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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Obama and McConnell to Work Together?; A Change in Policy in War on ISIS?; Abducted Woman Found; Weather Forecast
Aired November 06, 2014 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama vows to work with Republicans or without them. He congratulates the GOP on their election victory, but promises to go it alone if they cannot find common ground. What the president and Republican leaders of Congress had to say overnight, ahead.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The president shifting strategy when it comes to fighting ISIS in Syria, now asking Congress for support. We're live with the very latest.
BERMAN: And breaking news this morning. A Philadelphia nurse whose violent abduction was caught on camera, she is found alive. Her suspected captor is now behind bars. We have new developments just ahead.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's Thursday, November 6th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.
President Obama adjusting to a drastically changed political landscape this morning. With Republicans now in control of both houses of Congress, the president is wasting no time extending an olive branch, setting a meeting with the entire congressional leadership for Friday, while still arguing for his own relevance. Wednesday night the president issued an open letter to the American people that says, "while I'm sure we'll continue to disagree on some issues that we're passionate about, I'm eager to work with Congress over the next two years to get the job done."
At a major news conference Wednesday, the president delivered much of the same message, that he is listening, he's willing to work with Republicans, but not willing to give up his agenda.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What stands out to me though is that the American people sent a message. So to everyone who voted, I want you to know that I hear you. To the two-thirds of voter whose chose not to participate in the process yesterday, I hear you, too.
I'm going to be reaching out to both Mitch McConnell, John Boehner and other Republicans, as well as Democratic leaders, to find out how it is that they want to proceed. And if they want to get a bill done, whether it's during the lame duck or next year, I am eager to see what they have to offer. But what I'm not going to do is just wait.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: So, topping the list of the things the president says he is not willing to wait for is immigration reform. This issue really could set the tone for the next several months. The president says that he intends to take executive action on his own before the end of the year to, as he puts it, improve the functioning of our immigration system. The president adds that he expects some Republicans to be angered or frustrated by these actions. And, right on cue, the man who will be the next Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, says Republicans will use their newly won control of the Senate to stop the president.
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SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: It's like waving a red flag in front of a bull to say, if you guys don't do what I want, I'm going to do it on my own. And the president's done that on Obamacare, he's done it on immigration and threatening to do it again. I hope he won't do that because I do think it poisons the well for the opportunity to address a very important domestic issue.
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ROMANS: With Mitch McConnell expected to lead the Senate starting in January, the terms of his relationship with President Obama are also set to change. The president says he is certainly going to be spending a lot more time with the Kentucky senator. And having once mocked the idea of getting a drink with McConnell, President Obama now says he'd enjoy having some Kentucky bourbon with him. Chief congressional correspondent Dana Bash has more.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, Mitch McConnell got the call he's been waiting for his entire political life, a congratulatory call from the president for seizing the GOP majority and for becoming the presumptive Senate majority leader. Now, he has been thinking and planning and plotting for months about how to handle this power once Republicans got it. Again, not just control of the Senate, but total control of Congress.
Now, McConnell knows Republicans have to lead. He made that very clear. They can't just win elections, they have to show that they can govern. And that was the thrust of the message in an op-ed in "The Wall Street Journal" penned by both McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner. They set a conciliatory tone and said they know they have to prove early on that they can legislate. They plan to start right in January when the new Congress comes in, putting some issues on the floor in each chamber that they can pass.
But, you know, just because they hold votes, doesn't mean it's the end of gridlock. The president has a veto pen and one that he's only used twice in six years, which is kind of unbelievable. But Democrats have controlled the Senate since the president's been in office and they wouldn't let legislation go to the White House he wouldn't sign.
But, you know, as for the president, he did offer a sort of Kentucky bourbon summit with McConnell so they can talk about areas of common ground and build a relationship, which both men say is cordial. But we know from sources that it's certainly not very close. But what's unclear is, let's say they can even do that. Do we really think that a lame duck president and a Republican leader with an unruly caucus can cut deals? That's the big question, John and Christine.
BERMAN: Yes, the limits of Kentucky bourbon.
