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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Trump, Carson Enter "Muslim President" Fray; American Hostages Released in Yemen; Day Two for Pope Francis in Cuba; Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired September 21, 2015 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:12] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Dramatic developments in the race for president. Donald Trump and Ben Carson facing new criticisms. New criticism for what they are about Muslims as Carly Fiorina surges in a new CNN poll.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Two American hostages held captive for months in Yemen, they are free this morning.
ROMANS: A night of firsts at the Emmy Awards. The historic wins and records broken. What a night while you were sleeping.
Good morning. And welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BERMAN: Nice to see you today. I'm John Berman. Monday, September 21st, 4:00 a.m. in the East.
New controversy in the Republican race for president this morning. Ben Carson says a Muslim should not be president. Donald Trump suggests we might already have a Muslim president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHUCK TODD, MSNBC ANCHOR: Can you imagine supporting or being comfortable if a Muslim ever became president of the United States?
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can say that, you know, it's something that at some point could happen. We'll see. I mean, you know, it's something that could happen. Would I be comfortable? I don't know if we have to address it right now but I think it is certainly something that could happen.
TODD: You said you have no problem putting a Muslim in your cabinet.
TRUMP: I mean, some people have said it already happened, frankly. But of course you wouldn't agree with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Now both Donald Trump and Ben Carson find themselves in dramatically -- in a dramatically reordered battle to become president. Carly Fiorina has vaulted into second place in the new CNN-ORC poll, riding away from her CNN debate performance. She received a rock star welcome at a Republican conference in Michigan and says she has every intention of milking the new attention and focus on her campaign. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: More people know who I am and we know, based on what's happened before this debate, that as people come to know me and they understand who I am and what I've done, and most importantly what I will do, they tend to support me. And so the truth is we're going to stay out here working hard every single day so that people who may be were introduced to me for the first time at that debate now get to know a little bit more about me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Let's get the very latest, turning to CNN's Sunlen Serfaty at Mackinac Island.
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Christine.
Well this new poll shows just how much the debate has really shaken up the race. And that's especially highlighted when you look at the state of the field just one month ago. These new poll numbers show that Donald Trump, he is still in the lead but he's on a downward slope. He is sliding 8 percentage points since early September. And if you compare that to Carly Fiorina, she has leaped up 12 percentage points, that's a huge gain in really only about three weeks.
This also shows a really stunning collapse in support for Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker. He's really seen a huge drop fast. Now basically registering at an asterisk, that's less than one half of a percentage point.
Now meanwhile Donald Trump, as he's seen his support slide, he continues to get questions on the campaign trail about this controversy which happened last week in New Hampshire. That exchange he had with a supporter not only failing to correct that supporter who claimed that President Obama is a Muslim, that President Obama is not an American, but for not disputing the claim that this supporter made that Muslims are a problem in the U.S.
On "STATE OF THE UNION," Jake Tapper asked Donald Trump if he has a responsibility to correct the record, here's how he responded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: But we could be politically correct if you want but certainly -- are you trying to say we don't have a problem? Because I think everybody would agree. I have friends that are Muslims. They're great people. Amazing people. And most Muslims like most everything, I mean these are fabulous people. But we certainly do have a problem. I mean you have a problem throughout the world.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR, "STATE OF THE UNION": What's the problem?
TRUMP: Well, you have radicals that are doing things. I mean it wasn't people from Sweden that blew up the World Trade Center, Jake. TAPPER: I get that. But to say we have a problem and it's called
Muslims because there are some extremist Muslims is tarring all Muslims. You would agree that the vast --
TRUMP: No, I don't agree with that at all. But you have extremist Muslims that are in a class by themselves. I mean they are -- it is a problem in this country and it's a problem throughout the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SERFATY: And Trump was also confronted over the weekend by a student at an event who asked him if he would consider including a Muslim in his cabinet or potentially even putting a Muslim on his ticket. Donald Trump said that he would and that he does not have a problem with that. John, and Christine.
ROMANS: All right, Sunlen for us in Mackinac Island. Thanks for that.
This morning, it is clear Donald Trump is feeling the heat from Carly Fiorina. At least on Twitter. Overnight, he tweeted, "There is no way that Carly Fiorina can become the Republican nominee or win against the Dems. Boxer killed her for Senate in California." And this, "Carly Fiorina did such a horrible job at Lucent and HP, virtually destroying both companies, that she never got another CEO job offer."
