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Analysis of State of the Union Speech; Tensions Ease Between U.S. and Cuba; Interview with Rep. Keith Ellison

Aired January 21, 2015 - 08:30   ET

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

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to NEW DAY. Let's break down the president's State of the Union Address and his ambitious agenda. And also, let's do a little fact checking. Joining us live from Washington is Ana Navarro, she's a CNN political commentator and Republican strategist, and Jay Carney is CNN's senior political commentator and President Obama's former White House press secretary.

I can tell you guys are feisty this morning, even though you may be tired from watching the speech. OK, let's talk about one of the things that the president was trumpeting last night. He was talking about the economy. I will read to you what he said. "The shadow of crisis has passed and the state of the union is strong.

Ana, do you take that at face value? Is the economic crisis over?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, you know, Alisyn, there's been like 67 State of the Unions and I can't remember, at least in my lifetime, anybody coming out and saying, the state of the union is weak. So, you know, that's part of what a president needs to do, come out and pump the economy, pump what's happening and frankly pump up the American people.

I think one of the problems and one of the frustrations for President Obama is that despite the fact that there's been some good job numbers, it hasn't quite translated to optimism within the American people and it's part of what he has to do. We need to get consumer confidence back up. It's an important part of the economy. I think that's what he was doing last night.

CAMEROTA: In fact, Jay, not just consumer confidence, but the labor participation rate that we've talked so much about is down. It is at 62.7 percent. That is the lowest level since 1978. So how can President Obama say the shadow of crisis has passed?

JAY CARNEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, because we have the strongest economy we've had in our nation since Bill Clinton was president. It doesn't mean it's strong enough. It doesn't mean we still don't have issues, especially wage stagnation for the middle class. But there's no question that, you know, the economy's growing faster, it's creating more jobs, the markets are doing very well, unemployment is down to 5.6 percent. Remember when Governor Romney and Paul Ryan were running against President Obama in 2012. Romney promised that if he were elected president, he would bring unemployment down below 6 percent in his first term. Well, President Obama did it two years early. Now -- CAMEROTA: Yes, but, of course, that unemployment number is misleading

because when you calculate in the labor participation rate, it's not as rosy as you would think - that that makes it sound.

CARNEY: Right. But, Alisyn, Alisyn, we have our largest generation in history retiring. So a big chunk of that has to do with the baby boom generation retiring. But you're absolutely right, we're not where we need to be yet, but are we on the right track? No question.

Look, when I was in the White House, every year we would have this debate about how optimistic could the president be, could we be about the signs of economic growth because, don't forget, we've been growing out of the recession for five years, but it has been painfully slow. And every year, until now, the debate has ended with the decision not to overly trumpet the economy, to recognize that it wasn't doing well enough. But I think - I think we've turned a corner economically. We're clearly the strongest and fittest nation on earth right now economically and the president needs to remind the American people that we're headed in the right direction.

CAMEROTA: Let's talk about what the president said about the war on terrorism overseas and in particular fighting ISIS. Here's what he said last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In Syria, American leadership, including our military power, is stopping ISIL's advance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Ana, is that overstating the case, stopping ISIS, as we call in in the media, have we stopped their advance or are they still taking hostages as we saw this week with the video of two Japanese hostages who they're demanding ransom for?

NAVARRO: Well, I think, you know, we definitely have not obliterated ISIL and it's still around, it's still a problem, it's still a big threat. I do think it was one of the bipartisan moments in that speech and one where he can find support both from Democrats and Republicans who were sitting there because we are all united in the fight against terror. And I think that's what we saw over and over again yesterday from President Obama, where it was sticks and carrots. We saw him say some things that Republicans didn't like. We saw him say some things that Republicans did like and vice versa when it comes to Democrats. He also said things that I think his own party didn't like very much.

CAMEROTA: Jay, I mean, of course they're united in the effort to fight ISIS, but when the president said we've -- we're stopping ISIL's advance, is that a bit of a mission accomplished moment?

