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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Sanders Calls Clinton Unqualified; Trump Stumps in New York; New States Consider Religious Freedom Laws. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired April 07, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:21] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: A bitter battle brewing between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Sanders calling the Democratic frontrunner unqualified to be president.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And Donald Trump blasting Ted Cruz at a late-night rally. Can the Republican presidential frontrunner recover from his bruising loss this week?
ROMANS: A CNN exclusive. Inside Iraq. We take you to the frontlines in the war against ISIS.
Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
MARQUEZ: And I'm Miguel Marquez. It is Thursday, April 7th, 4:00 a.m. here on the East Coast.
Breaking news overnight. Bernie Sanders targeting Hillary Clinton with his toughest attacks yet. At a huge rally in Pennsylvania Sanders repeated calls the Democratic frontrunner unqualified to be president.
CNN's Brianna Keilar has the latest from the Sanders campaign.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Bernie Sanders, before a crowd of more than 10,000 here in Philadelphia at Temple University, pushing back on the some of the recent charges from Hillary Clinton and her campaign, where they've taken issue with some of his recent answers and certainly some of his struggles to explain some of the key parts of his campaign promises.
Here's what Bernie Sanders said to Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And she has been saying lately that she thinks that I am, quote-unquote, "not qualified to be president."
Well, let me just say in response to Secretary Clinton. I don't believe that she is qualified if she is --
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
SANDERS: If she is, through her Super PAC, taking tens of millions of dollars in special interest funds. I don't think you are qualified if you have voted for the disastrous war in Iraq. I don't think you are qualified if you've supported virtually every disastrous trade agreement which has cost us millions of decent paying jobs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Pennsylvania, a very delegate-rich state, a must-win for Bernie Sanders if he is going to have a pathway to the White House. Right now he's hoping to build on momentum from a string of recent wins, push towards the New York primary, and then onward to Pennsylvania, as well as California -- Miguel and Christine.
ROMANS: All right. Thanks, Brianna. Hillary Clinton's camp returning fire overnight. Her press secretary tweeting, "Hillary Clinton did not say Bernie Sanders was not qualified. But he has now absurdly it about her. This is a new low."
What Clinton did do, in an interview on CNN, was question whether Sanders is ready to be president. She criticized Sanders for being unable to answer journalists' questions on just how he would go about breaking up the big banks, something that has been a cornerstone of his campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In the interview it seemed unclear as to whether he understood how Dodd-Frank works, how we would go about breaking up banks that were posing risks to our economy. So I was, I think, a little bit surprised that there didn't seem to be a lot of substance to what he was saying. I think the presidents who are successful know what they want to do and they know how to do it and they hit the ground running, able to do every aspect of the job, both as president and as commander-in-chief.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Clinton and Sanders also battling over ties to the NRA. Sanders tweeting, "Only one Democratic candidate takes gun lobby money to fund her campaign." That attack, a reference to a fundraiser last month co-hosted by former NRA lobbyist Jeff Forbes.
Clinton firing back at Sanders, "Only one Democratic candidate has voted for the NRA's most important piece of legislation in 20 years. You." Meaning Bernie Sanders.
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will face off in a CNN Democratic presidential debate in Brooklyn next Thursday night, April 14th, beginning at 9:00 Eastern. That's five days before the New York primary.
MARQUEZ: That is going to be huge.
ROMANS: Epic.
MARQUEZ: I think everybody tuning in.
Donald Trump back on the campaign trail in New York as the fight for the delegate-rich state heats up ahead of its April 19th primary. At a huge rally last night on Long Island, Trump speaking for the first time since his bruising loss in Wisconsin to Ted Cruz. Trump attacking Cruz and touting his big lead in a brand new poll of Republicans in his home state.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, a poll came out today that is through the roof. My standing in New York. You know what makes me happiest? When the people that know me best and boy, do you know me well.
[04:05:05] But when the people that know me the best think so much that it has poll numbers that nobody can believe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: CNN's Sara Murray was at the rally. She has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Well, if Donald Trump was smarting from that loss in Wisconsin, you certainly could not tell when he was on the campaign trail here in Bethpage, New York. He drew a crowd of about 10,000 people before the fire marshal closed the doors here. And he was pumped up laying hard into his top GOP rival, Ted Cruz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You know, lying Ted Cruz came today. He couldn't draw 100 people. 100 people. He could -- I'm telling you. In fact, there was a big headline today in "The New York Post." He couldn't draw 100 people. Now do you remember -- do you remember -- do you remember during the debate when he started lecturing me on New York values like we're no good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MURRAY: Now it's clear that Donald Trump has decided that Cruz's dig against New York values is going to play differently maybe to Trump's advantage now that he's here in his home state of New York.
