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New Day

Carter: Iraqis "Showed No Will" To Fight; Presidential Politics and The NSA; Gas Prices Climb; Juan Pablo Montoya Wins The Indy 500. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired May 25, 2015 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, four people are dead after a soldier reportedly opened fire on troops out of military barracks in Tunisia. According to Tunisia's state news agency the gunman was among those killed. More than a dozen others were injured in that attack. A defense ministry spokesman told the local agency the incident has not been deemed a terrorist attack.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, back here at home, even more rain expected in Texas and Oklahoma, threatening to make catastrophic flooding even worse. Violent flash floods have killed three people and a mother and her two children are still missing at this hour. They were in one of more than 350 homes swept off their foundations by rushing water.

PEREIRA: John Nash whose life inspired the movie "A Beautiful Mind," was killed along with his wife, Alicia, in a New Jersey car accident over the weekend. Nash's work and struggle with schizophrenia was outlined in the 2001 Oscar winning film, Russell Crowe played him. The Nobel Prize winner was 86 years old.

CAMEROTA: Terribly sad. Still he could have gone on.

All right, let's go now to "Inside Politics" on NEW DAY with John King. I hope you had a relaxing weekend, John.

JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": So far, so good, beautiful weather here in D.C. I hope you ladies are back at work this morning. Somebody is missing. We'll track him down I'm sure. Alisyn and Michaela, good morning. Happy Memorial Day to you.

As we go Inside Politics this morning, with me to sharing their reporting and their insights, Molly Ball of "The Atlantic" and Robert Costa of "The Washington Post."

Let's pick up on the political fallout from the breaking news this morning. Ash Carter, the defense secretary telling CNN's Barbara Starr, one of the problems in Ramadi and in Iraq more broadly, he says is the Iraqis are not showing the willingness to fight.

Now he says that and he is getting a lot of headlines because at times there is a divide and a debate mostly within the Republican Party about whether President Obama should be more aggressive, about whether you need more U.S. troops on the ground.

Listen to John McCain, remember he pushed back in the Bush administration for the surge in Iraq, McCain's view now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We need to have a strategy. There is no strategy and anybody that says that there is, I'd like to hear what it is. George W. Bush at least had the guts to reverse and respond to the surge, which we eventually then succeeded. I wish, I pray that Barack Obama would do the same thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Any reasonable prospect of this president saying it is time to put more boots on the ground in Iraq?

MOLLY BALL, "THE ATLANTIC": We've seen him tip toe further and further into this conflict. I think he still very averse to anything that puts troops in. He said that over and over again, that's the line that he won't cross. He told our publication last week that he doesn't think that we're losing.

It's a difficult claim to make when his own defense secretary is saying that the people who are supposed to be fighting this battle aren't willing to do it.

KING: McCain's friend, Lindsey Graham is likely to run for the Republican presidential nomination. He says you probably need more troops on the ground and you need them soon.

George Pataki, of all people, the moderate Republican, former governor of New York said he would be opened to putting in more troops. Some say it might be necessary. We need to look at it. They unite in criticizing the president, but they're a little divided.

Here's my question, if you are a military tactician, if the Iraqis are unwilling to fight, then that makes it increases the need for somebody to fight them, yet at the same time, can you go to the American people and say the Iraqis are not willing fight for their own country, let's send more Americans into Iraq?

ROBERT COSTA, "THE WASHINGTON POST": It's going to be interesting to see whether these lesser known hawks, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki, can they really pressure the more squishy top tier candidates to come out and take a more muscular position on ISIS?

I think the Republican contenders realize that the electorate is war wary. And that anyone who has a real shot for the nomination isn't pushing for boots on the ground yet.

They also know there is an advertised Republican Party to show some kind of force and strength against ISIS. We have to see how does this really drift on the Republican side?

[07:35:06] KING: So a critical policy issue before the country that no doubt will play out in the 2016 race. Here's another one the big debate about whether to renew the Patriot Act, specifically to renew the government's authority for NSA eaves dropping.

Rand Paul, the libertarian Republican senator from Kentucky, who is running for the presidential nomination and leading the charge against it, Chris Christie over the weekend came out with a statement, the current governor of New Jersey, who has been trying to get his traction.

Here's the statement from Christ Christie on this debate. "This is the unfortunate result of misguided ideologues, who have no real world experience in fighting terrorism putting their uninformed beliefs above the safety and security of our citizens.

This dysfunction is what we have come to see from Washington, D.C., but usually it does now have such dangerous and severe consequences, there is no question when he says misguided ideologues, Chris Christie means Rand Paul.

BALL: Well, it's also a strategy that he has been showing for a few months now to run against Washington, right, that his perch in New Jersey and the pitch that he's always made is that he's outside of this dysfunctional system and therefore, he criticized it.

But yes, I think also is true that, you know, Rand Paul is interesting to a lot of people because he is idiosyncratic. He is unorthodox and he has beliefs that are different from a lot of people in his party.