CARNEY: Well, no, I think stopping the advance is a long way from defeating ISIL. I think he's speaking very specifically about ISIL or ISIS's advance into Iraq and that has not -- they haven't made up any more ground. And, in fact, they've been halted, but absolutely the case that this is an ongoing effort that will take a long time. And I think that if we look at where there are potential problem areas

for the president this year, things that could take people's attention away from a stronger economy, it's a flare-up of problems in Iraq, the requirement to commit more U.S. resources to that effort. Americans are still very tired of and exhausted by fighting two wars for more than a decade and I think that's potentially a problem.

CAMEROTA: Ana, what surprised you last night?

NAVARRO: You know, I was surprised he didn't make a bigger case for immigration. It got a very minor pronouncement, a very minor mention in when - in his - in -- amidst his veto threats when he said, you know, don't try to mess with the executive action because if you send me a law that does that, I will veto it. But I didn't see a proposal from him. I didn't hear a push to get something done. So I think, to me, it was almost an acceptance that maybe nothing will get done in this Congress and that what he will leave as part of his legacy will be this executive action if it doesn't get overturned by the court.

I also was surprised by his tone. I think I saw it almost as President Obama, he said he wasn't on campaign, but I saw it as President Obama being on campaign. And part of it is a campaign for his base. The numbers are going up for President Obama's approval, and it's not because any Republican has -- is approving more of him now than they were before. It's because I think some of his base has come back as a result of the things he has done, the executive actions he's taken on issues like immigration, issues like Cuba, the Keystone veto, things that his base likes.

CAMEROTA: And, Jay, some people, I mean, in the post-game analysis this morning, people are calling his tone defiant, combative. Are those fair characterizations of last night?

CARNEY: I think defiant, certainly. I think he's feeling great. There's no question about it. After, you know, a terrible midterm election for him and his party, he acted decisively, demonstrated that he's not just going to, you know, sleepwalk through the last two years of his presidency. He's acted on Cuba. He's acted on immigration. He's acted on climate change. And, most importantly, we are seeing real strong signs in the economy that I think explain why some of those numbers have moved back. "Washington Post" poll, ABC poll yesterday put him at 50 percent, the highest approval rating since 2013. You know, I think that you cannot under estimate the link between how people are feeling about the economy and the approval they give to the president, the person in the White House.

CAMEROTA: Yes. Jay Carney, Ana Navarro, you guys can go get some sleep now. We know you were up late. Thanks so much for being on NEW DAY.

NAVARRO: Thanks, Alisyn.

CARNEY: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Let us know what you think of the president's speech. You can tweet us @newday or go to facebook.com/newday.

Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Yemen is on the edge of being overrun by insurgents. U.S. embassy personnel are still there. The first elected Muslim in Congress, he's going to talk to us about what the U.S. should do there and his reaction to the State of the Union. That's ahead.

Plus, history in the making, my friends. Cold War era tensions between Cuba and the U.S. may begin to thaw starting today with the start of diplomatic talks. We'll go to live reports from Havana for you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Welcome back. This is your NEW DAY.

And today is the beginning of a new era for U.S./Cuba relations. Patrick Oppmann is following the big meetings taking place in Havana starting today. Joining us from the place itself, Patrick, what do we know?

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

You know, we're hearing that just moments ago the U.S. delegation arrived at the government facility where negotiations over the next three days will take place beginning the first day of these historic talks where officials from Cuba and the U.S. will really begin to thaw five decades of icy relations, talk about how they can begin to open up embassies in Washington, D.C., in Havana, the nuts and bolts of getting that done. And the bigger issues, the U.S. embargo that President Barack Obama called on Congress to lift last night. So we know this is going to be a long process, Chris. It's going to take months, if not longer, but it's finally beginning. And it's really quite striking to hear for the first time both Cuban and U.S. officials talk about when not if a U.S. embassy will be reopened in Havana.

Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, let's take a look at those five things you need to know for your new day.

At number one, rebels appear on the verge of a coup in Yemen. They have taken control of the presidential palace, ramping up concerns that terror groups could exploit the chaos. Two U.S. Navy warships are in position to evacuate Americans if necessary.

President Obama hits the road today to sell his State of the Union agenda. First stop, Boise, Idaho, to promote tax hikes on the wealthy and tax breaks for the middle class.

CNN has learned exclusively, and CNN has obtained video of Amedy Coulibaly and his wife outside a Jewish institution in Paris. Sources tell CNN the couple may have been searching for potential terror targets for several months. The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine meeting with their

counterparts from France and Germany in search of a diplomatic solution to the worsening crisis in eastern Ukraine.