[04:05:04] And how about this one? "I'm attracting the biggest crowds by far and the best poll numbers. Also by far much of the media is totally dishonest. So sad." And on "STATE OF THE UNION" Trump accused debate moderator Jake Tapper of going easy on Fiorina. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I think Carly had a good night, but I think you gave her a lot of very easy questions. You know, you read off a couple of questions, which all you had to do is say I agree with that. So I think that, you know, she had some pretty easy questions. You gave her some beautiful softballs. I think --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Fiorina will get a national platform to fire back this evening on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon."
BERMAN: All right. New this morning, a Muslim-American group is calling on Ben Carson to drop out of the presidential race. This comes after Carson says the U.S. should not elect a Muslim president. Carson, asked whether a president's faith should matter to voters, responded, "I guess it depends on what that faith is," and he added, "If it is consistent with the Constitution, no problem."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: So do you believe that Islam is consistent with the Constitution?
BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, I don't -- I do not. I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.
TODD: And you -- would you ever consider voting for a Muslim for Congress?
CARSON: Congress is a -- is a different story but it depends on who that Muslim is and what their policies are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: A spokesman for the Carson campaign said the candidate did not mean a Muslim should not be prevented from running for president. Only that Carson, quote, "just doesn't believe the American people are ready for that."
Let me give you a dramatic reading of Article VI paragraph three of the Constitution. "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
ROMANS: Dramatic reading of the Constitution on a Monday morning. John, thank you for that.
BERMAN: I know. How do you like that?
ROMANS: Thank you for that.
Republicans this morning attacking President Obama's nomination of a gay man to be secretary of army. Mike Huckabee slamming Eric Fanning's nomination in a statement, saying the president is, quote, "more interested in appeasing America's homosexuals than honoring America's heroes." Ted Cruz called early White House talking points not encouraging but he says he'll wait until Fanning's confirmation hearings to weigh in on the nomination and its merits.
BERMAN: All right. New this morning, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden appears to be on board with a possible run for the White House. A spokesperson for Jill Biden is not disputing an NBC News' reporting that is, quote, "not an obstacle" to the bid for the Democratic nomination her husband is now considering. There have been speculations she was reluctant to mount another bid.
Nearly 50 top Democratic fundraisers and activists have signed a letter urging Joe Biden to jump into the race, saying he is sure to win if he does. Even so, Hillary Clinton, though, telling CBS that she is not doing anything to prepare for a Biden run.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, we are not because this -- you know this is such a personal decision and the vice president has to, you know, sort this out. He's been so open in talking about how difficult this time is for him and his family and he's obviously considering what he wants to do, including whether he wants to run. And I just have the greatest respect and affection for him. And I think everybody just ought to give him the space to decide what's best for him and his family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: This morning the United States is increasing the number of refugees it will admit and resettle in the upcoming fiscal year and beyond. 85,000 refugees from all over the world will be accepted during fiscal year 2016. An increase of 15,000 and covers the White House's commitment to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees to help Europe deal with the migrant crisis. In 2017, the total number will be increased to 100,000. Secretary of State John Kerry making the announcement during a visit to Germany.
Syria's Assad regime welcoming Russia's growing military role in the country's bloodiest civil war. But Secretary of State John Kerry is warning it could lure more extremists to the conflict and complicate peace efforts. Syria's Foreign minister disagrees, insisting Russia's increase flow of arms to the regime could be a game changer in the war against ISIS.
BERMAN: The president of Iran says he believes the lack of trust between his country and the U.S. will not end any time soon. But Hassan Rouhani insists the first steps had been taken toward easing that distrust because of the landmark nuclear agreement. The Iranian leader tells CBS News that what matters now is the direction the two nations are taking.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (Through Translation): We wanted this incorrect accusation that Iran is after nuclear weapons corrected and resolved. And that the goal of Iran is peaceful activity. In this deal, we have accepted limitations for a period of time in order to create more trust with the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Rouhani says he is confident that Iran's parliament and Supreme National Security Council will approve the nuclear agreement.
ROMANS: All right. Happy Monday. Time for an EARLY START on your money this week. European and Asian shares are mixed. Shanghai's index up about 2 percent. U.S. stock futures are lower. This coming after stocks retreated on Friday. Look at that. The Dow dropped 290 points. Uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's plan to raise interest rates and in particular concern at the Fed about global growth.