But that is also a problem because he has beliefs that are different from a lot of people in his party. So he does get criticized internally a lot when he takes stands like this, when he is perceived to be grandstanding.

I think people in leadership in the Senate, other senators thought it was fine as long as it was sort of harmless, but now he's actually stopped a bill from passing and stopped this program from being reauthorized is a different story.

KING: You mentioned the leadership, a huge strain with his quote/unquote, "friend," Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader. Remember, they were not friends at the beginning. McConnell wanted somebody else.

Rand Paul wins then they form this bond. McConnell said he's my guy. McConnell wants to pass this bill. Rand Paul has held it up. That's one strain. Robert, as you jump in, I just want to play this priceless video.

We mentioned Lindsey Graham. Look at this video, Rand Paul is talking on the Senate floor. Lindsey Graham is in front of him, keep a watch on the eyes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR RAND PAUL: With a single name whether or not a warrant.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: The eye roll has a lot of power in politics. You are about to weigh in.

COSTA: No, that minor moment, it captured the Republican Party right now because there you have Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham on opposite sides of this spectrum the political power is in between those two polls. And it's interesting to see how many senators came to the floor to support Paul someone like Ted Cruz. He realizes that libertarian base is a potent part of the GOP. So people are going to corner without maybe embracing as much as Paul.

KING: It's a long way from now until whoever the nominees are for each party has to pick a running mate. Some people think Hillary Clinton. Julian Castro, the housing secretary, one of the twins from Texas. A lot of people said a Latino up and comer. He would be a great pick if Hillary Clinton is the Democratic presidential nominee. He says, wait a minute. If this was an audition, here's how you read the script.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIAN CASTRO, HUD SECRETARY: Those e-mails is a witch hunt. As one who hasn't spent my lifetime in D.C., I know that out there in America, they care about are you reducing veteran homelessness?

Are you providing the impetus for young people to be able to achieve their dreams? Are we making sure that America in the 21st century remains the undisputed land of opportunity, not whether somebody had e-mails or didn't have them?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: That in the context of her coming testimony for Congress about her e-mails in Benghazi, for a guy whose job is housing, he studied this issue pretty well.

BALL: He is doing very good surrogate duty for Hillary there. I think it's hard not to see that as an audition on his part. I think he would have aced it in the eyes of the Clinton people. Here's someone who everyone agrees is a major talent, but has no future in his state. He could never be elected state wide. He's certainly someone on the top of a lot of very preliminary lists for these states.

KING: It's striking in the sense is that we don't expect Joe Biden to run. Hillary Clinton is essentially almost an incumbent, almost like an incumbent vice president. She's the former secretary of state. She's been out of office. You have the Obama cabinet in the case coming to her defense.

COSTA: You do and I think Castro because the Democratic Party was wiped out in 2006, wiped out again in 2010. The bench for the party, it's a pretty weak bench. It's not a lot of top tier players. So someone like Castro from the southwest, Hispanic, young, he provides a real contrast with Clinton. He lands on the ticket. KING: He's getting attention. Secretary Clinton by the way will be marching in a Memorial Day. For those of you on our NEW DAY segment, where has Molly Ball? She is smart.

Molly is back with us after a few months tending to much important business. Take a look here. That's Erin Theodore, Teddy, 3 months old.

[07:40:10] That is amazing. We are happy and proud to have you back. Teddy, you got a great mom, look at. That's adorable -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Teddy's got a great head of hair, too.

KING: He does, that's right.

CAMEROTA: That's great. Congrats to Molly. Thanks, so much, John. See you soon.

All right, well, after a dramatic finish, Juan Pablo Montoya is crowned an Indy 500 winner again. We'll speak with him about his big win when he joins us live on NEW DAY. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: It is time for CNN money now, chief business correspondent is here. Christine Romans in the money center looking at Memorial Day holiday travel.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, ladies, if you took a road trip this weekend, you had lots of company, 33 million Americans hit the roads between last Thursday and today, that's according to AAA. That's up 5 percent from last year.

The U.S. Travel Association says that translates into $12.3 billion in economic boosts, about $330 a person. About a quarter of people who hit the roads say the decision was influenced by cheap gas prices.

[07:45:04] The national average this morning is $2.74. Yes, gas prices have been climbing. You have not been imagining it. They are up about a quarter in the last month. Gas is still a dollar cheaper than it was this time last year.

All right, if you are thinking about buying a new car, today is maybe the day. There are a lot of good zero-percent financing deals for Memorial Day. Today could be your last chance to take advantage of those.

What not to buy today, electronics and tools, retailers will have better deals to those closer to Father's Day in case you're in the market for something, guys.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I was. I was looking for a power drill. I will hold off.