ESPN reports 11 of the 12 footballs used by the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC title game were under inflated by two pounds per square inch. No comment from the NFL.

We do update those five things to know. Be sure to visit newdaycnn.com for the latest.

Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Michaela, back to our top story.

A crucial U.S. ally on the verge of collapse. Does Yemen's deteriorating security pose a risk to the U.S. We will talk to Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Yemen, a critical American ally in the Mid East, is on the verge of collapse. A rebel group has staged an attempted coup and earned control of the presidential palace. Yemen is home to the al Qaeda affiliate known as AQAP. There are concerns they could exploit any power vacuum. I want to turn to Democratic Congressman from Minnesota, Keith Ellison. He's chief deputy whip, member of the House Financial Services Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also, the first Muslim elected to Congress.

Congressman, thanks so much for joining us. Let's get to Yemen right off the top if you'll indulge me. An apparent coup attempt, an embassy vehicle fired upon. Just moments ago, one of your colleagues, Senator Angus King, spoke to us here on NEW DAY. I want you to listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

SEN. ANGUS KING, (D) MAINE: I'd rather be safe than sorry. Let's get them out, and if things settle down, we can work out something diplomatically, they can go back in. That's fine, but I don't want to be here talking to you later this week about a hostage situation.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

PEREIRA: So, Congressman, do you join the chorus of other lawmakers saying the time to get out is now?

REP. KEITH ELLISON, (D) MINNESOTA: You know, I respect the administration's ability to make a decisions about that, but it does look like it's a rapidly evolving situation. And it looks like it certainly would be advisable, but I'm going to let the people who are closest to the problem make that call, but it seems like a good idea.

PEREIRA: Fair enough. Do you think the U.S. needs to maybe re- evaluate its presence, its role in Yemen given the changing circumstances there?

ELLISON: Well, you know, Yemen is an important country geopolitically. You know, it's at a very strategic location. We cannot abandon that relationship even if we do have to take a strategic step back. We cannot permanently disengage with Yemen. So, I think that we should be constantly evaluating, but the situation in Yemen for the last several years, they've been marked by dictators who are allies, they've had great political turmoil. You know, just a few years ago, a young woman was the Nobel Prize -- Peace Prize winner because of her efforts to try to bring peace to that country that is so troubled. So, you know, the United States can't back out, but we certainly have to continue to re-evaluate how we engage. It's an important country.

PEREIRA: Given all of the crises that are sort of unfolding as we speak in the country, Yemen, if you look at the growing terrorism threats in Europe, cyber attacks reportedly from North Korea. Do you believe, looking to the State of the Union address last night from the president, do you believe that he struck the right balance of addressing these kind of issues?

ELLISON: I think he did because I think that what most Americans want to know is how are we going to address American economic security inside the United States? I think it was right to start with those key things that Americans want to hear about, but he did talk about threats abroad. He marked some successes, we have drawn down in Afghanistan and Iraq, but we have some continuing threats around the world. I was glad he said we're going to close Guantanamo Bay, that's a good thing. I think it would improve our security if we did, but, you know, in a 70-minute speech, you can't talk about every single thing you want to talk about in detail, so I'm satisfied with how the president treated those threats.

PEREIRA: Middle class economics certainly a big theme. I think any American --

ELLISON: Absolutely.

PEREIRA: -- listening last night would have heard the themes of child care, college, health care, home retirement.

ELLISON: Infrastructure.

PEREIRA: Infrastructure, tax credits, all of those things, but let's just have some real talk here, Congressman. We are in a Republican controlled Congress. What is the likelihood that any of this is going -- any of these measures will get through?

ELLISON: If you don't push it, you certainly won't get any of it through. So, I like the idea that the president is raising our aspirations. I like what he said about the Keystone Pipeline. Why are we arguing over one pipeline when we should be talking about investing all over America in roads, bridges, transit, wastewater treatment, fiber optic, all of these things critically important? So, I thought that, you know, I think that we can meet some places, infrastructure perhaps. Here's the other thing about college, he mentioned Tennessee. They've

done a lot to make college more affordable for community college students. That's a Republican state. And look at the whole country of Germany, they've gone free tuition. Are you telling me that the richest country in the world, in the history of the world, cannot afford to help educate and train the next generation? I don't buy that.