[04:10:11] All right. You're seeing there, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said he could be -- he'd be fine with paying a bit more in taxes. Listen to his comments on Sunday's "Meet the Press."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE DIMON, CEO, JPMORGAN CHASE: If you said to me would you pay 10 percent more, I'd say yes, I'd have no personal problems at all. Zero. I understand, you know, that I should be paying more than my assistant pays or something like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The top income tax rate is currently 39.6 percent. Executive pay and taxes have become a big issue on the campaign trail. Bernie Sanders running for the Democratic nomination said he is OK with bringing back a 90 percent tax rate on the wealthiest Americans. It's something that hasn't been in play since the early 1960s. Donald Trump has said hedge funds managers are getting away with murder. They have a very special little carried interest provision. They have a special part of the tax code.
BERMAN: He's not talking about raising the income tax rates. He's talking about tax and carried interests in a different way.
ROMANS: Right.
BERMAN: But might have the same effect.
An emotional end to television's biggest night. Tracy Morgan who is still recovering from a devastating highway accident last year. He appeared on stage to a standing ovation. He thanked everyone for their prayers and positive thoughts and then the show -- and then he showed that he hasn't lost his comic touch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRACY MORGAN, COMEDIAN: It's been a long road back. I suffered a traumatic brain injury that put me in a coma for eight days. When I finally regained consciousness, I was just ecstatic to learn that I wasn't the one who messed up. Only recently I've started to feel like myself again. So which means a whole lot of young women are going to get pregnant at the after-party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Morgan handed out the top prize of the night. Best Drama Series which went to HBO's "Game of Thrones." Another HBO show "Veep" won the Emmy for Best Comedy Series. It stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her fourth straight Best Actress Emmys.
ROMANS: She said she was just so happy to have a cool job. She loves her job. This is just icing on the cake.
BERMAN: There's Mel Brooks up there. There's a whole lot of funny in one place. Jon Hamm finally won --
ROMANS: Finally.
BERMAN: -- Best Actor for his role as Don Draper in the last season of "Mad Man." He will not repeat because "Mad Man" is done. This is his first win after eight Emmy nominations. He got up there, and he said, there must be some mistake. Viola Davis not only won, she made history becoming the first African-American woman to win Best Actress in a Drama Series for "How to Get away with Murder."
ROMANS: And she'll say -- she said it will be real progress when you don't have firsts anymore.
BERMAN: That's right.
ROMANS: When we're stopping with the first.
All right. Twelve minutes past the hour. American hostages held captive for months in Yemen. They are free this morning. The story behind their release. Live after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:16:01] ROMANS: Two Americans held hostage for six months by Houthi rebels in Yemen they are free this morning. The two men along with four others captives were flown to Oman. Scott Darden and Sam Farran had been trying to flee Yemen in March when they were taken prisoner. One other American also believed to be taken by the Houthis remains in captivity this morning.
Let's get the latest from CNN senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, live for us this morning from Beirut -- Nick.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it must have been nerve wracking hours yesterday as reports emerged that three Americans may have been on that plane. Well, that turned out to be wrong, State Department officials saying. No, there were two. A third left behind. Scott Darden and Sam Farran, yes, now safe in Muscat, Oman. Have been for since yesterday afternoon.
And it appears, according to (INAUDIBLE) I spoke to in Sana'a, but actually this was the Houthi rebels. Remember, they are in a bitter civil war against the Saudi Arabian-led coalition that are using jets and ground troops to push them back towards the capital Sana'a. This according to the diplomat I spokes to, a peace offering of some descriptions. A Houthi delegation was on that plane, I'm told, with the Americans.
And it turns out three Saudi Arabians and a Britton, the U.K. government has confirmed, taking them to Oman perhaps hoping to use that opportunity, that olive branch so to speak, to try and get the idea of peace talks starting again. Much pessimism about the potential for the success of that. But still one small chink of light now, we see these two Americans in safety. One working for a logistics company, one apparently involved in security in Sana'a, assisting expats there but still the fate and details of that third American unknown at this stage. It must be deeply troubling for his family -- Christine.
ROMANS: Yes. Deeply troubling indeed. And a reminder just how quickly the situation deteriorated there. All of those -- all those expats fleeing so quickly.
Thanks so much for that, Nick, in Beirut. BERMAN: Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was a disillusioned soldier who
was frustrated with his mission and his commanders when he hatched a plan to run away from his outpost for just a day or two. That is according to military prosecutors who claim Bergdahl then planned to demand a meeting with the general to air his grievances but instead was captured by the Taliban.