Meanwhile, Trump is dealing with some campaign issues of his own. There's a little bit of turmoil playing out. A power struggle going on right now between his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and another veteran Republican operative Paul Manafort that the campaign brought in to help deal with delegate strategy. Could there be a campaign shake-up afoot? Only time will tell.
Sara Murray, CNN, Bethpage, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: Awesome. Thanks, Sarah. You know, Ted Cruz, he's clarifying that attacks on New York values.
At a campaign stop in the Bronx, Cruz turned the accusation back around on Trump. Slamming his past support for Democratic politicians.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let's be clear. The people of New York know exactly what those values are. That the values of liberal Democratic politicians like Andrew Cuomo, like Anthony Weiner, like Eliot Spitzer, like Charlie Rangel. All of them. Donald Trump has supported, given tens of thousands of dollars throughout the years. If you want to know what liberal Democratic values are, follow Donald Trump's checkbook.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: This morning Cruz stages a rally near Albany then heads to New York City for a stop in Brooklyn.
John Kasich also barnstorming New York with visits planned for Brooklyn today and all across the state in the coming days. But Kasich had a little more than $1 million cash on hand. Last report, his campaign insists he does have enough money to advertise in New York ahead of its primary.
MARQUEZ: Another round of meetings with lawmakers today for Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. All of them are Democratic senators. The federal judge has had two meeting with Republican senators, but the party leadership is refusing to grant him a confirmation hearing. The head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley, says he plans to meet with Garland for breakfast next Tuesday, but will not be offering a hearing.
Attorneys for former House speaker Dennis Hastert are asking a federal judge to sentence him only to probation because he is in poor health and he's already been publicly disgraced. The 74-year-old Hastert, an ex-high school wrestling coach, pleaded guilty last year to violating federal banking laws. He admits failing to report cash withdraws that were allegedly used to pay off one of his former students. That student claims Hastert sexually molested him.
ROMANS: All right. Time for an EARLY START on your money this morning. Dow futures flat. Solid gains yesterday. Crude oil prices up again. That's driving much of the optimism in the stock market. Stock markets in Europe are a little bit higher here. Shares in Asia, they're closing mixed overnight. Oil prices are rebounding thanks to a surprising report that shows inventories, supplies dropping. U.S. crude oil supplies fell by almost 5 million barrels last week. The week before that level was at 80-year high.
The world awash in oil. But then this stockpile flipping. Analysts say the drop is likely caused by more refining and delays in deliveries, not shrinking global supply which some say is needed before oil really come out of the recent rut. Still crude is nearing its highest levels of the year on that news. So crude prices rising here. You know it's good for the stock market, not necessarily good when you're filling up your tank. So watch gas prices.
MARQUEZ: I will be watching them very carefully.
ROMANS: Yes.
MARQUEZ: As I take the subway to work.
(LAUGHTER)
MARQUEZ: More states drafting religious freedom laws that critics say legalize discrimination. The chaos around the controversy next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:13:32] ROMANS: Major corporations and human rights activists are blasting a new religious freedom in Mississippi. The measure allows business owners to deny service to the LGBT community. But critics say the law is nothing more than a license to discriminate.
We get more this morning from CNN's Polo Sandoval in Jackson, Mississippi.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Christine and Miguel. Good morning from Jackson, Mississippi, where the dust is still settling after the governor signed that controversial piece of legislation. The discussions continue.
And also there seems to be different interpretations on what this law truly means. Will it only impact members of the LGBT community? Well, it really depends on who you ask.
I will tell you, though, if you take a closer look at the law it just makes specific mention of people who work in the wedding industry. Bakers, people who make wedding dresses, deejays as well. In fact we caught up with one man in particular yesterday. Someone who claims that he is the only openly gay black baker in the state. He says he is obviously very disappointed with this new law and it may even mean packing up and moving himself and his business out of his native state. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEROME JONES, BAKERY OWNER: We have to pretty much pick up and move everything because I don't feel like that we will ever be appreciated here for who we are. We'll never going to be looked at as equal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: And then of course there is also the other side of the coin here. We caught up with one seamstress who told us that she would never knowingly make a dress for a same-sex wedding. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKIE BUCHANAN, OWNER, SEAMINGLY PERFECT: I haven't run into a situation where there were, you know, two brides or whatever the case may be.
[04:15:05] But if that should happen, I would take a stand. I think Christians should take a stand on their beliefs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: You just heard from Jacquelyn Buchanan who says that she would not abandon her principles and in her own words she would simple respectfully decline the same-sex couples who knocked on her door seeking for services.
Again an indication here, Christine and Miguel, that this conversation -- this debate is far from over in the state of Mississippi -- guys.
MARQUEZ: Far from over. Thank you, Polo.
