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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Pope Francis Arrives in U.S. Today; Carson Defends Comments on Muslims; Scott Walker Drops Out; Hillary Clinton's New Message; Controversial Visit from Chinese President Xi; Teary Kim Davis Gives First Interview; Elon Musk: Electric Cars are the Future; NFL Updates. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired September 22, 2015 - 05:00 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: Pope Francis arrives in the United States today, an historic visit, he has never been here before but it is a trip with some controversy.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The race for President shaking up, Ben Carson defending his controversial comments on Muslims. Carly Fiorina debuts a softer side and sings into that microphone. Scott Walker, he drops out.
Good morning, welcome to EARLY START, I'm Christine Romans.
BERMAN: I'm John Berman, Tuesday September 22nd, 5:00 a.m. in the East. You know it's a huge day in Washington.
Pope Francis arrives in the United States for his first trip ever to this country. Flying in from Cuba, the Pope will be greeted in person at Joint Base Andrews by the President, the Vice President, and their wives. This is a very, very rare formality, granted very few dignitaries. It is the sign of the great importance the President is placing on the Pope's visit and a sign of respect.
Now while the Pope is one of the world's leading religious figures there are serious political overtones to this visit creating some tension.
Let's get the very latest from senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, the White House is going to great lengths to take the politics out of the Pope's visit to the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: But that may be impossible as Pope Francis and President Obama are strong allies on so many positions that Republicans strongly oppose as the White House led the charge for same-sex marriage, Pope Francis softened his own stance on gay priests. On climate change the Pope says it's a global problem with great implications. He has slammed trickledown economics. The President has also counted on the Pope as supporter for the Iran nuclear deal and his policy on Cuba. But with the next Presidential election heating up, the White House is trying to downplay the notion that the Pope's trip is all about politics.
Here's what the White House Press Secretary had to say.
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: You know, there is no plan or strategy that's been put in place to try to, you know stage an event that will advance anybody's political agenda.
ACOSTA: Some Republicans are steamed that the White House is inviting pro-choice and pro-gay rights advocates to the Pope's arrival ceremony at the White House. Mike Huckabee dubbed that a new low for administration. He said that will go down as the most anti-Christian in American history.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: The White House insists the Pope deserves a diverse audience. John and Christine.
ROMANS: Jim Acosta, thanks for that. You know a lot of questions about just what Pope Francis might say on the visit here to the U.S. Here's a guess, he'll probably discuss the flaws of American capitalism.
It is a theme he has stuck to since the 1990s. Pope Francis wrote a book in 1998 with a chapter focus on "the limits of capitalism". He argues that while it can be good for development, capitalism lacks morals and promotes greed and selfish behavior. Over the years, he has been especially critical of the way capitalism caused destruction of the environment and increased inequality. He's even tweeted inequality is the root of all evil.
BERMAN: Overnight, a new position by Ben Carson on the idea of a Muslim in the White House.
While he is standing by the statement that he would oppose the election of a Muslim as President, Carson did add exception.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now if someone has a Muslim background and they are willing to reject those tenets and to accept the way of life that we have and clearly will swear to place our constitution above their religion, then, of course, they will be considered infidels and heretics. But at least I would then be willing to support them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Carson's statements provoked no -- provoked several responses from his Republican opponents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think that religion should be a criteria for being President. You know there should be some exclusion based on one's faith or lack of faith frankly. I know a ton of people that are peaceful Muslims that live in the United States that love this country or are patriotic Americans and serve in the military. The idea that you would think otherwise is really not grounded in reality.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Ben was saying there are difficulties and I think everybody knows what the difficulties are and people want to be politically correct. But there have been difficulties and a lot of people agree with Ben. I do think that Ben would also agree though if properly vetted, the proper people properly vetted going through an election, I think anybody that is able to win an election will be absolutely fine.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I personally do not believe that your religious denomination should disqualify you from serving in office. I that's what voters decide on on a variety of issues, including the values of someone. And I just say this whether you're a Muslim or Catholic or anything. If you have radical views and values, you're not going to get elected in this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Now Carson answered these criticisms on his Facebook page. He wrote "Those Republicans that take issue with my position are amazing. Under Islamic law, homosexuals -- men and women alike must be killed. Women must be subservient. And people following other religions must be killed. I know that there are many peaceful Muslims who do not adhere to these beliefs. But until these tenants are fully renounced, I cannot advocate a Muslim for president.
Carson will be in Ohio where he is scheduled to hold two rallies and two news conferences today in.
