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New Day
Growing Scrutiny For Clinton Foundation; Gowdy Calls For Clinton To Testify Twice; President Obama Welcomes Patriots To White House. Aired 7:30-8a ET
Aired April 24, 2015 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": He goes over to Russia and gives a big speech paid for by a bank that was involved in this transaction.
And now the "New York Times" is saying Secretary Clinton, Candidate Clinton, has some answering to do. They had the big piece in the newspaper the other day, here's the editorial from "New York Times" this morning because the Clinton campaign has said go away, this is all partisan, it's not a big deal.
These half-steps show that Candidate Clinton is aware of the complications she and Bill Clinton have created for themselves. She needs to do a lot more because this problem is not going away.
The "New York Times" making the case that you can't just say we're not going to take any more foreign money in the future and we're going to be more transparent in the future. They say that the foundation owes answers, more answers, about this deal. Are they right?
JACKIE KUCINICH, "THE DAILY BEAST": Yes. I think they are. The longer this is out there, the longer it festers and the more that comes out as a result of Peter's book that's going to come out I think in a week or two, it's not going to get any better.
There needs to be answers for this and it can't be, well, this guy's a right wing nut job. That's not going to set. It's in the "New York Times." You know, there isn't a good argument there right now.
KING: Right. You make that point and this has been a Clinton playbook. When you are criticized, just say the person attacking us is political. They are partisan. It doesn't matter if there are actual facts in here.
Again, "New York Times" did get some of its information from this conservative author writing the book "Clinton Cash." He's a conservative. No question about that. He said look what I found to the "New York Times," which independently verified and added its own reporting.
Listen to Mitt Romney, Robert, he's on the Hugh Hewitt show yesterday and he takes this a bit further. I expect we're going to hear a lot of this in the campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ((via telephone): Yes. I was stunned by it. I mean, it looks like bribery. I presume we might know for sure whether there was or was not bribery if she hadn't wiped out thousands of e-mails. But this is a very, very serious series of facts. And it looked like bribery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, Romney making the case there that because the State Department was among the cabinet agencies that had to approve this deal and the Clinton Foundation is taking money about the same time, he's calling it bribery. Those are strong words and Republicans need to be careful too.
One of the mistakes Republicans often make is they go too far in criticizing the Clintons and they give the Clintons the avenue to say this is political. Those are strong words from a guy, who is usually careful about what he says.
ROBERT COSTA, "THE WASHINGTON POST": First of all, Romney returns. I mean, this is a man who wanted to run for president earlier this year, decided not to do it, and he is out there as an attack dog using stronger language than any other Republican on the scene.
I think Romney is going to play this role in the months and year ahead taking on the Clintons in a way some other candidates may be reluctant to because they want to go after those swing voters.
You're right, John. When I talk to top Republican strategists this week, they're saying let it bleed, let it play out. Let the Clintons handle this.
Republicans don't need to be as aggressive perhaps as Romney because they don't want to seem like Newt Gingrich or Kent Star or other '90s figures easily tagged as partisan by the Clintons.
KING: Romney connected to the e-mail saying we might know more about this if we had access to Hillary Clinton's private e-mail server. He's suggesting that perhaps she deleted private e-mails that would shed information. There's no information on that.
We don't know that. But we do know that she's in a standoff with the Benghazi Select Committee in Congress because they want the server. They want to see if there's any way to go back and do CSI work essentially and retrieve the e-mails that she deleted.
Trey Gowdy is the chairman of that committee and he says he wants Clinton to cooperate. He wants the administration, the State Department, and the White House to cooperate as well. He says if there's not cooperation, he'll have to go to the floor of the House and ask for subpoenas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE TREY GOWDY (R), BENGHAZI SELECT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Honestly, you can save all the drama. Just give me the documents. I don't want legal drama. I don't want floor of the House of Representatives drama. Just give me the documents and all of the legal questions will resolve themselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: At a minimum it appears this one they want her to testify in private. Then they want her to testify in public. That could take the next couple of months. The report Chairman Gowdy says he wants to get it done before 2016. The Clinton campaign is saying he's trying to drag this into 2016. This is going to be with us throughout most of this campaign.
