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Obama Promises A Nominee, Takes On Trump; Supreme Court Battle; Trump's Commanding Lead in South Carolina; U.S. Blames Russia for Syrian Airstrikes; Ronda Rousey Considered Suicide After Defeat. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired February 17, 2016 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama defiant, promising to nominate someone to fill the Supreme Court vacancy and he has new criticism for the Republican front-runner in the race for president.
Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I am Miguel Marquez. It is Wednesday, February 17th. It's 5:00 a.m. here on the East Coast.
President Obama this morning keeping mum about who he might nominate to replace Antonin Scalia, except to say it will be someone with, quote, "an outstanding legal mind, indisputably qualified to serve on the Supreme Court". The White House strategy for getting a nominee on the high court started to take shape with the news conference in which the president pushed back against what he called Republican obstructionism.
[05:00:06] CNN justice correspondent Pamela Brown has the latest from Washington, D.C.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Christine and Miguel.
This is the first time that President Obama took questions following Justice Scalia's death and he took a tough stance, saying that the Constitution is clear, both he and the Senate have the responsibility in filling the Supreme Court vacancy. He said he expects Senate Republicans to consider any nominee he puts forward no matter what, that they have a job to do until they're voted out and he made the point that whoever he chooses will be so indisputably qualified that the Republicans will essentially look bad if they refuse to even consider that person.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're going to find somebody who has an outstanding legal mind, somebody who cares deeply about our democracy and cares about rule of law. There's not going to be any particular position on a particular issue that determines whether or not I nominate them, but I'm going to present somebody who indisputably is qualified for the seat, and any fair-minded person, even somebody who disagreed with my politics would say, would serve with honor and integrity on the court.
BROWN: He would not give any hints about who is on his short list. He said don't jump to any conclusions about whether they're moderates. We know that the White House has already started whittling down potential nominees. And, normally, this is a process that takes about a month before this president comes out and announces who his nominee is and then the ball is in the Senate's court -- Christine and Miguel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Pamela, thank you.
President Obama says Donald Trump is not ready or qualified to be president and the American people are too sensible to elect him president. The president slamming all the GOP candidates for their stances on climate change, on Muslims, on immigration, but calling out Trump by name as the candidate least ready to be president, criticism that Trump then wore as a badge of honor.
MARQUEZ: Of course.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I continue to believe Mr. Trump will not be president, and the reason is because I have a lot of faith in the American people and I think they recognize that being president is a serious job. It's not hosting a talk show or a reality show.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He has done such a lousy job as president.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
You look at our budgets, you look at our spending. We can't beat ISIS. Obamacare is terrible. And for him to say that actually is a great compliment, if you want to know the truth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: You hear the clapping and cheers. Trump's support is only growing in South Carolina, holding huge lead in a brand new CNN poll. He is 16 points ahead of Ted Cruz, his nearest rival.
Joining us to discuss the presidential action at a remarkable press conference yesterday by the president of the United States, CNN politics reporter Tom LoBianco, who is in our Washington bureau.
And you know, I go to tell you, Tom, as I'm sitting there listening to the president weighing in on this race, weighing on the Republican field, weighing in on Donald Trump and saying he is not a serious person, it is a serious job, the American people are sensible. He doesn't think he's going to be president. Remarkable, wasn't it?
TOM LOBIANCO, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: You know, it like he's been dying to say his name for the last six months or so, and here it comes right when it matters most. (LAUGHTER)
ROMANS: It's interesting. Donald Trump wore it as a budge of honor. Did the president elevate Donald Trump by saying, you know, look, he's not going to be the president?
LOBIANCO: Well, you know, a lot of it, you look at it. It's lame duck, right? He's not running for reelection. There's no harm for him here. He gets to define in a way by doing this gets to define what the Republican Party is. So, yes, he's going to elevate him.
And for him that's a key decision and, you know, they like that.
MARQUEZ: Pretty rare, pretty rare for the sitting president to inject himself into a race like this. He's not just doing it on the Republican side. He's doing it on the Democratic side as well.
Take a look what he said, almost endorsing Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I know Hillary better than I know Bernie because she served in my administration and she was an outstanding secretary of state. And, you know, I suspect that on certain issues, she agrees with me more than Bernie does. On the other hand, there maybe a couple of issues where Bernie agrees with me more. I don't know. I haven't study their positions that closely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: It's kind of like he walked that back and thought, oops, I shouldn't be going here. Interesting words from the president.
LOBIANCO: I think he'd rather be playing in the Republican primary right now than the Democratic primary.
MARQUEZ: Yes.
ROMANS: He also said he's so glad he's not on the ballot. He's like, I'm not unhappy that I'm not on the ballot.
MARQUEZ: That he doesn't have to run again.