It is interesting his interpretation of what Islamic law is different than many scholars around the world. Turkey by the way which is a country of 95% Muslims has secular law in judiciary right there.
In the United States, there is no such thing. I mean the constitution is the law of the United States and people of all faiths agree to abide by the constitution.
ROMANS: He says until the tenets are renounced, he cannot -- he cannot -- you know he could not support a Muslim for president. But renounced by whom? Renounced by the person?
BERMAN: By the person -- by the person. And then he wants each person to renounce for real law.
ROMANS: All right, this morning there is one fewer Republican presidential candidate scrambling for votes and big money donors.
Scott Walker has announced he is quitting the race after sliding from the top of the polls to barely in Iowa to barely an asterisk now. The Wisconsin Governor framed his departure as a move to enhance Republican prospects for victory next year. And then he took a shot at Donald Trump as he exited the Presidential stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[05:05:11] GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: I encourage other Republican presidential candidates to consider doing the same so that the voters can focus on a limited number of candidates who can offer a positive, conservative alternative to the current frontrunner.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Chief political correspondent, Dana Bash has the latest on Walker's withdrawal.
DANA BASH, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, it's hard to believe that just six months ago Scott Walker was on top of the polls.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: In July, he was winning in Iowa. But his demise is a case study of the perils of running in 2016 as a lifelong politician which is what Scott Walker is.
Donald Trump came along and drowned out Walker's message. Which was he was the guy who could fight the conservative fights and can win. Because at the end of the day, he had not been an outsider. He wasn't in Washington, but he was in government his whole life. And voters at this point don't appear to want that on the Republican side.
But even worse for Walker were his missteps. Even sources close to him tell me he was on too many sides of the same issue. He had trouble answering questions. Like for example what would you do with Syrian refugees. He said that was a hypothetical. It came across, even his supporters are saying as wishy washy and pandering at a time when voters wanted fortitude from their candidates.
And at the end of the day it was also about money. Walker sources tell me he failed to shine in the first debate last month and the money to his campaign simply dried up and they couldn't get it back going again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And it was hard for him to pay the bills. In fact another source told me that Walker told his aides how can I run a campaign against the national debt if i have campaign debt. That it wasn't his time. John and Christine.
ROMANS: All right, Dana, thanks for that. You know AFL-CIO President, Richard Trumpka said "Scott Walker is still a disgrace, just no longer national." Of course you know the union is really against Scott Walker.
BERMAN: That's a scathing comment from the union.
ROMANS: Short, and not so sweet.
BERMAN: Not at all. Hillary Clinton has a new message while she is on the campaign trail, talking about the tweaks she would make to Obamacare. Clinton was discussing health care during a campaign swing through the south. She slammed -- she slammed the Republican promises to repeal the Affordable Care act if they win election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I was so proud to be a part of President Obama's administration when he signed the Affordable Care Act into law. I called him. I was going on one of those foreign trips I had to go on as Secretary of State. I was so excited. I called him and said boy Mr. President, thank you -- thank you for getting health care passed to help everybody in America. Think about it. You know they all say this. Repeal it. Get rid of it. Why would you repeal something that's working to help people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Clinton also criticized price gouging by pharmaceutical companies. Pointing to new headlines about a 5,000% hike in the price of one drug. Clinton promised to crackdown on such increases and cap out of pocket costs for prescriptions under Obamacare.
ROMANS: All right, a jam packed few days of diplomacy with the Chinese president Xi Jinping set to arrive in Seattle this afternoon to start a controversial seven day visit to the United States.
Now tensions are running high between the two countries. He will meet with business technology and aerospace leaders. This comes as the U.S. is threatening sanctions against China over allegations of computer hacking, cyber security, unfair trade practices. Also big concerns about Chinese island building in the South China Sea.
The Chinese leader will be honored at a state dinner at the White House on Thursday followed by a major address to the U.N.
BERMAN: You know it's very interesting. You know he comes to the United States in a different situation than he's been in before. The whole financial crisis and the situation facing China has weakened him. And then he was internally and externally but a lot of people think that will toughen his stance against the United States. It won't make him more vulnerable here it will make him harder to deal with.
ROMANS: And his official position is we don't hack. And American officials want to sit down at every stage of this trip and talk about the Chinese government and its backing of hackers. In a sensitive U.S. both government and industry.