Bergdahl faces up to life in prison on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. A decision on whether he will face a court martial is expected within the next few days.
ROMANS: An Alabama man facing three counts of attempted murder in a shooting at a church in Selma on Sunday. 26-year-old James Minter allegedly opened fire inside the Oasis Tabernacle Church. His girlfriend, their infant daughter and a pastor were shot. The mother is in critical condition. Police investigating a possible motive, saying Minter and his girlfriend were involved in a dispute over visitation and there was an ongoing domestic violence situation according to police.
BERMAN: The mother of the girl who became known as Boston's Baby Doe will be arraigned in court today. Rachelle Bond is charged with an accessory after the fact in the death of 2-year-old Bella. Her body was found in a beach back in June. The mother's boyfriend, Michael McCarthy, he is charged with murder. The girl's father has told two Boston newspapers that his daughter was killed because the mother's boyfriend believes -- believed she was possessed by demons.
ROMANS: Such a sad story.
Crews in northern California still struggling with two monster wildfires. The Valley and Butte Fires are ranked the most destructive in state history. Officials say another 162 homes were destroyed Sunday bringing the total to nearly 1600 in the past two weeks. Cleanup has begun in some areas where residents are seeing for the first time what little is left of their homes and property.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ANNE CURTIS, HOME DESTROYED BY WILDFIRE: Everything was destroyed. House, the barn, the woodshed. Three cars, some tractors. A whole backhoe. Tires, melted off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The Valley Fire is a little more than 50 percent contained. Authorities say the cause is still under investigation.
BERMAN: All right. An historic trip for the Pope in Cuba, meeting with both Castro brothers and delivering a new message for the Cuban people. This just days before he's due to arrive here in the United States. That's coming up.
[04:20:03]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ROMANS: The Pope getting set for the second full day of his historic trip to Cuba, following a morning mass, he'll fly to Santiago for a meeting with bishops. The Pope already breaking barriers meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro and Raul's predecessor, his brother Fidel. The Pope treading lightly when discussing human rights, refusing so far to directly criticize the Cuban dictators.
More now from CNN's Ed Lavandera in Havana.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, Pope Francis ended his first full day in Cuba doing what he loves to do most. Meeting with a large group of young people. This was significant because the Vatican brought in a Wi-Fi system and encouraged the young people in the crowd to send out social media messages to the rest of the world. Important because Cuba is one of the most disconnected countries on the planet. So access to this Wi-Fi connection is extremely rare for many people.
And this was significant. The Pope really seemed to enjoy all of it. And now he moves on from Havana on Monday. He will fly to the eastern provinces of Cuba, holding a series of masses over the next couple of days in the towns of Holguin and Santiago before he flies to the United States and starts his pilgrimage there and visits the cities of Washington, New York and Philadelphia -- John and Christine.
BERMAN: All right. Thanks for that.
Defectors from ISIS revealing their disillusionment of the terror group. A report being released today by a research group that studies radicalization includes interviews with dozens of defectors.
[04:25:09] Many say they disapprove of the indiscriminate killing of hostages and civilians by ISIS as well as the hostility towards other Sunni rebel groups fighting government forces in Syria.
ROMANS: All right. A big shakeup this morning in the race for president. Donald Trump and Ben Carson facing new criticism for what they are saying about Muslims. And Carly Fiorina, she skyrockets in a new CNN poll, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: New controversy in the race for president. Donald Trump, Ben Carson. What did they say about Muslims and if we should ever have a Muslim president?
ROMANS: American hostages held captive for months in Yemen. They are free this morning. We got the story behind their release ahead.
BERMAN: An emotional night at the Emmys. Historic wins, records broken, a triumphant surprise appearance to close out the night. And some serious hard core laughs, as well.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. Nice to see you this Monday morning. Nice to see you. You've been on the road. 29 -- 30 minutes past the hour.
New controversy in the Republican race for president this morning. Ben Carson says a Muslim should not be for president. Donald Trump suggests we might already have a Muslim president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHUCK TODD, MSNBC ANCHOR: Can you imagine supporting or being comfortable if a Muslim ever became president of the United States?
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can say that, you know, it's something that at some point could happen. We'll see. I mean, you know, it's something that could happen.
[04:30:04] Would I be comfortable? I don't know if we have to address it right now but I think it is certainly something that could happen.
TODD: You said you had no problem putting a Muslim in your cabinet.
TRUMP: I mean, some people have said it already happened, frankly.