All right, President Obama also signaled a big change in the war against ISIS, calling for new authorization from Congress for the use of military force. This is a significant change in the administration's claim up until now that use of force authorizations against al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein were enough for this round of military action. Let's turn to our international correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh, for more this morning.
Good morning, Nick.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, Barack Obama's comments last night suggest potentially that he sees a lot longer war against ISIS and potentially other al Qaeda affiliates here near Syria and in Iraq too. Perhaps he felt initially that he could get away without standing legislation from the Iraq and al Qaeda fights before, but now if Congress, now firmly Republican, perhaps seeks a broader discussion about that too and maybe this is also about framing up the issue of how to deal with ISIS ahead of the 2016 presidential elections, especially get the Republicans to state their position. But an increasingly complex policy for Obama to pursue.
We are learning overnight that a different Syrian rebel group, known as Ahrar al Sham, may have been targeted by what appears to be air strikes overnight. One monitoring group, known as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, says a number of targets were hit in an area called Idlib. That's where an al Qaeda affiliate had been seizing more territory recently. But it says one of those targets was, in fact, the headquarters of a group called Ahrar al Sham.
Now, while they're not considered a terror group by the United States, they have some conservative leanings. But many Syrians, and many observers, view them as moderates. So, if it is the case that -- that deliberate action rather than mistake the U.S. targeted their political headquarters, then when Washington learns of this news, they will have to, of course, explain that and explain what it means for their policy. Is this because Ahrar al Sham, perhaps working too closely with the Nusra Front on the ground, or is it because the U.S. policy is now, as hinted by U.S. officials, widening enough to include groups that some may consider moderates, but make Washington uncomfortable and they think they need to be degraded on the Syrian battlefield. A very messy policy potentially expanding at the moment.
John.
BERMAN: For an ever shifting situation on the ground, as you know. Nick Paton Walsh for us. Thanks so much, Nick.
President Obama says nearly 4,000 U.S. troops being deployed to Liberia will not be treating Ebola patients, not directly, but more than 70 doctors and nurses from the U.S. Public Health Service Commission Corps will begin treating infected health care workers in Monrovia this week. That group is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. The president is also asking for more than $6 billion in emergency funding to fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
ROMANS: Dr. Craig Spencer appears to be gaining the upper hand in his battle with the Ebola virus. The New York doctor says he's improving at Bellevue hospital and is listed in stable condition now. And city health officials tell us one person who was quarantined after coming in contact with Dr. Spencer has now been released and is Ebola-free.
BERMAN: So it has been more than 24 hours since the polls closed across the country, but a handful of races are still up in the air. Senate races in Alaska and Virginia remain too close to project this morning, and a third race in Louisiana heading to a runoff next month. Among the gubernatorial races that had close finishes, Vermont, wins (ph) could go to the legislature, and Alaska, where they're still counting votes, those have yet to be resolved.
ROMANS: All right, time for an early start on money. Republicans win. Stocks win. Stocks hit records. U.S. stock futures down a bit this morning, but it was a record day yesterday. The Dow jumped at the open, closed at the record high. The S&P 500 also finished the day at a high.
Investors are hoping more Republican leadership means more pro- business policies or less regulation. And those policies could be especially beneficial to certain industries. Utilities, energy stocks soared yesterday. A lot of speculation the Republicans will push through approval of the Keystone pipeline, making it easier to export liquefied natural gas.
Yesterday, European stocks also climbed on the GOP win. Today's focus shifts to the European Central Bank's policy meeting. Stocks, lower. Asian stocks are mixed. But they were calling it the GOP rally.
BERMAN: All right, new developments in the violent abduction of a Philadelphia nurse. Overnight, that victim found alive. Her suspected kidnapper, behind bars. This is developing news. We'll have the very latest ahead.
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BERMAN: All right, a dramatic development as a Philadelphia woman, who's abduction was caught on camera, is found alive in Maryland. Carlesha Freeland-Gaither is already out of the hospital. Her alleged kidnapper is behind bars this morning. And these developments comes as much-needed relief for her family.
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KEISHA GAITHER, MOTHER OF KIDNAPPING VICTIM: She was very upset. She was crying. And she just was asking for me. (INAUDIBLE) she loved me, she missed me, come get her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what did you say to her?