BERMAN: His other official position is he doesn't answer questions and he's going to be holding a joint news conference with the President, so that'll be interesting too. The White House perhaps shifting its focus on the war against ISIS away from Iraq and towards Syria. The campaign in Iraq is stalled but Kurdish forces are making gains against ISIS in Syria. And the Pentagon wants to capitalize on that possibly by arming a wider array of rebel groups.
But complicating these efforts Russia. Russia just sent in two dozen more fighter jets to protect the Assad regime with the Russian drones now flying surveillance missions over Syria.
ROMANS: Republican Presidential contender, Carly Fiorina showing off her singing chops and her improve skills.
[05:10:00] In an appearance on The Tonight Show she sang a song off the cuff we are told about her dog snickers. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have two dogs. Snickers and Max, they're Yorkshire Terroirs but I have to explain. See I make up songs. My mother and I used to sing together all the time. And I sing to my granddaughters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it dorky?
FIORINA: Dorky?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.
(LAUGHTER)
FIORINA: My dogs are not dorky.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no. Is the -- is the singing dorky. 'Cause I know I sing to my dog and it is dorky, it's like we all do it.
FIORINA: My name's Snick and I'm lazy please don't take a walk with me I'd rather stay right here at home instead I want to lie back down in my nice warm bed. My name's Snick and you're going to have to carry me.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh you're gonna have to carry Snick, that's pretty good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: What do you think? What do you think?
BERMAN: I think every Presidential candidate should have to sing now. I want to see Donald Trump sing to his pets.
ROMANS: I only want them to sing if they can and if they're clever.
BERMAN: No, it's even better if they can't. ROMANS: You're so evil.
Fiorina today kicks off a three-day swing through South Carolina with the national security forum in Charleston and town hall in Myrtle Beach.
BERMAN: All right, the Kentucky clerk refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples brought to tears in her first interview since getting out of jail.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who became the national lightning rod for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses told ABC News in an interview that verbal attacks have been hard to deal with but they do not define who she is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[05:15:00] KIM DAVIS, KENTUCKY COUNTY CLERK: I've been called Hitler, I've been called a hypocrite, I've been called a homophobe. I've been called things and names that I didn't even say when I was in the world. Those names don't hurt me. What probably hurts me the worst is when someone tells me that my God does not love me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Davis has said issuing licenses to gay couples would violate her conscious and go against her religion. She was jailed earlier this month and released on a judge's order that she do nothing to interfere with her deputies issuing licenses to all legally eligible couples which means all gay and straight couples.
ROMANS: All right tennis great James Blake meeting face to face with New York City's mayor and police commissioner comes two weeks after Blake was mistakenly jumped by a plain clothed NYPD officer who tackled him to the ground believing he was part of an identity theft ring.
Blake said the sit down was productive and that both heard his plea for greater police accountability.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES BLAKE, TENNIS PRO: We are not looking for a quick lawsuit. We are not looking for anything that's going to -- that's going to be a quick and easy solution. We are looking for lasting positive impact on the city and on the police force.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Blake had called for the officer who tackled him to be fired, but said Monday he understands the officer has due process rights while the department goes through its disciplinary process.
BERMAN: More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed by a devastating wildfire that is still raging north of San Francisco.
More than 118 square miles of Lake County have burned with the fire only 70% contained. Nearly 7,000 more homes are in harm's way. A second fire in the Sierra Nevada foothills wiping out more than 500 more homes. That has brought the total to nearly 1,600. At least five people have already been killed. Right now, there are ten active wildfires in Northern California.
The Governor of Texas weighs in on who the cowboys should sign to replace injured quarterback Tony Romo. You'll never guess. Tim Tebow. So what does the guy who actually owns the Cowboys and have to run the team, what do they think about that? Coy Wire in the Bleacher Report next.
ROMANS: Tesla CEO Elon Musk thinks that cars are the future, electric cars are the future. Crucial for solving the planet's long term energy needs. But car buyers still worried about running out of battery on the road. But Rachel Crane reports Oakridge National laboratory may have just discovered the cure for that anxiety.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELON MUSK, CEO, TESLA AND SPACEX: The most poignant thing that has to happen is the transition of transportation to electric so that we can stop burning oil and increasing the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. That's the most important thing that needs to happen. I think we'll see some interesting things happen in the coming years.
RACHEL CRANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oil is not sustainable. A solution electric. But it has its physical limitations.
CLAUS DANIEL, OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY: The biggest challenge right now is what we call ranging site. It means people are really worried about this new technology and they feel like they're stranded at some point. Battery is empty and they can't go any further. And that is often the number one reason why they will not buy an electric vehicle. This technology could revolutionize that.
