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Sparks Fly at First Republican Debate; Donald Trump Lashes Out at "Unfair" Hosts; Key Democrat Defies White House by Opposing Nuclear Deal; Pentagon Computer System Hacked; Trump Calls Pollster "A Clown". Aired 10-10:30a ET
Aired August 07, 2015 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:01] BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: That's right. That's right. Well, a long primary season ahead for Trevor Noah.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Brian Stelter, many thanks. I appreciate it.
STELTER: Thanks.
COSTELLO: The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.
And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.
Donald Trump lashing out this morning saying he was treated unfairly at the first big GOP debate which was seen most watched primary debate in history. Keep in mind, Trump is the only candidate of the 17 Republican hopefuls making the claim. I want you to listen to the Donald who called into NBC this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I thought the questions were unfair, but I -- you know, I can live with it. And I -- you know, it's probably, you're number one in the polls and they ask you a little bit tougher questions. But I have to tell you, even the other candidates, they got off stage and they said to me, you know, it's amazing that those questions were so unfair.
They all felt how unfair those questions were. But you know what, I enjoyed the evening. I thought they were unfair. But that's OK. It was an amazing evening. And I'm sure it was a great success.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It was a great success. Upwards of 10 million people or more watched that debate. That would be a record.
CNN political reporter Sara Murray is in Cleveland this morning.
Wow. That's all I have to say.
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. You are right. Wow is a good way to put it. You can see why so many people tuned in last night. It was a fiery debate and candidates were not pulling any punches. Let's take a look at the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MURRAY (voice-over): Right out of the gate, Donald Trump's presence made this a very different Republican debate. A question about a pledge not to run as an independent.
BRET BAIER, DEBATE MODERATOR: Raise your hand now if you won't make that pledge tonight. Mr. Trump.
TRUMP: I cannot say I have to respect the person if it's not me, the person that wins. If I do win and I'm leading by quite a bit, that's what I want to do. I can totally make that pledge if I'm the nominee. I will pledge, I will not run as an independent.
MURRAY: As the GOP crowd booed, Rand Paul, whose outsider status tumbled thanks to Trump, couldn't wait to pounce.
SEN. RAND PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is what's wrong. He buys and sells politicians of all stripes. He's -- hey, look, look, he is already hedging his bet on the Clintons. OK.
MURRAY: Though Trump later lash out at Paul --
TRUMP: I don't think you heard me. You're having a hard time tonight.
MURRAY: -- most of his ire was aimed not at a competitor, but the FOX moderator.
MEGYN KELLY, DEBATE MODERATOR: You called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals. Your Twitter account --
TRUMP: Only Rosie O'Donnell.
I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I have been --
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
I've been challenged by so many people and I don't frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn't have time either.
And honestly, Megyn, if you don't like it, I'm sorry. I've been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be based on the way you have treated me, but I wouldn't do that.
MURRAY: But the biggest fireworks flew over Trump's head between Chris Christie and Rand Paul over personal liberties for Social Security.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you're sitting in a subcommittee just blowing hot air about this, you can say things like that.
SEN. RAND PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't trust President Obama with our records. I know you gave him a big hug, and if you want to give him a big hug again, go right ahead.
(CHEERS AND BOOS)
CHRISTIE: And you know, you know, Senator Paul -- Senator Paul, you know the hugs that I remember are the hugs that I gave to the families who lost their people on September 11th.
MURRAY: All GOP establishment eyes were on Jeb Bush to see if he showed fire in the belly. Often lacking in his performances.
JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe that the great majority of people coming here illegally have no other option. They want to provide for their family. But we need to control our border. And there should be a path to earn legal status for those that are here. Not amnesty. Earned legal status.
MURRAY: Bush's former protege, Marco Rubio, showed up his talent for rhetorical flare.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think God has blessed us. He's blessed the Republican Party with some very candidates. The Democrats can't even find one.
MURRAY: Ohio's Governor John Kasich had this memorable moment.
GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just went to a wedding of a friend of mine who happens to be gay. Because somebody doesn't think the way I do doesn't mean that I can't care about them or can't love them. So if one of my daughters happened to be that, of course, I would love them and I would accept them.
MURRAY: These candidates know a key test for many GOP voters is who can best take on Hillary Clinton.
GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: For the cyber attack with Russia the other day, it's sad to think right now, but probably the Russian and Chinese government know more about Hillary Clinton's e-mail server than do the members of the United States Congress.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
[10:05:06] WALKER: And that has put our national security at risk.
MURRAY: But the standout moments against Clinton didn't happen at this debate, but hours earlier with the undercards.
CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hillary Clinton lies about Benghazi. She lies about e-mails. She is still defending Planned Parenthood and she is still her party's frontrunner.
(END VIDEOTAPE) MURRAY: Now last night, Donald Trump put out a press release saying he was far and away the winner of the debate. But as you pointed out, today we're hearing a lot of complaining from him about unfair questions and about the FOX moderators so maybe they're feeling a little more uneasy about that debate performance than they're letting on -- Carol.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Sara Murray, reporting live from Cleveland, thanks so much.
Donald Trump insists his poll numbers will soar after last night's debate. Others -- many others are not so sure. This was Trump's chance to look presidential, to look like a serious Republican challenger. But right from the get-go, he made clear he has his own agenda.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAIER: Is there anyone on stage, and can I see hands, who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican Party and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person?
(CROWD CHEERING AND BOOING)
BAIER: Again, we're looking for you to raise your hand now, raise your hand now, if you won't make that pledge tonight. Mr. Trump.
(CROWD CHEERING AND BOOING)
BAIER: Mr. Trump, to be clear, you're standing on a Republican primary debate stage.
TRUMP: I fully understand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: All right. Let's talk about this. With me now, David Gergen, senior political analyst and former presidential adviser to Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. All presidents as you know. And Alex Castellanos, former -- the founder of the NewRepublican.org and chairman of Purple Strategies.
Thanks to both of you for being here this morning. I appreciate it.
I'll begin with you, Alex. How do you suppose Republican voters will take Donald Trump's challenge?
ALEX CASTELLANOS, FOUNDER, NEWREPUBLICAN.ORG: Most of them, not going to be thrilled that he's willing to take off his jersey, his team's jersey in the middle of the game, and put on the other team's jersey so -- but with his core vote, with his base, the vote he has now, they will be fine with that. They won't have a problem. It probably won't change his poll numbers very much. He is a protest candidate. His vote right now hates Washington. It's
not a pro-Trump vote. it's an anti-Washington establishment vote. And, you know, he could skin a baby seal on the steps of the Capitol and his vote would say awesome, that's great.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Oh my gosh. So, Alex -- Donald Trump says that, you know, FOX News was out to get him, asked him tough questions. They were mean to him for a reason. Did Donald Trump have a point?
CASTELLANOS: I guess it was a little tough, right? Certainly it won't be as -- I'm sorry, David. I stepped on your question.
COSTELLO: No, no, no, I --
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: No, no, no. Please go ahead, Alex.
COSTELLO: Go ahead.
CASTELLANOS: Oh, no. If you can't -- that's why these things are gladiatorial contests. These debates are supposed to be tough. That's how we test the measure of the man who's going to be the leader of the free world. You know, if you can't stand up to Megyn Kelly, how are you going to stand up to Putin? Whining makes you weak, which makes you less presidential. He is not helping himself.
COSTELLO: So, David, I wonder, if you are an adviser to President Donald Trump, can you imagine -- can you imagine that?
GERGEN: Well, I can't imagine the seal on the steps of the Capitol. I'm still getting over that one. The --
(LAUGHTER)
GERGEN: Listen, the normal rules would say that Donald Trump got hurt last night. You know, he stumbled on the first question. It was narcissistic, I suppose, to say, of course I'm here because I want to be the Republican nominee. But I do want to reserve the right if it's someone I think is taking the country off track to go in another direction, but I do want to be the Republican nominee. He -- instead, he gave a very narcissistic answer.
To Megyn Kelly he gave an answer that most voters would see as boorish about women and about their size and everything else. And sort of threatening her a little bit. And then the whining afterwards. Even though I didn't think when you heard him on NBC in that little clip, I thought he managed to gracefully get away from that. Not sounded too much like a whiner. But overall, by normal rules, he would have been hurt last night. But he's playing by different rules.
Carol, we just don't know how much longer this can go on. I will tell you I think an awful lot of voters were probably turned off last night. The Republican Party ought to recognize as well that he delivered a gift to the party last night. Donald Trump's presence was what brought in those 10 million viewers. And that gave every one of 17 candidates a chance to audition in front of a massive audience, in front of donors, in front of the press. And some people really took advantage of that last night. Some people emerged I think as stronger candidate in front of a big, big audience.
[10:10:07] COSTELLO: Oh, David Gergen, looking at the glass half full. I like that. I want to get --
CASTELLANOS: Yes.
COSTELLO: I want to get Donald Trump's comments in about women because to me, that was the moment that stood out so let's replay that moment when Megyn Kelly addressed Donald Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY: You've called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals. Your Twitter account --
TRUMP: Only Rosie O'Donnell.
