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Unspoken Messages at the Debate; John Boehner Bids Farewell; Rep. Ryan Officially Nominated as House Speaker. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired October 29, 2015 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Trump grabbing a hold of his microphone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think maybe my greatest weakness is that I trust people too much. I never filed for bankruptcy. But many, many people did. What happened with Atlantic City is very, very disgraceful. He got lucky with fracking. Believe me, that's why Ohio is doing well. Number - and that's important for you to know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: OK. So let's talk about this. I'm joined by body language expert and author of "The Power of Body Language," Tonya Reiman.

Tonya, welcome back.

TONYA REIMAN, BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT: Thank you.

COSTELLO: It's so nice to have you hear again.

REIMAN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: So what do you see when you watch Mr. Trump grab his microphone?

REIMAN: You know, at lot of times with him, I think early on in this he was trying to control his movements because he is such a big gesticulator. So that's something called like a displacement activity. In other words, he holds onto the microphone. It helps him to stay focused and he doesn't have to then make all the big movements.

COSTELLO: Interesting.

OK, so let's go back to Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio.

REIMAN: Right.

COSTELLO: And watch that moment where Rubio responds to Bush's attack.

REIMAN: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You can campaign or just resign and let someone else take the job.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The only reason why you're doing it now is because we're running for the same position and someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you.

BUSH: I've been -

RUBIO: Here's the bottom line. I'm not - my campaign is going to be about the future of America. It's not going to be about attacking anyone else on this stage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: OK, so what does Bush's body language say to you?

REIMAN: That was so great because did you see, OK, so Rubio faces him, right, makes eye contact. And as Bush turns, he does make eye contact, but initially he automatically closes up his body language and then you just see that little contemptuous smile that he's becoming well known for now. He doesn't have a good poker face. And so then Rubio turns back and what happens, Bush starts to now rub his hands together. So you see that hit a cord. He lost it a little bit here.

COSTELLO: Oh, I -

REIMAN: A few points there, yes.

COSTELLO: A few points there, yes.

OK, let's talk about Ben Carson. He rubbed his hands a lot.

REIMAN: He does that, yes.

COSTELLO: Let's watch a clip where he's discussing his stance on gay marriage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I also believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. And that there is no reason that you can't be perfectly fair to the gay community. They shouldn't automatically assume that because you believe that marriage is between one man and one woman that you are a homophobe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: OK. So I know why I rub - because I do the same thing sometimes. But I know why I do it. But why do both Ben Carson and I do that?

REIMAN: Well, you know, a lot of people do it just to get rid of anxiety. Just to, again, release tension. It's called self-adaption (ph). We feel like if we rub ourselves, it makes us feel better. He is also a surgeon, which I keep getting, you know, text messages, but he's a surgeon. Yes, so is he imagining he's washing his hands 25 times? I don't know. He does it way too often though. In addition - so - because what happens is, this is the deal. It's not about what the reason you're doing it for is. It's about how it's being perceived. So it doesn't matter if I do it just because I'm a surgeon. What matters is, how are you going to walk away and what are you going to be thinking why I did it. So, in addition to that, he also has another normal baseline, he keeps his eyes closed. And I think we've talked about this before. This is something that people go, that's a red flag, but it's his baseline, so you have to realize it and just get over it.

COSTELLO: OK. Let's go back to Marco Rubio because you said he did the best in his closing statement.

REIMAN: Yes.

COSTELLO: So let's watch a bit of that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUBIO: America doesn't owe me anything. I have a debt to America I'll never repay. This isn't just the country I was born in. This is the nation that literally changed the history of my family. My parents in this country were able to give me the chance to do all the things they never did. We call that the American dream, although it's built on the universal dream of a better life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: He's good.

REIMAN: He was good. And he was one of the few people who actually gave a closing statement that was a closing statement. The rest of them were still kind of giving their own ideas of what the future held as opposed to saying, hey, this is who I am, this is what I'm all about, and this is where I came from. I thought it was very powerful and very humble.

COSTELLO: Excellent. Tonya Reiman, thanks. We look forward to the next debate when we can have you back.

REIMAN: Thank you. Sure.

