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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Roll Call Of States For Nomination Momentarily; Nominating Speeches For Senator Bernie Sanders. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired July 26, 2016 - 16:30   ET

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

[16:31:51]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN's live coverage of the 2016 Democratic National Convention here in beautiful Philadelphia.

The chair of the convention, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge of Ohio, has just gaveled in proceedings for the second day of the Democratic National Convention on this historic moment, where Hillary Clinton will become the first major party woman presidential nominee.

We are going to do down to Dana Bash right now, who is on the floor of the convention hall, to bring us up to speed on all the news -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That is right, Jake.

We're waiting for that roll call to start. All 57 states and territories, on this floor and in the stands will be able to say the number of votes and the names of the candidates for whom they are voting.

We're here in California waiting because our understanding, in talking to some, for lack of a better way to say it, Bernie or bust delegates is they are going to try to, within the realm of what is legal and official, to make their voices heard through this roll call process.

And I actually just to kind of give you a sense of how robust the Bernie Sanders presence is, just in California alone, 221 delegates from California are Sanders; 254 are Clinton. Those are the pledged delegates. That just kind of gives you a sense of kind of close it is and how much power the Bernie Sanders supporters have.

We are hearing that Bernie Sanders himself asked his supporters not to walk out, because that was another thing I was hearing that they were discussing. But we're going to see how it goes. It is basically a jump ball at this point to see how the individual states handle this -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right, Dana Bash on the floor.

Let's go up to the podium now, where Pamela Brown will tell us a bit more about the Democrats' hopes for how this will be choreographed.

Pamela, Democrats are putting a lot of effort into trying to bring the party together. Any word on ways that they might try to do that?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: That's right.

In fact, we spoke to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe about that and asked, in light of what we saw here yesterday on the convention floor from Bernie Sanders supporters, whether he is concerned once he takes the stage today whether he will be booed.

And, basically, he said, look, I hope not. He wants the party to be united. But in his view, it could happen. He says, better me than Bill Clinton, who, as we know, will also be speaking. He said likely if it will happen, it will be targeted to him, because, as we know, he has been friends with the Clintons for 30-plus years.

And no one represents them more symbolically than Terry McAuliffe. And there are still Bernie Sanders supporters here who are frankly bitter about Hillary Clinton being the nominee. And so it is -- there is a chance that he will take some of the heat, but he also said that he will be announcing her nomination after roll call. And the fact that she will be nominated by acclimation will hopefully soothe hard feelings.

That of course is the hope. We will have to wait and see what happens -- Jake.

TAPPER: Pamela Brown, thanks so much.

[16:35:00]

Let's bring it back to the panel here.

We're going to see a display that is a commemoration of the 26th anniversary, Michael Smerconish, of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The person reciting the Pledge of Allegiance will be Mallory Weggemann, a Paralympic swimmer. The person singing the national anthem is Philadelphia's own. And I believe he is legally blind, as well as having cerebral palsy.

And then we will hear from Tom Harkin, the senator from Iowa who was the chief shepherd of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: No coincidence, I think, in light of some of the intemperate things that Donald Trump has done during the course of the campaign cycle.

And I'm thinking of course of the way in which he mocked the reporter from "The New York Times." And we all saw that video played last night. We saw certain speakers who were selected no doubt with that in mind.

I have been thinking, Jake, that a number of the Trumpisms that have played out in this convention thus far, if they were shown in Cleveland, would have drawn cheers, because they're a Rorschach test, but not the disability business, not that which he did from the podium which we have all seen in that effective commercial as well.

I think it is taking advantage. That sounds in the negative, but I don't mean it that way, but reminding voters -- I think I will choose those words -- of the intemperate way in which he mocked that reporter.

TAPPER: The gentleman from Philadelphia wants to revise and extend his remarks. I will permit you to do it.

(LAUGHTER)

SMERCONISH: Thank you.

TAPPER: Bill Press, let me ask you, are the Bernie supporters ready to rally around Hillary Clinton, or is this still going to be a process, one that might be take weeks or months?

BILL PRESS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Most of them, I think, are ready to rally around Bernie.

Not of all of us Bernie supporters are Bernie or bust, but we are Bernie and following Bernie's lead. This is my delegation. Right? I chaired this party. I chaired this delegation. I think it is great that they're as spicy and as lively as they are. Reminds me of the meetings I used to preside over when I was the chair

And many of them are people that Bernie brought into the process, which is important, first time in politics. So, they come to their first political convention. They're not going to sit on their hands. They want to get their energy out and their enthusiasm out.