PEREIRA: Well, there goes my Christmas idea. CAMEROTA: Thanks, so much, Christine. Well, the secretary of defence saying Iraqi fighters showed no will to fight in ISIS in Ramadi. So what is the solution? We'll explore that when we come right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: And the Indianapolis 500 is won by Juan Pablo Montoya.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: How about that? Incredible, incredible.

[07:50:10] CAMEROTA: That was race car driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, winning the Indy 500 on Sunday. It was his second win after first being crowned a champion as a rookie in 2000.

PEREIRA: This morning, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Juan Pablo Montoya joins us live from the Indy speedway. Good morning. How great did that milk taste, my friend?

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, 2015 INDIANAPOLIC 500 WINNER: It was really good. Good morning. I can tell you it was very special.

PEREIRA: I heard you explode.

MONTOYA: When you come to Indy --

PEREIRA: I heard you explode in the car. Tell us how it felt.

MONTOYA: Yes, you can hear it today. I have no voice today. I screamed my lungs off yesterday.

CAMEROTA: What else was going through your mind?

MONTOYA: I tell you, it's -- it was very special. You know, I got the opportunity to come back to Indy cars after I don't know how many years, and to win for him here is very special.

In Penske, you know, it's a big team effort here. And to be part of this organization, and be part of that list of names that won for him. He's got 16 wins. People like Rick Mears won it four times. And to get to that list is pretty cool.

PEREIRA: I got to say. This was a hard-fought victory for you. You came from 30th in the field. You had some trouble early on. When was it that you felt like wait I might have this?

MONTOYA: When I came out of the last corner in the lead.

PEREIRA: It wasn't till then?

MONTOYA: It's so hard. I mean it's so hard and so close honestly, it's so close, and we're so evenly matched. I mean, I got to the lead, I thought, maybe I can hold it. Come on. Come on. And then you see the white flag and they're coming and you're like, come on, please, don't. You know. It was fun. It was really, really fun.

CAMEROTA: It looks fun. The last time as we said you won was 15 years ago. So what took you so long to get back at it?

MONTOYA: I just haven't been in it, to be honest with you. I've done the Indy 500 only three times. I did it in 2000 when I won it. I did it last year when I came back to Indy car and it was my first oval race back and I finished fifth. And this year I won it.

PEREIRA: We've got to talk about the danger. We understand that all y'all are a little bit crazy. You're speed demons. You take the risk. We've seen a series of just some really gnarly crashes of late. What does that do to you when you know that that is, is a reality you're facing every time you go out to race?

MONTOYA: I don't really think about it.

PEREIRA: You don't?

MONTOYA: I don't think it's that dangerous to be honest with you. No, I don't. It's pretty funny because this year Indy has a new aero kit. And it's probably one of the best in the history of Indy car. I think that was really special.

CAMEROTA: Juan Pablo, what's next for you? What do you do after you win two Indy 500s?

MONTOYA: You do a lot of media. Three days of media and then you go to Detroit. That is my boss's race so we've got a lot of work. So until next Sunday every day I've got stuff. I don't mind. Better than staying at home and doing nothing.

PEREIRA: Here's our tip from us to you because in this business we have to do a whole lot of talking, we're suggesting a lot of tea with lemon and honey because you're going to be doing a lot of media. Your voice is already shot from screaming and a well-deserved victory. Juan Pablo Montoya, really a delight to share this with you this morning. Enjoy every second of it, OK.

MONTOYA: All right, thank you very much.

CAMEROTA: Congratulations.

PEREIRA: How about 15 years. It's never too late, right?

CAMEROTA: I guess not, second act.

PEREIRA: All right, to our top story again, the big question, are Iraqi troops willing to defend their own country against ISIS? Our own secretary of defense says absolutely not. Where does that leave us? We'll examine it ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:58:11]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Ash Carter exclusively telling CNN that Iraqi fighters could have done much more --

CARTER: Failure of the Iraqi forces to fight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm surprised why he said that. I'm sure he was given the wrong information.

PEREIRA: Washington, D.C. is on high alert.

ANNOUNCER: U.S. capitol police are investigating a suspicious vehicle in a nearby street.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is legally excused from liability for those crimes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A local police officer was acquitted of two voluntary manslaughter charges.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 137 shots fired.

CAMEROTA: It's Memorial Day.

PEREIRA: Today we honor our fallen heroes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to your NEW DAY. It is Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day. It's 8:00 in the east. Chris is off this morning.

Up first the most public sign yet of the lack of confidence the U.S. has in Iraqi troops to fight ISIS. Defense Secretary Ash Carter exclusively telling CNN, Iraqi fighters could have done more to keep the terror group from taking control of the key city of Ramadi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARTER: The Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight. They were not outnumbered. They vastly outnumbered the opposing force and yet they failed to fight. They withdrew from the site. And that says to me and I think to most of us that we have an issue with the will of the Iraqis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: The Iraqi prime minister quickly pushing back on those comments this morning. Can the U.S. and Iraq get on the same page, though?