(LAUGHTER AND CHEERS)
KELLY: No, it wasn't.
TRUMP: Thank you.
(LAUGHTER AND CHEERS)
KELLY: Your Twitter account --
(CHEERS)
TRUMP: Thank you.
KELLY: For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O'Donnell.
TRUMP: Yes. I'm sure it was.
KELLY: You once told a contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice" it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees.
TRUMP: Honestly, Megyn, if you don't like it, I'm sorry. I've been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be based on the way you have treated me, but I wouldn't do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, Alex, according to a Quinnipiac poll taken before this debate, 37 percent of Republican women said they would never vote for Donald Trump. He certainly didn't help himself, did he?
CASTELLANOS: No. Think of the Trump vote in two parts. That hot -- white hot anti-Washington core that they don't really see him as president. They just want to set Washington on fire. He can say things like -- outrageous things like that and he won't hurt himself with that. But last week, Trump was growing beyond that protest vote. People were -- it wasn't just anti-Washington, it was pro-Trump.
They thought he might be Reaganish, that he might grow to be a president. That's dead now. That's what the Megyn Kelly moment did. It killed his opportunity for growth. The fire that is Donald Trump is now contained. It's not going anywhere. He is not growing. He was just going to hang on to that white hot core, his numbers may dip or rise a tinny bit. He is no longer a huge threat to dominate and control the Republican Party. And that one moment that you noticed, that you thought was the most important, that's what did it.
COSTELLO: David, I agree with Alex. What do you think?
GERGEN: I think absolutely the Republican Party is starting to have a serious problem here that they have to address. And that is how they're going to connect with women? Even as they all plan to, you know, defund Planned Parenthood and the like there is extremely little conversation about the needs of women, trying to ensure equality or respect for women, health care services, child care services. The kinds of things that one expects in a modern democracy.
The Republicans, you know, with 10 guys up on stage, no woman. They are not being sensitive to the conversation that's going on around the country. They ought to hope that Carly Fiorina's numbers go up so to get a woman on stage next time and to see him and debate him in September. Because I think they need -- people need to see representatives like women up there on -- you know, that they're important to the Republican Party.
COSTELLO: OK. I'll leave it there. And Carly Fiorina had a good night. So who knows. In the CNN debate scheduled in September, we'll take the top 10 candidates and maybe she'll make it, who knows.
David Gergen, Alex Castellanos, thank you so much.
A reminder, Donald Trump will be on "CNN TONIGHT" 9:00 Eastern with Don Lemon. And that is an interview you will not want to miss.
The White House loses a key Democratic ally in its campaign to see the Iran nuclear deal. Senator Chuck Schumer, arguably the most powerful Jewish Democrat on Capitol Hill, now says he will fight the agreement when it faces its congressional vote next month. And that could mean big problems for President Obama and what he is trying to do with Iran.
CNN's Sunlen Serfaty has more for you from the White House this morning.
Good morning.
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol. Well, Schumer's support would potentially have been key for the White House, but this certainly is a big blow for them. Schumer overnight announcing that he does not support this deal saying, quote, "Because I believe Iran will not change and under this agreement, it will be able to achieve its dual goals of eliminating sanctions while ultimately retaining its nuclear and non-nuclear power." Now this could potentially pave the way for other undecided Democrats
to come out and formally voice their opposition to the deal. And we saw just that, right after Schumer, Representative Engel of New York came out, among others, and supported that, said he is against this deal. Engel met one-on-one with President Obama just last week. So that's very notable.
Now the White House, they have been downplaying this announcement by Schumer pointing to a whole string of other Democrats that have come out this week in support of this -- this deal. Just yesterday, Senator Shaheen and Gillibrand. But a White House official also suggesting that this announcement by Schumer came only after that they had enough Democratic support.
[10:15:05] So really there, Carol, indicating that that White House on some level potentially feels some security in the number of votes that they have secured.
Now the Senate will debate this in early September. They are out on recess for the end of the month. And President Obama will start his two-week vacation later today to Martha's Vineyard where, Carol, White House officials say he will continue to work the phones trying to sell this deal.
COSTELLO: All right. Sunlen Serfaty, reporting live from the White House, thank you.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, someone hacked a Pentagon server putting sensitive information at risk? Guess who the prime suspect is.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:20:01] COSTELLO: Echoes of the Cold War reverberating in the computer age. A U.S. official telling CNN that Russia is now the main suspect in the hacking of a Pentagon server.
CNN's Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon to tell us more.