ROMANS: Can we look at the South Carolina Democratic choice for nominee, this commanding lead by Hillary Clinton among likely primary voters. She's finally turned the tables after Iowa and after New Hampshire, hasn't she?
LOBIANCO: Well, that certainly looks like the firewall right there. For a while, for months any movement from Sanders was a big movement. But we've had a real contest now. And the race has changed. The expectations have changed.
You know, the black vote down there looks like it's very strong for Clinton right now. There's no indication as of yet that Sanders has chipped way at that. That still could change. We've got a week and a half left for South Carolina for the Democrats.
You know, a lot can happen. But I mean it just goes to show that firewall looks strong right now.
MARQUEZ: Yes. I will point out that new day has some new numbers coming out in Nevada on the caucus there and you know and anybody watching, you're going to want to tune in for that. It's revealing.
ROMANS: Let's talk about the president on the Supreme Court. He also said yesterday in the remarkable press conference, my job is president of the United States according to the Constitution to nominate someone for the Supreme Court under the advice and consent of the Senate.
You know, do you think the president -- how do you think he played that yesterday? Did it rile up the Republicans or did it settle down the Republicans?
LOBIANCO: Well, you know, basically, he wins any time that he makes the nomination. He sends the nominee to the Senate. He wins on all points on that. It puts the focus on them.
You know what's interesting about this, this isn't like some of these somewhat esoteric battles we used to have on nominations for things like the labor relations board, you know, stuff that most Americans maybe haven't heard of. This is not just an appellate court. It's Supreme Court.
And every time there's a vacant seat there, he gets to bring up that I put the nomination to the Senate. I fulfilled my part of the job. Now it's up to them. And, yes. That's an easy play for them. He's going to hammer right through it.
MARQUEZ: And maybe just maybe with Republican senators like Grassley and Tillis coming out and saying, well, let's just wait and see who he puts forward, maybe those things are starting to cool down a little bit and we'll see a much different world in all this in the months ahead. Republicans -- politics are strength things.
Tom LoBianco, thanks very much.
LOBIANCO: Thanks, guys.
MARQUEZ: Republican candidates speak out on CNN this week, in a unique two-night event, tonight and Thursday at 8:00 p.m. For the very first time this campaign, all six candidates will answer questions from the voters of South Carolina in two live town halls, moderated by Anderson.
ROMANS: Can't wait for that.
All right. Nine minutes past the hour. Time for an early start on your money. Stock futures pointing higher following a big rally yesterday, making it the best two-day gain since August. Thank you very much. It's been horrible year.
Oil prices are high as well. Markets, stock markets in Europe and Asia are mixed.
America's bull market and stocks may soon end. But it's not time to panic. We never want you to panic. There's a 50 percent chance U.S. stocks will dive into a bear market. That's according to a brand-new CNN Money survey of top investment strategists, but most believe that fall into a bear market would be short-lived.
Here's what that bull market looks like, the third longest of all time since the recession in 2009. The S&P 500 is up an amazing 180 percent. This year, you could see the very far right of there. It's been ugly. Stocks have come close to breaking that streak in entering a bear market. Bear market is when there's a 20 percent drop from recent highs.
But these experts in our survey think the S&P 500 will end the year up 2.5 percent. That would be a jump of 11 percent from its current level.
So, what are you going to do? Are you going to do anything?
MARQUEZ: I'm going to panic. I'm going to keep buying stocks at cheaper prices. How is that?
ROMANS: I like you, I like you.
MARQUEZ: Very sensible.
ROMANS: Good man, good man.
MARQUEZ: The Russia blaming Russia for attacking schools and hospitals in Syria, violence escalating just days before a proposed cease-fire.
[05:10:01] We're live with new developments, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Today, vital humanitarian aid is set to reach starving civilians trapped behind the front lines in Syria's civil war, at least that's the plan.
But as of yesterday, the U.N. was still negotiating for permission from the Assad regime. And just days before this proposed cessation of hostilities is set to go into effect, violence is rising, increasing with airstrikes on schools and airstrikes in hospitals and rebel held territory. The U.S. blaming that on Russia.
For the latest, we turn to senior international correspondent Matthew Chance live in Moscow.
Good morning, Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, that's right.
The Russians have, in fact, been stepping up their airstrikes on various positions held by opponents of their ally Bashar al Assad.
[05:15:04] Across Syria, in the days running up to these supposed cessation of hostilities that was brokered in part by Secretary of State John Kerry last week in the German city of Munich, 444 airstrikes, sorties, rather, 1,600 airstrikes. That's what the Russian defense ministry say they've carried out in the past week alone. That's according to their latest figures they released a few hours ago.
In terms of the attacks, very controversial on the hospitals. One of them in Azaz, the other hospital in Idlib in northern Syria. The Russians categorically denying any of that, saying it wasn't their warplanes carrying out strikes in that area, saying they were within 20 miles of those facilities.