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, John Boehner says goodbye. We're minutes away from the speaker giving his final remarks and getting a new leader in the House.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:36:36] COSTELLO: House floor. Speaker John Boehner saying goodbye. He has his box of tissues ready to go. Let's listen.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), OUTGOING HOUSE SPEAKER: You that I will resign as speaker of the House effective upon the election of my successor. I will also resign as the representative from Ohio's eighth district at the end of this month. I leave with no regrets, no burdens. If anything, I leave the way I

started, I'm just a regular guy humbled by the chance to do a big job. That's what I'm most proud of. I'm still just me, the same guy who came here 25 years ago as a small businessman and spent all these 25 years trying to just be me. Now, sometimes my staff thought I was too much like me, but it really is the thing I'm most proud of, I'm the same regular guy that came here to try to do a good job for my district and my country.

But before I go, I want to express what an honor it's been to serve with all of you. And the people's house is, in my view, the great embodiment of the American dream. Everybody here comes from somewhere and everybody here is on some mission. You know, I come from a part of the world where we're used to working. As far back as I can remember, I was working. My staff was asking me the other day, well, you know on November 1st, you're not going to have a job. When was the last time you didn't have a job? And I thought about it and thought about it and thought about it. I thought, well, I had to be eight or nine years old because I was throwing newspapers back then and working at my dad's bar. As a matter of fact, I used to work from 5:00 a.m. on Saturday morning until 2:00 p.m. for $2. Not $2 on hour, $2.

I never thought about growing up as the easy way or the hard way, it was just the Cincinnati way. And you know our city takes its name from a great Roman general, Cincinnatus, a farmer who answered the call of his nation to lead and then surrendered his power to go back to his plow. For me, it wasn't a farm, it was a small business. And it wasn't so much a calling as it was a mission. A mission to strive for a smaller, less costly and more accountable federal government here in Washington.

How'd we do? Here are some facts. For the first time in nearly 20 years, we've made some real entitlement reforms, saving trillions of dollars over the long term. We've protected 99 percent of the American people in an increase in their taxes. We're on track to save taxpayers $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years, the most significant spending reductions in modern times. We banned earmarks altogether. Sorry.

We've protected this institution. We've made it more open to the people. And every day in this capital city there are hundreds of kids from the toughest neighborhoods who are finally getting the chance at a decent education.

[09:40:09] I'm proud of these things. But the mission is not complete. But the truth is, it may never be. One thing I came to realize over the years that I've been here is that this battle over the size and scope and cost of our government in Washington has been going on for more than 200 years. And the forces of the status quo do an awful lot - go through an awful lot of trouble to prevent change from happening. Real change takes time. Yes, freedom makes all things possible, but patience is what makes all things real.

So believe in the long, slow struggle. Believe in this country's ability to meet our challenges and to lead the world. And remember, you can't do a big job alone, especially this one. So I'm grateful to my family, Deb and my two girls. My two girls were three and one when I first ran for office. Now they're a lot older. And so they've been through a lot. You all know what your families go through. It's one thing for us to take the bricks and the boards and everything that gets thrown at us, but it's another thing for our families. Their skin isn't as thick as ours.

I'm also grateful to all of my colleague, my fellow leaders, Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Scalise, Mr. (INAUDIBLE), Mr. Rogers and many on my side of the aisle, our committee chairs, people I've worked with for a long time. But I'm just as grateful to Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Clyburn and Disera (ph) and others for all of the work that we've done together. And over these last five years, we've done an awful lot of work together. Probably more work done across the aisle over the last five years than in the 25 years that I've served in this institution.

Now, as much as I enjoy working with all of you, some of you still could learn to dress better. You know who you are. And I saw one of the - one of the culprits, one of the usual suspects that shows up here once in a while without a tie. But this morning, he didn't - he wasn't dressed very well, but he did have a tie on.

I'm grateful - I'm grateful to the people who work in this institution every day. And whether it's the reading clerks or - you know there are a lot of people, thousands of people that allow us to do our jobs and to help make this institution what it is. And whether it's the people you see here today or the people in the CIO's office or the Capitol Police or ledge (ph) counsel, there really are thousands of people that really do allow us to do our job.