Mississippi is not the only state to pass or consider a religious freedom bill. In Tennessee the House just approved a measure that will allow mental health counselors to turn away patients based on their personal principles. The Senate still has to vote on the bill. Critics call it an unprecedented attack on the counseling profession and the LGBT community. A South Carolina lawmaker has just introduced a bathroom bill that would require members of the transgender community to use public restrooms that correspond with the sex on their birth certificate.
ROMANS: All right. Lawmakers in Alabama moving forward with plans to impeach embattled Governor Robert Bentley. They will meet later this morning to figure out how. That's because the state's law on impeachment are vague.
On Wednesday, Governor Bentley held a news conference that refused to answer questions about an alleged affair he had with a former female aide.
MARQUEZ: And new details about how the FBI unlocked the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino terrorists. FBI director James Comey says the government purchased a tool from a private party that helped them hack the device. But it only works on an iPhone 5c with IOS 9 operating system. Comey says he has not decided whether to tell Apple exactly how they did it. Fascinating.
ROMANS: All right. 16 minutes past the hour, a teacher in Newtown, Connecticut, the sight of the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. history, has been arrested for carrying a concealed weapon on school grounds. Police say Newtown middle school teacher Jason M. Adams had a permit for the weapon. The school system has placed Adams on administrative leave. He is set to appear on court on the felony charge on April 20th.
Adams has not responded to CNN's request for comment. 26 people, including 20 small children, were killed at Sandy Hook in December of 2012.
MARQUEZ: And a wildfire in the west is spreading. The inferno fuelled by gusty winds are up in western Arizona on Wednesday and then it jumped the Colorado River into California scorching more than 1400 acres. A resort and a pair of RV parks were forced to evacuate. Firefighters doing all they can to gain -- control the ground right now. No word on what caused that fire.
ROMANS: All right. The frigid air is back with a vengeance along with some snow and some rain. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam has the latest.
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Miguel and Christine.
(WEATHER REPORT)
VAN DAM: Back to you.
ROMANS: All right. Derek, thank you for that.
All right. A CNN exclusive this morning, taking you to the frontlines of the war against ISIS in Iraq. We are live next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:23:25] MARQUEZ: A dire warning to congressional Republicans to take action against the Zika virus. White House officials urging lawmakers to allocate money to prevent the virus from spreading within America. The president has requested nearly $2 billion to take preventative measures like developing vaccines. Officials said there are now 64 confirmed cases in Zika in pregnant women in the U.S.
ROMANS: Now to our CNN exclusive. A new push for Iraqi forces backed by the U.S. to take back Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, from ISIS.
CNN's senior international correspondent Arwa Damon, she was granted exclusive access to the frontlines where Iraqi troops are advancing. She joins me this morning live from Irbil.
Tell us what you have seen, Arwa. Are you there, Arwa? Can you hear me? Tell us what you have seen there on the ground.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm here.
ROMANS: Arwa, are you there? Tell us what you have seen there on the ground as you have been granted this exclusive access.
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: All right. We're having a little bit of trouble.
DAMON: But they did manage --
MARQUEZ: Always tough to get a live shot or even a phone call out of that part of the world.
DAMON: The operation. While we were there --
ROMANS: All right.
MARQUEZ: Yes.
ROMANS: It's always tough to get -- tough to get access out of there. We're going to try to talk to Arwa again. She's got some -- you can see some of the pictures there. Can't wait to get her perspective on what she's seen there.
[04:25:01] MARQUEZ: A long time and coming this push by the Iraqi army to move on Mosul.
ROMANS: That's right.
MARQUEZ: And this will be -- if they can do this, it will be a huge -- it's a huge undertaking, it'll be a huge victory if they can chase ISIS out.
ROMANS: We'll try to connect with Arwa again in a few minutes.
All right. New escalating attacks on the race for president. Late last night Bernie Sanders calling Hillary Clinton unqualified for the job. The new drama ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARQUEZ: New late night attacks in the race for president. Bernie Sanders calling Hillary Clinton not qualified for the job.
ROMANS: A battle for votes in New York. Donald Trump on his home turf blasting competitor Ted Cruz late last night.
MARQUEZ: And a CNN exclusive. Taking you to the frontlines on the war on ISIS in Iraq.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Miguel Marquez.
ROMANS: Nice to see you this Thursday morning.
MARQUEZ: Good to be here.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is almost 30 minutes past the hour.
Our breaking news overnight, Bernie Sanders targeting Hillary Clinton with his toughest attacks yet. At a huge rally in Pennsylvania, Sanders repeatedly called the Democratic frontrunner unqualified to be president. Unqualified.
CNN's Brianna Keilar has the very latest from the Sanders campaign.