And I think it is great that they are being allowed to do so. But I also think it is very important. And Bernie Sanders has been admirable, I believe, in stepping up to the plate and saying, thank you for your support, this is great, but we have to accept political reality.

The reality is, he has accomplished a lot more than even he intended to. The reality is, you never get 100 percent in politics. The reality is, the revolution continues, but the reality is right now the choice is between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. That is his message. I would say 99 percent of his people are going to come along. Not all of them will.

TAPPER: Andre is shaking his head at the 99 percent.

You don't think so?

LT. GOV. ANDRE BAUER (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: No.

Look, a lot of Hillary will get more than anybody else of Bernie voters. There's no question about that. But they did admire, a lot of them, the outsider, the person that was not part of the system, or at least talked about not being part of the system, the person that wanted to break up Wall Street, break up the lobbyists and approach it from a different perspective. And Donald Trump will pick up some of those votes, and it could be the deciding factor, that percentage.

TAPPER: OK. Here is the Pledge of Allegiance. It will be led by Mallory Weggemann. She is a Paralympic swimmer, 14-time gold medalist, and a competitive swimmer since the age of 7.

MALLORY WEGGEMANN, PARALYMPIC SWIMMER: I pledge allegiance the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Timmy Kelly to sing our national anthem.

(SINGING)

[16:41:05]

TAPPER: A robust and exciting rendition of the national anthem by Philadelphia's own Timmy Kelly, 23 years old.

Michael Smerconish, a fellow Philly boy telling us that he sings at Eagles games all the time.

SMERCONISH: A fixture at Lincoln Financial Field and brings the house down every time he appears.

And all he needs to do now is go to the microphone, because people have heard him before and they know what is coming. And it is the opposite of the Philly ovation for which we're famous.

(LAUGHTER)

TAPPER: We're going to hear from -- there is a theme here with the Paralympic swimmer doing the Pledge of Allegiance and Timmy Kelly, who has cerebral palsy, as well as a visual impairment, doing the national anthem.

Tom Harkin, we're about to hear from him, senator, former senator from Iowa, and the author of Americans With Disabilities Act, the 26th anniversary of which is this year.

TOM HARKIN (D), FORMER U.S. SENATOR: All right, Iowa.

Twenty-six years ago today, 26 year ago today, our nation we won a hard-fought battle to end discrimination for over 50 million people when we signed into law the Americans With Disabilities Act, the ADA.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

HARKIN: Today, I'm proud to say the ADA has helped so many share in America's promise. We're better prepared to give all of our children access to quality

education, help our wounded warriors when they come home, and support our aging population.

We got this done because the disability community understood and knew what Hillary Clinton knows. We are stronger together. We brought together Republicans and Democrats, businesses and advocates. We stood up to fear and irrational prejudices.

We are a better nation because of the ADA. But we still have a way to go before we build a truly inclusive America. When, 26 years later, 70 percent of adults with disabilities in America aren't in the work force, it is time to take action.

And that is why Hillary Clinton wants to ensure that people with disabilities are judged by their potential, and have the tools to secure competitive integrated employment.

When, 26 years later, employers are still allowed to pay people with disabilities below the minimum wage, it is time to change that law.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

HARKIN: Hillary Clinton will fight to eliminate the sub-minimum wage and ensure that a fair day's work earns a fair day's pay.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

HARKIN: When, 26 years later, Medicaid still keeps people with disabilities in nursing homes, it is time to pass Senator Chuck Schumer's Disability Integration Act, so -- so that our fellow Americans can live where they want, a bill Hillary Clinton will sign into law as president of the United States.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

HARKIN: Only one person seeking the presidency understands the disability community's phrase, nothing about us without us.

As president, Hillary Clinton will bring people with disabilities to the table for a more inclusive America.

Now, I learned sign language from my brother Frank when I was growing up. And now, I want to teach all of you a beautiful sign which connects with the values of this campaign. Are you ready?

I'm going to teach you this sign. Take your two hands come on, it's audience participation time. Take your fingers and put them together like this. You got it, everybody? Put your hands together just like this, and move it in a circle in front of your body. That my friends is the sign for America. A beautiful sign.

Think about it. We're all together. We're all together. No one is left out in this constant circle of life. That is America. That is America. That is the America that we all want. Disabled and nondisabled alike, it is the beautiful America that Hillary Clinton will fight for, for every person, every person is respected, valued, and treated with dignity. Thank you.

TAPPER: Former Iowa senator and one-time presidential candidate, Tom Harkin, who lost to Bill Clinton in 1992, giving an impassioned speech about the Americans with Disability Act.