GAITHER: I'm going to get my daughter. I'm going to get my baby.
CHARLES RAMSEY, PHILADELPHIA POLICE COMMISSIONER: He's a vicious predator. He is off the streets and hopefully he will be in jail for the rest of his life. That's the only thing he deserves.
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BERMAN: So, how did police crack this case? CNN's Jean Casarez with the very latest developments.
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Police made the announcement a little after 7:00 last night that Carlesha Gaither has been found alive. She was found in Jessup, Maryland. And police say that she was in the car of her abductor, was pulled over to the side of the road. They were able to locate him because they were able to locate his vehicle. They moved in. They apprehended him and they rescued her. She was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, police say. They began to question her. She's been through a lot, but they will find out more in the upcoming days.
They do believe, though, this is a stranger abduction. Now it was just Sunday night at 9:40 and you can see the video here. It's an extraordinary, horrific video of a kidnapping caught on tape from a surveillance camera that happened to be on and rolling that Sunday night. As you can see, her kidnapper, with purpose, walks across the street, walks down to where it's believed she got off a bus, finds her, introduces himself or at least speaks some words to her and minutes later the kidnapping begins. She can hardly struggle because of the force of that kidnapper as he walks her up that street toward his car. She fights. She loses her cell phone. And he actually gets her into his vehicle. The windows of the back passenger areas were broken out by Carlesha, but he speeds off.
There's also video of the next morning of him having -- taking her ATM card to get a small amount of money and then going to a convenience store. But it's that surveillance video that helped locate who we now know is 37-year-old Delvin Barnes being held this morning on attempted murder out of Virginia, waiting federal charges in this case in Pennsylvania.
John. Christine.
ROMANS: All right, Jean, thank you for that.
A Washington state man is in custody this morning after allegedly killing his girlfriend and posting pictures of her body online. Amber Lynn Coplin was found dead in her Port Orchard apartment Wednesday. Her boyfriend, David Kalac, arrested in connection with her death after police say he posted pictures of her body with chilling descriptions of the slaying and challenging authorities to find him and kill him. Coplin's neighbors are in disbelief.
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MARLENE FECTO, NEIGHBOR: Just to post the pictures and what he wrote makes the crime 100 times worse than what it is.
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ROMANS: Police say he texted a friend Tuesday morning telling the friend he would read about him in the news.
BERMAN: Activists in Ferguson, Missouri, hoping to head off widespread violence if a grand jury decides not to indict Police Officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown. Members of the Don't Shoot Coalition are asking prosecutors for 48 hours advanced notice before any announcement is made to the public. Now, that request is being considered. A grand jury decision is expected to be handed up by the middle of the month.
ROMANS: A federal grand jury now hearing testimony on whether George Zimmerman violated Trayvon Martin's civil rights when he fatally shot the Florida teenager, Trayvon Martin, in 2012. Zimmerman, you'll recall, was acquitted of second degree murder in that criminal case last year.
BERMAN: Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his wife are expected to testify today at his appeal hearing in New York. Rice claims the NFL violated the league's collective bargaining agreement and subjected him to double jeopardy by extending his two game suspension to an indefinite ban after the video surfaced of Rice punching out his then fiance in an elevator. Commissioner Roger Goodell testified for more than two hours on Wednesday.
ROMANS: Here's a shocker. Alex Rodriguez reportedly admitted to DEA agents he paid BioGenesis founder Tony Bosch for testosterone and HGH between 2010 and 2012. Now, publicly, A-Rod has denied any connection to Bosch. "The Miami Herald" says Rodriguez's admission come after he was granted immunity from prosecution. It comes on the heels of another report that A-Rod paid nearly $1 million to keep his cousin quiet about the slugger's use of performance enhancing drugs.
BERMAN: Let me just remind you, the Yankees have him for three more years and more than $60 million. Congratulations, Yankees.
ROMANS: Wow!.
BERMAN: Virgin Galactic forging ahead just one week after losing SpaceShipTwo in a deadly crash. The company is announcing plans to resume test flights as early as next summer if it can finish construction on a new spacecraft in time. That company also confirming that 20 customers who put down $250,000 each for future flights, they've now asked for refunds.