I'm grateful to my staff. Now you all know I'm a big believer in staff. And none of us can be what we are without a good staff. And I certainly would never have gotten to this job without having built a great team. And so I really am grateful to my staff. As they like to say to each other, once you're part of Boehner-land, you are always part of Boehner-land. And that certainly goes for me as well.

I'm especially grateful to all of my constituents and volunteers over the years. That includes a student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1990. He was putting up campaign signs for me. His name was Paul Ryan. I don't - I didn't think he could pronounce my name back in 1990. He was putting yard signs up for me. But as Cincinattus understood, there was a difference between being asked to do something and being called to do something. Paul is being called. And I know he'll serve with grace and with energy. And I want to wish him and his family all the best.

[09:44:52] My colleagues, I've described my life as a chase for the American dream. And that chase began at the bottom of a hill just off the main drag in Reading, Ohio, right outside of Cincinnati. The top of the hill was a small house with a big family. A shining city in its own right. The hill just off the main drag in Reading, Ohio, right outside of Cincinnati. The top of the hill was a small house with a big family, a shining city in its own right. The hill had twists. The hill had turns. And even a few tears. Nothing wrong with that.

(LAUGHTER) But let me tell you. It was just perfect. Never forget we're the luckiest people on the earth. In America you can do anything that you are willing to work for, willing to work hard at. And anything can happen if you are willing to make the necessary sacrifices in life. If you falter -- and you will -- you can just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go do it again. Because hope always springs eternal. And if you just do the right things for the right reasons, good things will happen. And this, too, can really happen to you. God bless you. And God bless our great country.

(APPLAUSE)

Thankfully I had a gavel. Pursuant to the speaker's announcement, the chair will receive nominations for office of the speaker. And the chair recognizes the gentlelady from Washington State, Ms. McMorris Rodgers.

REP. CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS (R-WA), HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIRWOMA: Mr. Speaker. Today in the People's House, it gives me great honor to nominate the people's speaker. You don't need to look any further than the architecture of Washington, D.C. to see what our founders envisioned. It is not by mistake that the dome over the Congress is the very center of the federal city. The White House and the Supreme Court are set about us. Satellite to the supreme power of the people expressed in this legislative body.

In the House we are eager for a fresh start that will make us more effective to fulfill our obligation to reflect the will of the people and to reestablish the balance of power. And there is no better person to lead us in that calling than the man I'm about to nominate. He was first elected to the House at the ripe old age of 28. And he served here now for almost 17 years. We all remember when he led the House Budget Committee, the visionary proposals, the lengthy debates. And who could forget those PowerPoints?

He's now the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, but he's more than a chairman to us. He's more than a colleague. He's our friend. He's a leader. And threw it all he's never forgotten his roots. He lives on the same block he grew up in Jamesville, Wisconsin. There is no place he would rather be than at home with his family. He will continue to put the people of this country first. And I can say, in all candor, he did not seek this office. The office sought him.

[09:50:43] As chair of the House Republican Conference, I'm directed by a vote of that conference to present for election to the office of speaker for the House of Representatives for the 114th Congress, the representative from the state of Wisconsin, the man from Jamesville, the honorable Paul D. Ryan.

(APPLAUSE)

BOEHNER: The chair now recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr. Becerra.

REP. XAVIER BECERRA (D-CA), HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I offer my congratulations to my friend, the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Ryan, on his nomination by his colleagues. And at this time as chairman of the Democratic Caucus of this House, I wish to place in nomination the name of a proven leader for the office of speaker of the House of Representatives.

A leader who has accomplished in this chamber and for this country what few can match. A leader who, as speaker of this House, secured passage of landmark economic recovery package legislation in 2009, which transformed a diving economy, losing 800,000 jobs each month to one which has now created more than 13 million jobs over the last 67 consecutive months of job growth.

(APPLAUSE)

A leader who, as speaker, accomplished what 70 years of Congresses could not. Enactment of our life saving, health security law which has put 18 million more Americans in control of their and their children's health care.