PEREIRA: A few moments - -

ELLISON: So, I think we can move.

PEREIRA: A few moments ago, actually, it was interesting to hear one of your counterparts, GOP Senator Thom Tillis on our air here at NEW DAY admitting, look, the president and I don't agree on a lot of things, but he said that there's a lot in the middle that we can cooperate. In the halls are you hearing that there is room for common ground? Because I think from the outset it sounds as though this is -- this is -- this is a Congress that is set to just push up against the president on every aspect that he brings forward.

ELLISON: You have to try to keep on getting there. You have to continue to try to make progress. I mean, I think that the silence on the Republican side was deafening when the president mentioned some of the successes of the Affordable Care Act. You know, we've ensured a lot of brand-new people and they were kind of quiet when those successes were mentioned. Maybe now we can agree that we can look on how we can improve the Affordable Care Act and abandon this ridiculous effort to repeal it. You know, so there are things that we can do together to move forward.

PEREIRA: We had a poll. I want to bring up the results. We love a good poll here in news. CNN speech watchers poll of people that watched this. They said 74 percent, 74 percent of Americans want Obama to work on bipartisan compromise instead of unilateral action. We have heard several veto threats from the president lately. Do you think that sends the right message to the majority party?

ELLISON: Well, I can - - let me tell you that, you know, with a poll like that, I think the public is saying two things. One, they would prefer that we work in a bipartisan way. Of course they would, all of us would. That's the ongoing fact, but does the public want the Republicans to shut down the government? Do they want the Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Wall Street reforms? No, they don't. So, if they try it the president said he's going to veto it. So, I don't think you should mix up the veto threats on some things and assume that that forecloses bipartisan cooperation on other things. Both are possible.

PEREIRA: I think that shut down is a terrible memory for most Americans. None of us want a repeat of that, and I'm certain you don't either. Representative Keith Ellison from Minnesota. Thanks so much for making time for us on NEW DAY today.

ELLISON: Thank you, Michaela.

PEREIRA: All right, Chris?

CUOMO: All right, Mick, I have a good one for you, all right? This man works his whole life running a business, but then decides in retirement to do one of the hardest jobs there is: farming. But why he does it makes him the Good Stuff. Straight ahead.

(COMMERICAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Come to me. Come to me. Jim Boule (ph), okay, he's this 85- year-old retired businessman in Louisiana.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO (voice-over): He decides to take the money he earned after decades of work and buy a 30 acre farm and farm it himself.

PEREIRA (voice-over): 85 years old.

CUOMO: There he is. Plants the seeds, maintains it. But why he does all of this is the key. He gives it all away. Last year 65,000 pounds of food for the hungry. This year 100,000 pounds.

PEREIRA: Wow.

CUOMO: All of it for charity. Remember, he's 85 years old, but, listen, to this free farmer.

JIM BOULE, DENOTES FOOD ON HIS FARM TO THE HUNGRY: We're well off. I don't need to make money. I don't want to make money. This is very enjoyable to me. I get a great feeling in doing something positive, and I hope to continue if my health keeps going as it is, I'll be doing it when I'm 100.

CUOMO: Hooray for Boule.

PEREIRA: Oh, my.

CUOMO: According to Second Harvest Food Bank, one in six households in Louisiana alone, food insecure.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO (on camera): Which is a nice way of saying they don't have enough to eat.

PEREIRA (on camera): I want to go volunteer for him.

CUOMO: Right.

CAMEROTA: Is he married? I have a bit of a crush on him right now.

PEREIRA: You are, though, so there's that.

CAMEROTA: I knew one of us - -

CUOMO: Once again. (CROSSTALK)

CAMEROTA: No, my plan. But she's right.

PEREIRA: Not trying to break anybody's heart.

CUOMO: Michaela Pereira playing the voice of reason. A lot of news, we get you to the "NEWSROOM" and Ms. Carol Costello. Any questions for Mick?

PEREIRA: I can help you.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Pardon, what? Okay, I'll check - -

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Have a great day, NEWSROOM starts now.