ROMANS: The legal battle is not over, but supporters of same-sex marriage are celebrating a victory after a Missouri judge overturned the state's ban, ruling that it was unconstitutional. Missouri's attorney general appealed the decision but has not yet requested a stay of the judge's order allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies to proceed.
BERMAN: Berkeley, California, the first city in the nation to pass the soda tax. This measure was approved overwhelmingly and poses a penny an ounce tax on most surgery beverages. Soft drink makers spent big, more than $10 million, to try to defeat the law, but the large infusion of cash --
ROMANS: Yes.
BERMAN: From Michael Bloomberg helped fund last minute pro-tax advising. You remember the former mayor tried unsuccessfully to ban super sided surgery beverages when he was mayor of New York City.
ROMANS: All right, it's just their first sighting and folks in North Dakota know there's a lot more to come in the months ahead. It's snow. About two inches fell in the season's first snow storm, barely enough to make North Dakotans notice.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: A very good early morning to you there in the Northeast, although not as nice as yesterday. Rain does move in. Clouds move in. And then the cold air comes in for tomorrow afternoon behind the cold fronts and we will see a drop down in temperatures. It doesn't even warm up that much today across the northeast actually. Temperatures only going to be in the 50s, 54 in New York City, 65 in D.C., and then warmer to the south, but only 69 to about 70 in Atlanta, Georgia, for later on this afternoon.
There goes the front for tomorrow. And that's the cold air. It's going to be a cold Hudson hawk blowing down the Hudson River tomorrow afternoon. And temperatures are going to be about the same as today, but certainly just no chance of any significant warmup through the afternoon and then it's going to get cold again for the weekend. High tomorrow only 51 in New York, but 55 in D.C. and 58 in Atlanta. So that cold air is going to make its way all the way down to the Gulf Coast.
Guys, enjoy your day. Back to you.
ROMANS: All right, Chad Myers with that weather report for us this morning.
A big night in the world of country music. Luke Bryan win the top prize, entertainer of the year, at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville. Miranda Lambert took home four awards at the CMAs, including female vocalist of the year. Her husband, Blake Shelton, was named top male vocalist.
BERMAN: Congratulations to them.
Deadly attacks on the crowded streets of Jerusalem. The moments of terror caught on camera. We'll break this down live. Plus, the situation on the ground this morning, next.
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BERMAN: All right, an interesting development this morning. A top al Qaeda leader in Yemen is among those killed by a U.S. drone strike. Shawki al-Badani had been designated by the U.S. as a global terrorist. He has been linked to two plots to attack the U.S. embassy in Sanaa, as well as a 2012 suicide bombing that killed more than 100 soldiers in the Yemeni capital. U.S. drone strikes in central Yemen have killed at least 10 suspected al Qaeda militants just this week.
ROMANS: Israeli officials are investigating possible terrorist attacks after two incidents involving Palestinian drivers slamming their vehicles into crowds of Israelis. Officials say a border police officer was killed and more than a dozen other injured in those attacks. In the latest incident, Israeli military officials say a freight truck slammed into a group of Israeli soldiers near the West Bank. The driver fled, sparking a massive manhunt.
BERMAN: A new indication of the strained relations between the United States and Russia. Moscow announcing it will not attend the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington. The Russian ambassador to the U.S. says, while they are committed to nonproliferation, they see no added value in such a big splash meeting. And he says Russia is disappointed with how Vladimir Putin has been demonized in U.S. media.
ROMANS: U.S. prosecutors are launching a money laundering investigation into a member of Vladimir Putin's inner circle. According to "The Wall Street Journal," billionaire Russian gas trader Gennady Timchenko allegedly transferred funds from corrupt oil deals in Russia through the U.S. financial system. The U.S. attorney's office in New York is heading up the investigation with an assist from the Justice Department.
BERMAN: So can they get along? President Obama congratulating the newly elected Republican-led Congress, vowing to work with them, or not? We'll break down the complicated new relationships in Washington, next.
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