(APPLAUSE)

A leader who had the foresight in 2008 to fight for the biggest investment in our troops since World War II with the passage of the post-9/11 G.I. Bill and the largest investment in our veterans' health care and benefits in the 77-year history of the V.A.

(APPLAUSE)

A leader who is not afraid to take on the challenge of fixing our broken immigration system and secured passage of the DREAM Act in 2010.

(APPLAUSE)

Mr. Speaker, leadership is about making the tough choices and getting things done. It means knowing how to build the majority, not just with the members of your own political party, but with the 435 elected members of the House of Representatives so we can get things done. This leader understands that and knows how to get things done, even while serving in the minority in this house. That's why less than 24 hours ago this leader succeed in breaking through the gridlock in this house and secured the votes need to avert a senseless government shutdown and a perilous default on the payment of America's bills.

(APPLAUSE)

Thanks to this leader 16.5 million seniors will not suffer a $55 per month increase in their Medicare premiums and Congress will not cut the Social Security benefits of 11 million disabled Americans by 20 percent.

(APPLAUSE)

Mr. Speaker, that's leadership and that's what Americans expect from those they elect. That is why it is my privilege as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and as directed by the colleagues of the Democratic caucus, I nominate for election to the office of speaker of the House of Representatives, from the 12th district of the great state of California, the honorable Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi.

(APPLAUSE)

BOEHNER: The names of the honorable Paul D. Ryan, a representative from the state of Wisconsin, and the honorable Nancy Pelosi, a representative from the state of California, have been placed in nomination.

Are there further nominations?

[09:55:03] There will be no further nominations. The chair appoints the following tellers: the gentlewoman from Michigan, Ms. Miller, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Brady, the gentlewoman from Ohio, Ms. Captor (ph), the gentlewoman from Florida, Ms. Roslaten (ph).

Now, the tellers will come forward and take their seats at the desk in front of the speaker's rostrum.

COSTELLO: All right. We think they're preparing for roll call right now to officially elect the speaker of the House, the new speaker of the House, Paul Ryan.

There it is, the roll call now will be taken. So during the roll call, let's check in with Jeff Zeleny, our political correspondent. I was expecting more tears from John Boehner. Still, his farewell address was touching.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Sure, Carol. We saw him hold the box of Kleenex there and we saw him tearing up a little bit. Of course that has become a hallmark of his speakership. He's an emotional guy and he makes no apologies for that, actually.

But Carol, what we're witnessing today is really a changing of the guard in republican leadership and also a passing of a torch from one era of legislative leaders to another. John Boehner came into office as a speaker after Republicans swept the majority of Congress in 2010, right after President Obama was elected. He went on to preside over the largest Republican majority in this house in 90 years.

Now there's a downside to that as well. It's actually one of his undoings because the House became so conservative, even more so than him, they did not allow him to work in a bipartisan fashion. That is why he is stepping down. He's resigned -- he's resigning his position. Of course, this has all been playing out here.

So, it's interesting to step back and look at Speaker Boehner's time of leadership. He said his biggest day - or one of his biggest days here as speaker was when Pope Francis came to visit the U.S. Capitol. He had been trying to get a pope to visit the U.S. Capitol for so long. He's a Catholic. He was an altar boy. And shortly after the pope visited, the day after he announced his resignation. That is one of the high points of his time here, he says.

But look, he's also changed earmarks. Earmarks that used to be those pet projects that legislators had, were allowed to spend the money. He outlawed those. That's one of his legacies here, Carol, that as he leaves this and passes this to a new torch of Paul Ryan, it's a new moment for this Republican Congressman.

Let's take a look at this picture. He tweeted something yesterday that caught my eye. He was stepping out on the speaker's balcony to take a look at the National Mall. You can see it right there. And he said, one last look here from the speaker's balcony. So this is a sentimental guy. He was out there with a few of us reporters the other day, talking about what this has meant to him here.

So he is being run out, in a sense, by some more conservative Republicans. But the question now is, will this party be able to govern, will both parties be able to govern, under the new leader, Paul Ryan?

COSTELLO: We'll delve into that in the next hour.

Jeff Zeleny, many thanks.

I've got to take a break. We'll be back with much more in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)