Good morning, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Indeed Moscow, a leading theory for who was behind the hacking of an unclassified e-mail system that 4,000 Pentagon employees use, civilians and military, who work for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Martin Dempsey.
Unclassified e-mail hacked into about two weeks ago and they are still trying to get that system back online, back up and running. The reason they say Russia. Why did they say that? It was a very sophisticated, very stealthy, spear-fishing attack. That means trying to insert malicious code of some sort into the system.
Not always the Chinese method of work. The Chinese tend to drain the data out of the system, we're told. The Russians more have the signature of trying to go in and cause trouble. Such a sophisticated attack, the Pentagon view is it could only have been done essentially by a state entity. A government such as Russia or China.
Is that absolute? No. They are still looking at all the possibilities. But right now they do say the leading theory is the Russians and they do believe this hacking attack was very much directed, targeted at this very particular unclassified e-mail server used by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and his staff. Really interesting. Was it a message from Moscow -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting and kind of scary. Barbara Starr, reporting live from the Pentagon this morning, thank you.
Checking some other top stories for you at 21 minutes past. At least eight people are dead and 400 more injured following a suicide attack in Afghanistan. Police say a truck bomb exploded on a main road in Kabul. The attack happening in the middle of the night. So far no claims of responsibility.
We could know as soon as today whether theater shooter James Holmes will live or be sentenced to death. A jury has already found him guilty on 24 separate counts. If there is a unanimous vote for death on just one of those counts, Holmes will face the death penalty. We'll let you know as soon as a verdict is reached.
In California, a child who went camping at Yosemite National Park catches the plague. Now public health officials are warning all campers to use bug repellent and avoid all rodents, living and dead. The plague is usually transmitted by wild chipmunks, squirrels and other rodents or by the fleas that feast on the infected animals and then bite humans. Two people in Colorado have died of the plague so far this year.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, fresh off their first primetime debate, some top GOP candidates are heading south. But not everyone will be attending this red state gathering. We'll tell you why next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:27:13] COSTELLO: Fresh off the debate stage in Cleveland, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is scheduled to speak right now to conservative Republican voters in Atlanta. The three-day grassroots event is called the Red State Gathering. And while Donald Trump is getting most of the attention, not everyone was impressed. Political consultant and pollster Frank Luntz had this to say after Trump called him a clown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK LUNTZ, CBS NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: What do you say when you won't guarantee to support the Republican nominee, when you call women some pretty horrific names, when you insult the moderator of the debate. When you don't answer questions specifically. When you can't even explain why you went bankrupt.
I have to tell you this was an amazing debate performance. Not amazing because it was effective, amazing because I saw the destruction of a presidential campaign over those two hours. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: All right. Let's check in with CNN's Mark Preston, he's at the Red State Gathering. So the folks there agree with Frank Luntz?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Well, I've got to tell you last night they had a debate watch party. About 1,000 of these grassroots activists gathered in a hotel ballroom here in Atlanta. And when Donald Trump was answering his questions, he actually got a pretty good reception.
And I got to tell you the reason why is he talked about anti- establishment. He talked in anti-establishment tone. So while Donald Trump certainly alienated a whole lot of Republicans last night, there certainly is a segment that likes Donald Trump. And what Frank Luntz is saying that in the end, we probably will see the destruction of a Donald Trump campaign, but he's still going to have his support -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So besides Governor Chris Christie, who will be speaking today at that event?
PRESTON: Well, we'll see Chris Christie shortly here at this gathering. Rick Perry, the former Texas governor, will be here. We'll also see the likes of Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina who had a fantastic debate last night, will be here. So will Marco Rubio. Tomorrow, we'll see Scott Walker, we'll see Jeb Bush, we'll Ted Cruz and of course we'll see Donald Trump who really is going to be the headliner. He's going to close it out tomorrow night -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. And I know you'll be there to bring it to us. Thank you so much, Mark Preston, reporting live from Atlanta this morning.
And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.
Donald Trump was the star of the first primetime Republican debate. No doubt about that. But there was another name mentioned a lot and she wasn't even on that primetime stage. That would be Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUBIO: If I am our nominee, how is Hillary Clinton going to lecture me about living paycheck to paycheck?
WALKER: Unlike Hillary Clinton who has a radical position in terms of support for Planned Parenthood.
DR. BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If Hillary is the candidate, which I doubt, that would be a dream come true.
FIORINA: I didn't get a phone call from Bill Clinton. Maybe it's because I hadn't given money to the foundation or donated to his wife's Senate campaign. BUSH: We're not going to by doing what Barack --
(END)