When we come back, we're going to have live coverage of the roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention. Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:51:09]

TAPPER: Welcome back to CNN's live coverage of the second night of the Democratic National Convention. This is a historic night. We're about to see the first woman in American history become the major party presidential nominee.

What we're about to see will be a roll call of votes. First, we are going to hear two speeches from Sanders supporters putting Bernie Sanders' name into nomination, and then we will hear from three individuals putting Hillary Clinton's name into nomination.

You'll hear some strong support for Bernie Sanders tonight. That was one of the deals cut by the Clinton campaign as they made peace with the Sanders campaign is to give the Sanders' campaign and its delegates, their opportunity to come to the floor and make a strong case and announce their voting for Bernie Sanders even if there is a decision and an outline here for the ultimate nomination of Hillary Clinton.

And Patti Solis Doyle, a former campaign manager for Hillary Clinton in 2008. I imagine that these types of things are not easy to negotiate.

PATTI SOLIS DOYLE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No, they are not. It was hard in 2008. Losing is really hard and something -- losing something like a presidential is excruciating. There is stages to it. You know, there is denial and there is anger and then there is grief, and then hopefully finally, there is acceptance.

So I think tonight if they get their due and the Bernie supporters get to vote for Bernie tonight, I think that is a good healthy path to acceptance and knowing that Donald Trump is a horrible alternative for the values that they, you know, want.

BILL PRESS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Jesse Jackson, this campaign reminded me a lot of Jesse Jackson. The Sanders campaign. At that time, Jesse Jackson said it's very important that the winner respect the loser. It's also important that the loser respect the winner.

And I really think it's not easy. Patti is right, but that is playing out. So they'll letting the nomination (inaudible) all of the delegates get -- what they really want is to cast that vote proudly for Bernie Sanders.

The Hillary people do the same thing, and then accept the result and move forward. I think it is a very, very important night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you all call Ted Cruz, please?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He didn't get that memo.

TAPPER: As a Trump supporter, were you thinking that last night when Bernie Sanders gave his very strong speech in support of Hillary Clinton's position and the importance of electing her? Were you thinking I would have liked to hear that from our second place finisher?

ANDRE BAUER, TRUMP SUPPORTER: Not really, because an outsider is what our country wanted, at least from our side. I do admire how Bernie Sanders has handled this. He had done textbook. It couldn't be written better and history will be very good to how gracious he was.

JAY CARNEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: And I think one thing that we always have to remember when we look at the Republican experience versus the Democratic, and yes, there was a tough race in the Democratic Party, but the distance between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton is not anything as vast as the distance between Donald Trump and every other Republican presidential candidate.

TAPPER: Let's go to the floor right now where the chair of the convention, Congresswoman Marsha Fudge of Ohio is beginning the proceedings.

REPRESENTATIVE MARSHA FUDGE (D), OHIO: As such, it is time to move to the nominating speeches. Thank you. Thank you. As such, each candidate is allowed to have the nominating and seconding speeches presented on their behalf.

[16:55:07]We will now begin the presidential nominating process with nominating and seconding speeches on behalf of Senator Sanders.

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome Representative Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii.

REPRESENTATIVE TULSI GABBARD (D), HAWAII: My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, aloha. You know people have asked me how a somewhat frumpy and maybe even sometimes grumpy 70-year-old guy could become the voice for millions.

Connecting seamlessly with laborers from the rust belt, and environmentalists from the west. The answer lies in his aloha, in his deep love for others and our mother earth.

As Bernie as said, the truth is when you hurt, when your children hurt, I hurt. When my kids hurt, you hurt. This, my friends, is a movement of love. Love which calls upon us to care, to care for families torn apart by our criminal justice system.

To care for folks whose jobs have vanished because of destructive trade deals, to care for those barely scraping by at minimum wage, and those crippled by college debt, to care about our environment and future generations.

To care about lives lost, lives ruined, and countries destroyed by counterproductive regime change wars. To care for our veterans who have put their lives on the line for our country who now face unacceptable delays and inadequate care.

This movement of love and compassion is bigger than any one of us. It speaks to our nation's conscience and to our hearts. This love opens each of our eyes to the truth that every hungry child is my child. That every worker seeking the dignity of a job is my neighbor.

Every senior citizen in need of care is my parent. That an attack on anyone, because of their race, religion, or sexual orientation is an attack on all of us. It is when we truly care for each other, choosing inclusion and love over division and hatred that this great country is truly at its greatest.

Let us draw inspiration from the words of Mahatma Gandhi. A small body of determined spirits, fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission, can alter the course of history.

Now, my friends, because this is a movement fuelled by love, it can never be stopped or defeated.