KUCINICH: Yes, I think so and what this all boils down to, everything we're talking about Hillary Clinton goes into the trust argument. And that's what you're going to hear about Republicans. All the details, maybe a little bit less of Benghazi.
Benghazi's a very big talking point particularly with the base. But all of these details go down to trust. Where are those e-mails? As long as they can ask that question, they're going to have to have an answer.
COSTA: A lot of Republicans are wondering, what is the real strategy for going after Hillary Clinton's campaign? Do you go after Secretary Clinton as untrustworthy? That's one tact, but a lot of top Republicans think go after her on the generational argument that it's past versus future.
That the Republicans can argue for once they have younger candidates, people who have less experience perhaps, but more of a vigorous approach. That's the Republican dilemma.
KING: I think part of the argument also can you restore trust and faith in government when you're having these fights. I will say this as someone who covered the white water investigation that somehow turned into an investigation about Paula Jones that somehow turned into an investigation about Monica Lewinsky.
The history of the investigations of the Clintons is they never end up in the end being about what they began about so I think that's the inside Camp Clinton.
[07:35:11] One of the reasons they call itself partisan is they have a history of these things dragging on for a very long time and sometimes leading down different roads.
Let's move onto Senator Ted Cruz. He was criticized and has to issue a statement clarifying his position on same-sex marriage. He's mad at the "New York Times," Robert. He says, yes, he was in Manhattan. He went to a private dinner with two gay businessmen.
At that dinner, he talked about marriage being an issue for the states, but apparently did not bring up his opposition to same-sex marriage. So he issued this statement saying, "It speaks volumes that the "New York Times" considers it newsworthy that the Republican who believes marriage is between a man and a woman would meet with people who hold a different view.
I knew it's been a long time since we've seen it, but this is what it means to truly be a "big tent Republican" instead of a panderer." Fair?
COSTA: Cruz's meeting in New York with two gay hotel owners is indicative of the Republican moment because Republicans even the conservative hardliners like Ted Cruz see the Supreme Court ruling on the horizon likely to rule in favor of same-sex marriage.
And Cruz wants to fight the culture wars. He wants to fight on the religious freedom front. Does he want to fight a marriage battle? I'm not so sure Republicans looking to win the White House want to make marriage a keystone of their 2016 campaign. Cruz kind of captures that struggle, those tensions within the GOP.
KING: I also struck the nation's about to have a new attorney general. We talked about why the Republicans held it up so long. They have parliamentary reasons, legislative reasons. I personally think they should have voted on that a long time ago.
They knew she was going to fight about other things. They knew she was going to be confirmed, but Ted Cruz who has always said don't trust the other guys. They will tell you they are conservative. Don't listen to their talks. See what they do.
See if they actually fight the fight. That's sort of the central premise of his campaign. He missed the vote on Loretta Lynch because he had to go to Texas for a fundraiser. Will that hurt him?
KUCINICH: Yes, it goes to the argument that Ted Cruz is all sizzle and no steak. He voted for culture, which in Washington speak basically voted against having the vote -- but at the end of the day this goes to that argument about Ted Cruz.
KING: You can't tell people at the fundraiser you might be late because you have to do your day job?
COSTA: Super PACs you need that cash.
KING: That is the tension of being a senator. We've seen this in the past. Obama was criticized for this. He missed a lot of hearings, missed a lot of Senate work when he was running for president in 2008, so did Secretary Clinton and so did Senator Dodd.
Now we'll see it on the Republican side as we get back to you in New York, Alisyn. Being a senator has its privileges, but if you want to say that I'm the guy going to fight all the fights, you're going to get criticized when you miss the vote.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes indeed, John. That's great wisdom. Great to see you. Make sure to watch John King and his "INSIDE POLITICS" panel break down all of the best political news of the week every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. We'll be tuning in.