But, again, denial has been used time and again by the Russian authorities when it comes to allegations about caution civilian casualties and these kinds of alleged war crimes that many in the international community are now saying that Russia may have committed -- Christine.
ROMANS: A new chapter in a war where people continue to suffer. Keep us posted on any developments in getting aid to those people behind the lines. Thanks.
MARQUEZ: Now, Apple says it will fight a court order that requires it to help law enforcement recover encrypted data from the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters, Syed Farooq. A federal judge ruling on a request by prosecutors to have Apple assists in finding the passcode and access information from Farooq's locked cellphone. Apple's CEO Tim Cook in a let owner the company's website says the court order essentially requires Apple to create a back door through iPhone security, quote, "exposing customers to greater risk of attack".
ROMANS: The Food and Drug Administration issuing new guidelines to prevent the Zika virus from contaminating the nation's blood supply. It would require blood banks in areas where Zika has been transmitted like Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, to import blood rather than use local donation. Experts say it's likely the Zika virus could be transmitted through tainted blood. The FDA has recommended that certain at risk donors not donate blood for now.
MARQUEZ: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder blaming the federal government for multiple failures in responding to lead contamination in Flint's drinking water. Snyder telling reporters he hopes U.S. officials are being asked tough questions, as he put it. The EPA took exception to Snyder's remarks, issuing a statement that said, state and local officials failed to work with the agency in a transparent and proactive manner, to address the risk to the public health.
ROMANS: South Dakota lawmakers passing a controversial bathroom bill that's drawn outrage from the LGBT community. It requires public school students to use restrooms and other facilities based on their chromosomes and anatomy at birth. Supporters argue it is designed to protect privacy. Critics say it discriminates against transgender students. If the governor signs it, as expected, South Dakota would be the first state with such a law.
MARQUEZ: A shocking admission from Ronda Rousey concerning the impact of her knockout loss to Holly Holmes. Coy Wire with this morning's bleacher report.
There he is. We'll see that handsome devil coming up in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:22:50] MARQUEZ: UFC star Ronda Rousey says she considered suicide after her shocking loss to Holly Holmes in November.
ROMANS: Really emotional, emotional admission, right.
Coy Wire has more in this morning's bleacher report. Hey, Coy.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: It really was.
Good morning, Christine and Miguel. Before she was knocked out by Holmes, Rousey has dominated the competition. She was 12-0. She won her previous three fights by 64 seconds combined. She was like a young Mike Tyson out there.
Her success in the octagon paved the way for parts in movies and TV. She was the ultimate crossover star that UFC had dreamed of, but then she came crashing down to earth with one kick to the head by Holmes.
She told Ellen DeGeneres just yesterday how she was after the loss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONDA ROUSEY, FORMER UFC CHAMPION: What am I if not this. I was literally sitting there thinking of myself, I'm nothing. What do I do anymore and nobody will give a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) about me. To be honest, I looked up and I saw my man, Travis standing there and I was looking up there and I thought, I need to have his babies, I need to stay alive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: In NFL news, according to a new tax filing and money expert, Christine Romans, will tell you, Commissioner Roger Goodell took a pay cut for the 2014-2015 season of nearly $1 million. He won't be eating ramen noodles anytime soon, though. He still hauled in just over $34 million.
And to put that in perspective, only one NFL player made more than Goodell in that season. That was Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. It's the second straight year he's taken pay cut in his seven seasons as commissioner, he made over $174 million. Must be nice.
Nathan Schoenfeld, a 31-year-old bank manager got the call of the lifetime from NHL's Arizona Coyotes on Monday. He was giving his 5- week-old twin as bath when he got a call to become the emergency goalie to play the game. He had never played pro hockey before. He'd only been on club teams. But his dad was a former coach for the Coyote, he was on their short list to be an emergency goalie if they needed it. Well, Schoenfeld never actually got into the game. He did get to dress into the full- on gear, he skated around the ice, and afterwards, he was given a WWE- style MVP belt by his teammates. What memories.
The Coyotes' captain says after the game, obviously, it's pretty special. I've about known him for a long time. He's my banker. The Coyotes won 6-2.
Pretty cool story there, guys, on this Wednesday morning.
ROMANS: And he came home and his wife probably said, OK, finish bathing the babies.
MARQUEZ: Yes, that was probably the quickest bath ever.
ROMANS: I'm glad you had fun now, get back to work, because we have two babies.
All right. Thank you so much. Nice to see you, Coy.
WIRE: You're welcome.
ROMANS: President Obama promising to fill the Supreme Court vacancy as he takes on the Republican leader in the race for president. Some remarkable comments from the president. We'll bring it to you after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARQUEZ: President Obama pushing back against Republicans, promising to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. A battle looming as the president weighs on the 2016 race, lashing out at the Republican frontrunner.