CRANE: The technology Claus is referring to is called Dynamic Wireless Charging. It works just like the wireless internet, but instead of getting you online it charges your car as you drive. Oakridge National Laboratory is a transportation testing facility run by the U.S. Government. Their mission is to solve the world's transportation problems. And that means convincing automakers, consumers and tax payers that it's worth it to rip up America's interstates.
How do you retrofit roads to become wireless charging stations?
PT JONES, PROJECT MANAGER, OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY: One of the current scenarios is that the coil would actually be embedded in the roadway. So this one would be on the underside of the vehicle and then this one would be the one that's embedded in the roadway system.
If you assume that it costs about $2 million per mile, it would be $80 billion and you would have the entire interstate equipped with electrified HOV lanes. And that now enables you to always leave the interstate with a full tank of electricity in your battery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[05:23:00] BERMAN: All right, this just in. We're two weeks into the NFL season and the New York Jets are still playoff eligible.
ROMANS: Coy Wire has the shocking details in this morning's Bleacher Report. Hey Coy.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine and John.
Who would have guessed after two weeks we'd be talking about the Colts being owed and the Jets undefeated. Last night's game can be summed up in one word. Turnovers.
Jets head coach Todd Boles defense forced five turnovers last week and they did it again against the Colts. The Jets D was hamburgers and hot dogs all up in Andrew Luck's grill, all nice. Luck had three picks, he loses this fumble, the Colts with a whopping 5 turnover games.
Somehow, it's still close in the fourth until Brandon Marshall played professional people mover and plowed three Colts into the end zone and the Jets win, 20-7. They're 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
Speaking of 2-0 teams, the Dallas Cowboys got good news yesterday. Quarterback Tony Romo will not need surgery for his broken collarbone he suffered on Sunday against the Eagles, but that still means he is going to miss at least the next seven games. The Cowboys are hoping he'll be back by late November.
So, with Romo out, fans are wondering who's going to fill the quarterback void in Dallas. Well Texas Governor, Greg Abbott tweeted that he wants to see the Cowboys sign Tim Tebow. Tebow was with the Eagles for the preseason but he got cut. Now he is Tebowing on T.V. as a college football analyst for the S.E.C. Network. Brandon Weedon is listing that the starter for the Cowboys for next Sunday's game against the Falcons. Chances are slim to none they'll sign Tebow, and slim went on vacation but who knows, we'll see if the governor has pull in his state.
Finally in college football. Ole Miss's upset win at Alabama caused a lot of heartache and pain for Crimson Tide Nation. But one Alabama fan is feeling more pain than most. We warn you this visual may be graphic.
According to a website, College Spun, this Alabama fan lost a bet to his buddy and had to get a tattoo of Ole Miss (inaudible) mascot Col. Reb on his derriere. Now we did find this on the internet so we don't know how truthful this is, we do not that it's trending and that it reminds us college football is upon us.
[05:25:08] We apologize if you are currently eating your breakfast this morning and had to see that.
ROMANS: You mean there's stuff on the internet that's not real.
BERMAN: If it's on the internet, it must be true, Coy. We stick by that.
WIRE: That's right guys.
ROMANS: Thanks Coy Wire, nice to see you.
WIRE: All right.
ROMANS: (INAUDIBLE) Pope Francis arriving in the U.S. Today.
An historic visit that's creating a little bit of controversy, that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Pope Francis arrives in the United States today meeting with the President. An historic trip causing a little bit of controversy.
BERMAN: A flurry of political news overnight. Ben Carson with new controversial comments on Muslims. Carly Fiorina she sings out loud on national T.V. And Scott Walker not singing anymore. He drops out of the race.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. 29 minutes past the hour, nice to see you all this Tuesday morning.
A huge day in Washington, folks. Pope Francis arrives in the United States for his first trip ever to this country. Flying from Cuba the Pope will be greeted in person at Joint Base Andrews by the President, the Vice President and their wives. It's a very rare formality granted to very few dignitaries. It's a sign of the great importance the President is placing on the Pope's visit. While the Pope is leading one of the world's leading religious figures, there are several political overtones to this visit of course which is creating some tension.
Let's get the latest from senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta.
ACOSTA: John and Christine, the White House is going to great lengths to take the politics out the Pope's visit to the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
But that may be impossible as Pope Francis and President Obama are strong allies on so many positions that Republicans strongly oppose. As the White House led the charge for same sex marriage Pope Francis has softened his own stance on gay priests.