President Obama hosting the Super Bowl champion, Patriots, at the White House and cracking about deflate-gate. The NFL's investigation is still not finished. We'll take a closer look next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:41:50]
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Time for CNN money tip. CNN Money correspondent, Alison Kosik, is in the money center. Alison, it's Friday. What the heck, I think I'll buy a house, good time?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good timing, sure, why not? When it comes to housing, Chris, it's a seller's market in many parts of the country. But that doesn't mean you're out of luck if you're looking to buy.
The best markets for home buyers, Philadelphia, Chicago and Cleveland. In these markets inventory is strong and homes stay on the market longer, which gives buyers that bargaining power they love and need.
Other good spots, my hometown, Miami, Providence, Detroit and Pittsburgh. And Zillow says it's only getting better for buyers. So this spring buying season you may want to consider taking the plunge. Why?
Well, first of all mortgage rates are at rock bottom, but that certainly can't last forever so you got to grab them while you can. Also, lending standards are loosening up a bit making it easier to secure financing.
And the final push, rents, they're rising across the board making home ownership look even better. I say get off the couch and start looking, stop delaying.
CAMEROTA: OK, we'll do that. Thanks so much, Alison.
Well, the New England Patriots at the White House, the Super Bowl champs minus Tom Brady honored by President Obama, who had praise for the Pats and a couple choice one-liners about deflate-gate. Why haven't we heard anything about deflate-gate for months? CNN's Martin Savidge has more on this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not the only perk for winning the Super Bowl, but it's certainly one of the best.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Give it up for the Super Bowl champion, New England Patriots.
SAVIDGE: An invite to the White House and posing with the pres. Nothing could spoil a moment like this. Well, maybe one thing, deflate-gate. Remember that?
In January, the NFL launched an investigation into the New England Patriots over why 11 of 12 game balls they provided for the AFC Championship game against Indianapolis were underinflated.
BILL BELICHICK, HEAD COACH, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: We as an organization have absolutely followed every rule to the letter.
SAVIDGE: It's been three months and with the NFL draft just days away, surely we'd have heard something by now, nope, which seems odd since over the same time period the NFL has meted out punishment to two other teams.
The Atlanta Falcons for speaker-gate pumping artificial crowd zone into the Georgia dome at home games. Punishment, a $350,000 fine and loss of their fifth round 2016 draft pick. Ouch.
And the Cleveland Browns for text-gate, when GM, Ray Farmer, improperly texted Brown staffers during games. Punishment, a quarter of a million dollar fine and Farmer is suspended without pay for four games. Ouch.
Meanwhile, the Patriots still await their deflate-gate fate. Maybe the NFL just didn't want to spoil the team's big day. After all, who would want to bring that up?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events, but with the Patriots in town I was worried that 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat.
SAVIDGE: Wow, a presidential putdown. Talk about punishment.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: All right, all right, all right, that whole story got blown a little out of proportion.
SAVIDGE: Ouch. Martin Savidge, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[07:45:09] MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Here all week. Don't forget to tip your server.
CUOMO: He's right about that, though, that story did get blown out of proportion.
CAMEROTA: What's your take? Tweet us using the #newdaycnn and tell us if you think it was blown out of proportion.
PEREIRA: Imagine this, deep science before deep sleep. How awesome would it be if there were late-night TV talk shows for science nerds like us? Well, there is and it's hosted by the one, the only Neil Degrasse.
CUOMO: Ponderously staring into space or the great beyond.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(VIDEO CLIP)
[07:50:07] PEREIRA: That was George. Love him. That's a clip from the new late-night talk show airing on the National Geographic Channel called Star Talk, the first talk show about science. The man that host it is the only that should, "Star Talk's" host, astrophysicist, Neil Degrasse Tyson. I just can't call you, Neil.
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON, HOST, "STAR TALK," NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL: Well, after that it's too laborious.
CUOMO: Degrasse, you added for stage purposes.
TYSON: That's my stage name.
PEREIRA: If you are blank, you will love "Star Talk?
TYSON: If you are human, you will love "Star Talk."
CAMEROTA: The aliens? No.
TYSON: Not for aliens.
PEREIRA: Why do you like to do this?
TYSON: The idea was, there is programming out there for people that already know they like science, but you go there on purpose to do so, and we thought is there anything for people that don't know that they like science?
Better yet, for people that they know they don't like science? I am the scientist and host, and my guests are hune from pop culture, and my conversation is how science impacted their lives.
CAMEROTA: Impossible.
TYSON: they have a fan base that would follow them there and they get to hear a conversation with their person talking about science, and our goal is that it reveals the ubiquity in science, and another good word, and --
CAMEROTA: You are blowing my mind -- so you are combining pop culture and science?
TYSON: Yes, not only that, but my co-host is a professional standup comedian, so it's a comedic buoyancy to the conversation.
(CROSSTALK)
TYSON: It's weaving a tapestry that is inseparable. It's not like we do -- inextricably tight so that by the end of it, you are not saying they just stapled science onto that. No, science weaves through.
CUOMO: It's like a triple helix of DNA TV greatness.
PEREIRA: I think science is probably one of those things much like, I don't know, the weather, that everybody probably comes up and talks about or asks about, and makes you want to --
TYSON: Well, they will ask about something that they don't know that science is fundamental to the understanding of it, and that's how the conversations unfold, one of the guests is President Jimmy Carter --
CUOMO: He is the comedian.
TYSON: No, I didn't ask about the Middle East, but we talked about the astronomy, and we talked about the brain wiring of that training influenced his diplomacy and how he thought about negotiation. So there is the infusion of science into everything we think and do.
PEREIRA: It's so good.
CUOMO: The show is doing well?
TYSON: Yes, yes, it just premiered a week ago. It comes off of a radio show and podcast that we have had for four or five years, so it's not as much of an experiment as you might think. When it was announced, Tyson is taking on late-night, but no, we don't have a band.
PEREIRA: Since we have you here and since we get to ask you questions. We saw some really interesting tweets from the Astronaut Scott Kelly, and maybe we can show some of the images showing the year from the International Space Station, and he can real time send back these images from outer space. This is so different from what we have been able to do?
TYSON: Yes, space is turning into our backyard, and the Hubble telescope is that, and this week is the 25th anniversary of its launch. One of my great feelings about Hubble is that Hubble images were so beautiful and majestic.
You did not require a caption to read for you to take in its majesty. Captions could add to it, but it wasn't a prerequisite for you to say I'm basking in the majesty of the cosmos.
PEREIRA: All of this needs to be on TV. This is why "Star Talk" is genius. It airs Monday at 11 p.m. Eastern on the National Geographic Channel. The challenge though is the producer is going to have a big spotlight because you move around a lot.
(CROSSTALK)
PEREIRA: Neil, we love having you.
CUOMO: Bask in the majesty of the Cosmos, my friend.
[07:55:03] When we come back, Italy is launching a huge anti-terror operation against a group linked to al Qaeda. We are now learning that one of the potential targets could have been the Vatican. What was the plan and how did they expose it, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: Al Qaeda suspects arrested in Italy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a potential attack on the Vatican.
CUOMO: Among the suspects, two of Osama Bin Laden's former bodyguards.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody started screaming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just collapsed underneath.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was this one girl who had like nails in her leg.
CAMEROTA: Iranian ships suspected of carrying weapons to Houthi rebels have reportedly turned around.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They still view the United States as a threat.
DR. OZ: These doctors are criticizing me for promoting interests and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He answered the critic head on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is trying to improve the health of America. He doesn't have sinister in bed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
