ago, they suddenly split and it was back to D.C. for a quite special viewing of the Magna Carta at the archives, lots of ahh'ing and ooh'ing. She went to a theater named The Bard, where Shakespeare is easy and parking is hard. He continued on for his talk about trouble with marine plastic waste.

They will stop at the embassy no doubt to have tea, then a reception will follow and they did not invite me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN: It's just as well because I'm not sure I could keep up.

Tomorrow is just as bad. They will visit more tourist sites, a charter school, and stop by the Oval Office to chat with President Obama before jetting off to Kentucky. If this were a game of cards, we would call this a royal flash. But then again, I think Prince Harry has already grabbed that title for a couple of his stunts, Brianna.

KEILAR: Pretty amazing, Tom Foreman. I didn't know you were so good at rhyming.

FOREMAN: Well, you know, it brings out the Brit in me.

(LAUGHTER)

KEILAR: Oh my goodness! Tom, thank you so much.

That's it for THE LEAD. I'm Brianna Keilar, in for Jake Tapper.

I turn you over now to Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM".