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Hawks GM Accused of Racist Remarks; Obama and Top Lawmakers to Strategize on ISIS; Ray Rice Firing Not Enough

Aired September 09, 2014 - 10:30   ET

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

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We learned from the team's CEO, Steve Koonin, that a severe punishment has been levied against Ferry but here's the thing, we don't know what that punishment is. The organization is keeping it private, saying that it's a private matter. So look, it's caused a lot of outrage in the community and certainly Hawks fans around the country.

Here's what Atlanta's mayor, Kasim Reed, had to say about all of it. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR KASIM REED, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: I don't think that they could be more inappropriate or out of place in a city that prides itself on embracing inclusion and diversity. And I'm very pleased with his decision to move on and I'm very pleased with the NBA's speedy attempt to resolve this matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Atlanta's mayor dealing with this just as he dealt, again, with another case of the Atlanta Braves moving out to the suburbs, Carol, to cater to the white fan base there. So certainly a developing situation with the different sports teams here in Atlanta.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You got that right. George Howell -- thanks so much. I appreciate it.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, President Obama has to lay out his plan to defeat ISIS, but there could be ISIS terrorists walking around the United States right now? We'll talk about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: President Barack Obama will lay out his plan to combat ISIS to the nation tomorrow. Some lawmakers are more than ready to listen -- they're ready to go to war. Senator James Inhofe has already drawn up legislation authorizing the President to use military action to fight ISIS anywhere in the world. The thing is, the President has not asked for such legislation and most likely won't.

Some food for thought now: according too a new CNN/ORC poll, Americans believe ISIS is nearly as serious of a threat as al Qaeda was back in 2003 and they believe ISIS may already be here walking among us. More than seven in ten Americans believe ISIS has terrorists inside the United States, 71 percent think that.

Let's talk about that. Will Cain is a CNN political commentator and a columnist for "The Blaze"; Robert Zimmerman a Democratic strategist. Welcome to you both.

WILL CAIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good morning.

COSTELLO: I was shocked by that statistic that 71 percent of Americans think ISIS already walk among us. There's no evidence for that frankly, from any expert that we've ever had on the air. So why do they think that, Will?

CAIN: Well, I don't think why they think that. Of course we don't know if ISIS is walking amongst us. What we know and what would I guess be leading people, that 71 percent, towards that conclusion is we hear Congressmen from Peter King to Dianne Feinstein talking about this being an imminent threat to our country. We have ISIS itself saying "We're coming for you. We're coming to the White House. We're coming to New York."

We have those things. And then I'd say as a third piece of evidence we have these American jihadists that have gone off to join ISIS from places like Minnesota and California which is extremely terrifying.

ZIMMERMAN: And that's the most critical piece of the equation.

CAIN: But does it add up? Does it add up to thinking they're here? The simple conclusion must be we don't know.

ZIMMERMAN: But we also have to be prepared and that's the point that's most important and while I certainly don't encourage fear -- this type of fear-mongering or making policy from fear, the reality is as long as you do have Americans who are jihadists carrying American passports and Europeans who are jihadists caring European passports with access to our country we have to develop a policy that's preparing for that potential.

COSTELLO: But it still seems like Americans have whipped themselves into a frenzy right at the moment. And the President is going to lay out his strategy tomorrow and he has to take that into account, doesn't he?

ZIMMERMAN: I think we're being very deliberative though -- Carol about it. If you look at the poll, the country is clearly not committed to troops on the ground. And certainly we have --

COSTELLO: More and more so they are, actually, according to this poll.

ZIMMERMAN: But the point is they still -- having learned from the experience of Iraq there's a recognition that troops on the ground are not going to be the answer. But coalition building is taking place, it's a longer, more deliberative policy, more deliberative strategy but we learned from the tragic errors of our government during the Iraq invasion of 2003. The only way to truly beat them -- beat ISIS is by bringing in the Sunni tribes and bringing in the Arab countries to work with our allies.

CAIN: Well, the other part of only -- the only way to truly beat them is to cross that Iraqi border into Syria. And right now I don't know that President Obama has a domestic coalition and certainly not an international coalition that will allow him to do that. That's the third component we expect to hear from President Obama. We have to go into Syria.

I don't know that he has the backing to do that even though it may be necessary.

COSTELLO: I don't know if it's wise at this moment to go into Syria -- right? Don't we have to take care of Iraq first?

ZIMMERMAN: It's important to -- look, obviously Syria's become a safe haven for many ISIS members. And when they're beat back through our aerial strikes in Iraq, they can -- the border is very porous, almost nonexistent between the two countries. But I think what's really critical here in terms of developing strategy is to understand unless the Sunni tribes are engaged in this process, unless the Arab states are engaged in this process along with our European allies we can not successfully beat back ISIS. If we go it alone we'll become a recruiting tactic for al Qaeda and ISIS as was the case during Iraq.

CAIN: Look Carol, I have been someone who's largely been a non- interventionist in most of these circles and I've said if you're going to do something, make sure you clearly identify an American national security interest. I think this helps explain those polls.

When Americans watch other Americans beheaded on television, there's a concept called Pax Americana. And it essentially boils down to if you touch one of us we come and touch you. It's not just to teach a lesson, it's about the simple standard we set that you will not hurt Americans. Those polls will move because of things like that. And that's a real interest.

We will go get ISIS because it did that, because it threatens Americans. And does more than threatens Americans, it's living up to those threats.

COSTELLO: Ok. So when all is said and done and the president takes to the podium tomorrow night, Robert, just briefly, what does he need to say?

ZIMMERMAN: What the President has to do is lay out for the country a very clear, definitive strategy and goal with his policy and he's begun that process already. And in fact we're really at a very unique moment in our country's recent history because there is a coming together. There is a sense of unity you're seeing from the congressional leadership and actually from the public at large to recognize there is a serious threat here, we have to come together as a country.

And I think now the next step is for the President to not to engage in the extremist rhetoric we heard. Remember mission accomplished and Bush saying our role is to end tyranny throughout the world. We've got to avoid the kind of overhype rhetoric but talk in a very pragmatic, broad way.

COSTELLO: See, you just injected partisanship into a beautiful sentiment.

ZIMMERMAN: No, I injected history, Carol, into an important lesson?

COSTELLO: I know, but if you are saying that there are signs that America is drawing together then you can't mention the Bush mistakes of the past.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm not suggesting he should say that. I'm saying his rhetoric has to avoid that mistake.

CAIN: Yes, but he needs to set out a clear goal that Americans can understand and get behind because the suggestions are if he wants to destroy ISIS that could take up to 36 months, extend beyond his presidency. Three years committed to destroying ISIS, you better sell the American people on the necessity and doability of that prospect.

ZIMMERMAN: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: Robert Zimmerman, Will Cain -- thanks so much.

ZIMMERMAN: Good to be with you.

COSTELLO: Appreciate it.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the Baltimore Ravens giving Ray Rice the boot. But one senator says "No way, that is not enough." His target: the NFL. Senator Richard Blumenthal joins me live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Vice President Joe Biden is speaking out about the Ray Rice controversy. He tells NBC the Ravens did the right thing by letting him go. Of course it's all over this elevator video that shows Rice punching and knocking out his then fiancee and now wife Janay back in February.

Listen to Joe Biden.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So you know, the first reason the NFL responded in my view, there's so many women fans in this billion-dollar industry. So all of a sudden they said wait a minute, he got suspended for a couple games. That's not enough.

And they got a little more sensitized and then it was longer and then when the video was out there and saw how brutal it was, the Ravens did the right thing, fired him immediately.

You can argue they should have done it sooner. They didn't want it. Whatever the reason is, it's happening.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: By the way, Biden is scheduled to speak later today at a Washington reception marking the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act.

Joining me now is Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Welcome, sir.

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D), CONNECTICUT: Hi Carol. Thank you.

COSTELLO: Thanks for being here. You say Ray Rice's firing is not enough. Explain.

BLUMENTHAL: Not nearly enough because the rules are the same. Ray Rice under even the new rules that the NFL has issued would probably be given a six-game suspension because it is his first offense, supposedly. Now my feeling is these rules ought to be much stronger, stiffer, tougher, and they ought to be enforced more rigorously.

The NFL is failing to set a good example for the American public and the Ravens, by the way, in my view, performed just as badly by, in effect, stage managing an appearance by Janay who then apologized and they tweeted her apology, outrageously and incredibly, an apology for being knocked unconscious. This kind of apology is classic.

COSTELLO: I can't disagree with anything you've said and I know your heart is in the right place. But you think Congress should get involved. Must Congress get involved in everything?

BLUMENTHAL: Congress can't change the culture of the NFL which is really reflective of the rules and the rules need to be stiffened. And Congress can't legislate new rules that impose stronger penalties and punishment on wife batterers or domestic violence perpetrators. And by the way, this assault was a criminal act and Congress can do more about criminalities when it comes to domestic violence.

COSTELLO: So what are you suggesting Congress do?

BLUMENTHAL: Well, the NFL enjoys certain tax treatments, maybe it ought to be tax incentives for stronger penalties. The NFL has certain privileges in terms of communications, the federal communications laws maybe used as an incentive. But I'm more focused on what the NFL can and should do voluntarily.

And I agree with you, Carol, Congress may have a limited role here. It's really the fans who should demand of the NFL and the teams that they impose stronger sanctions more quickly and enforce more rigorously.

COSTELLO: But you know as well as I do that the NFL has strong representation in the form of lobbyists on Capitol Hill. And they lobby both sides of the aisle -- Democrats and Republicans -- they're very strong and they spend a lot of money. Is anything likely to change in light of that? BLUMENTHAL: I think things are changing Carol. I've worked on this

issue for decades as attorney general in the state of Connecticut. I sought to enforce laws that prevented as well as punished abuse of exactly this kind, domestic violence that harms not only women but also children.

And my feeling is that awareness is growing. We celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Violence against Women Act and the Vice President is going to be speaking later today about it. I think that the NFL has a real opportunity, a historic challenge here to send a message, stiffen the rules. Increase the penalties even more. And I hope that Roger Goodell will decide that they can be ahead of the curve not behind it as they've been on the Ray Rice issue.

COSTELLO: Should there be a change in leadership? Because, you know, a piece of the "Washington Post" says Condoleezza Rice is really the person who could save the NFL. Years ago, as you know, she admitted it would be her dream job.

Listen to her talk about it over the years on "Meet the Press".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM RUSSERT, FORMER HOST NBC NEWS HOST: In your next life you want to be commissioner of the NFL?

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Right. I think the NFL is really a terrific institution. I'd love to be associated with it.

Tim, I'm going off to be commissioner of if NFL, remember?

I think Paul Tagliabue is doing a fine job as NFL commissioner but I look forward to the day that he decides to retire and I very much think that the best job in America has to be NFL commissioner.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ok, so it is time for a woman at the helm? Should Roger Goodell step aside for Condoleezza Rice?

BLUMENTHAL: The focus here really ought to be not who's running the NFL but what is she or he doing. And Roger Goodell can do the right thing here by stiffening the penalties and changing the culture.

Remember, the Ravens put Janay Rice on a platform to apologize, that is classically what victims do -- blame themselves. And the courage and strength that is required to break this cycle --

COSTELLO: But maybe, Senator, a woman in charge of the NFL might have realized that and it may not have happened?

BLUMENTHAL: That may well be and if that's the reason that Condoleezza Rice becomes NFL commissioner, not that it's her dream job, all the better. But I have great respect for her. I think that the present leadership of the NFL should be required to do the right thing. COSTELLO: All right. Senator Richard Blumenthal, thanks so much for

joining me. I appreciate it.

BLUMENTHAL: Thank you. Thank you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: I'm going to talk about the latest fashion trend in just a minute but first I want you to see this finding from a new Harvard study of the widening disparity between the haves and the have-nots in this country. The Harvard study warns struggling citizens are disgruntled at work, frugal at the cash register and anti-business at the ballot box. It further warns this country's wealth divide is unsustainable.

Keep that in mind as you consider the latest fashion trend to sweep the runways this week. It's called Normcore. Don't know what that is? Well, look at this gap ad and it will give you an idea.

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO: See, there you have it. Normcore, no logos, no frills, no red soles on high heels, plain ordinary nothing to draw attention to. Let's talk about this.

Our business correspondent Alison Kosik is here and fashion blogger Lizzie Garrett Mettler is joining us from L.A. Welcome to you both.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hello.

LIZZIE GARRETT METTLER, FASHION BLOGGER: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Hello. I can't wait to talk about this. Lizzie, first you, Normcore looks like what regular people already wear, not a fashion statement. Am I wrong?

METTLER: That's correct. It's a really complex issue in the fashion world right now because the origins of Normcore are a little bit unclear. Did it start from a trend forecasting firm? Did it start as an in-joke between hipsters trying to top each other for the more shocking element in fashion? We don't really know.

But what I think is important and what you were talking about earlier is that most Americans still have the great recession in front of mind. They aren't looking for fashion where they have to really strive to own an it bag or, you know, put off their rent for a month to be at the height of fashion.

So I think Normcore is really, you know, something to take note of and maybe celebrate in the fashion industry that usually doesn't give us things that are accessible and practical and even comfortable.

COSTELLO: So Alison, this is about really conspicuous consumption is out? KOSIK: I don't know if it's really that. I mean you think about

what's happening at Fashion Week. I've been covering Fashion Week for a couple of days now and really a lot of what I've seen is ridiculous and these fashion designers a lot realize that they are putting the ridiculous out there. But I think these shows are a lot about promotion. It's like one big trade show and I think these fashion designers wind up putting out tens of thousands of dollars out there for these shows to get that promotion and then they make them into wearable clothing where you see at boutiques and at department stores and they do take that price point down.

So I think a lot of these stores, you see H&M, Target, they have these knockoffs of these high fashion that you see on the runway that are at a better price point.

COSTELLO: So it's like a business decision to make money -- to make everybody look middle-class -- it's just --

KOSIK: Oh, you're talking about Normcore?

COSTELLO: Yes, Normcore, the underlying message there.

KOSIK: Yes. I mean with Normcore I think what you're seeing is actually a chance to actually be comfortable in what you're wearing. You know, how many times have you put on a pair of heels and they're really uncomfortable but you say, you know what, I'm going to wear them anyway even if they're uncomfortable.

Normcore takes it so you're just wearing sort of that Costco T-shirt, that Patagonia sweatshirt and your white sneakers and you put kind of your own twist in it. And a lot of it with Normcore I think is wearing it with confidence and that confidence, of course, helps your pocketbook as well.

COSTELLO: So Lizzie, there's no underlying message here as, you know, you're lashed like the hipsters are lashing out at the establishment so to speak or the wealthy or the upper class?

METTLER: You know, I don't think so. I think the general public is actually really hungry for a trend like this. Like I was saying before, it's something that people can actually be in style and afford and, you know, be comfortable. And I think that's sort of a win-win. Usually the fashion industry doesn't really give us all those options all at once. So I think, you know, part of it is people are more conscious of, you know, saving up their money to pay their rent or pay their mortgage these days instead of sort of leveraging things to get that status symbol that they are trying to strive for.

COSTELLO: That's awesome. I really like this new generation. They're so much smarter than mine.

KOSIK: And besides, who would wear those things on the runway anyway, right? Who would wear them?

COSTELLO: Alison Kosik, Lizzie Garrett Mettler --

METTLER: It's true.

COSTELLO: -- thanks so much for being with me. I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Checking your top stories at 59 minutes pass. A report just released on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 says there's no proof the flight data recorders were tampered with. Remember the boxes weren't given to investigators for days because pro-Russian rebels took control of the crash site. Nearly 300 people were killed when the plane was shot down in July.

And Ferguson, Missouri is changing the way it handles police reviews. The action comes after last month's police killing of an unarmed black teenager. The city council announced it's adding a citizen review board and will make major changes to the court system.

Thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.

"@THIS HOUR WITH BERMAN AND MICHAELA" starts now.