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New Day
Trump Pulls Away from Field in New CNN Poll; Hillary I.T. Aide to Take Fifth on Email Server; Interview with NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton. Aired 6:30-7a ET
Aired September 10, 2015 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:32:46] MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: The so-called "summer of Trump" is stretching past Labor Day. Trump widening his lead atop the latest CNN/ORC poll with support from 32 percent of Republicans. That's a bump of 8 percent in the last month. Ben Carson is up 10 points at 19 percent.
Trump now in hot water again, though, this time following some comments that he made about Carly Fiorina.
In "Rolling Stone" profile, Trump says of Fiorina's appearance, quote, "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?" Or we're going to ask Donald Trump about all of this in our next hour.
Hillary Clinton's former IT aide who handled her personal server will appear before a House committee investigating Benghazi today. Bryan Pagliano is expected to plead the Fifth Amendment against self- incrimination. His lawyer calls the questioning political theater meant to derail the former secretary of state's presidential campaign. Chairman Trey Gowdy denies that is the committee's intention.
You might have heard about this, a New York City police officer is now on modified assignment this morning after an incident involving former tennis player James Blake. Blake says testifies tackled by five members of the Manhattan P.D. on Friday morning. He was waiting for a car to take him to the U.S. Open when a witness misidentified him.
Blake spoke about the incident to our affiliate WABC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES BLAKE, TENNIS PLAYER: It shouldn't happen and I just -- it's something we'll deal with the police and we'll find out what they have to say internally. And, you know, hopefully there is video of it and people can see what happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PEREIRA: Police say there is surveillance video but are not releasing it at this time. We'll talk about this case more with NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton who joins us ahead on NEW DAY.
New this morning, this is quite a discovery in a cave in South Africa. Scientists say it's a new species of the human family tree called Homo naledi. More than 1,500 fossilized bones were found in the cave, leading researchers to conclude it was some sort of burial ground. They liken this discovery to opening King Tut's tomb. Wow.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: It does bear resemblance to a cousin I have.
PEREIRA: I was going to say.
[06:35:00] Well, now, it's time for CNN Money now. Your chief business correspondent Christine Romans in the money center.
Apple, boy, they had quite a day yesterday with a whole lot of products they released.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, really an interesting launch. And a new way that people can pay for iPhones here. Apple taking aim at the wireless company letting you finance a new iPhone through Apple. Not solely relying on new giants like AT&T and Verizon to sell you phones. At the lowest end, consumers can pay a monthly fee of 32 bucks for two years. That deal lets consumers upgrade to the newest iPhone each year and subscribe to a new carrier.
Consumers can still buy the iPhone directly from a wireless carrier if you want. Most carriers have replaced the traditional two- year contract that restrict upgrades with that monthly installment plans to spread the price of a phone out over two years.
Apple rolled out two new iPhones yesterday, folks. The iPhone 6S, the 6S Plus. They have the same screen size as the older model but a better camera and 3D touch screen.
I'll tell you, Alisyn, the review is pretty mixed overall with the stock down 2 percent yesterday. We'll watch that today.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: I need the real touch screen and keypad. Tell me when that comes back.
ROMANS: I need the dial. I just want to go back to the dial.
CAMEROTA: That's fine also. Thank you.
All right. So Donald Trump is surging again in the latest polls. It's his largest lead since entering the presidential race. We will examine his latest controversial comments when he joins us next hour.
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[06:40:31] CAMEROTA: New polls hot off the presses. Just released, CNN/ORC polls, Chris has them in his hands right now, they show Donald Trump with a big lead, 32 percent among Republican voters. And Ben Carson in second with 19 percent.
This is Trump's biggest lead since entering the presidential race.
Let's discuss it with John Avlon. He's our CNN political analyst and editor-in-chief of "The Daily Beast." And Jeffrey Lord, he's a CNN political commentator and former Reagan White House political director.
JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Boom.
CAMEROTA: John, what do you make of the biggest lead of Donald Trump? This has not been a summer fancy.
AVLON: It appears not to be. I mean, first of all, you're talking multiples of what other people in the field are. Multiples of what governors of major states are doing.
But what is striking to me is the combination of the Trump 32 percent and the Ben Carson number. That's a majority of Republicans who support candidates with zero percent government experience for president of the United States right now. That speaks to the anger of the protest vote that's consuming the GOP and is a real warning sign.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: It's not a protest vote.
CAMEROTA: Let me show you this. When asked why people are voting for Donald Trump, what they like most about them, I don't know if we have this cued up, 21 percent said he's on the job experience. People like that he's a successful business man. Seventy-one percent say his positions on the issues.
But wait for it --
AVLON: Wait for it.
CAMEROTA: Five percent only say because you don't like the other candidates. So --
CUOMO: What do you think about the protest vote now, Avlon?
AVLON: I think it absolutely holds when you actually add in the Carson factor, because he doesn't have business experience. Incredibly talented neurosurgeon. But I do think there's something going on here, it's a rejection of the, quote/unquote, "establishment". It's a very deep.
And, look, Donald Trump is selling angry golden unicorns. He's not talking about policy. Here's my fantasy, buy whatever I'm selling right now and people are being attracted to it. This is not about ideas.
CUOMO: Jeffrey, man in a box, people are saying that Donald Trump is the face of their discontent. They are upset. And they like his positions.
How do you reconcile it all?
JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, they do like his positions. I think they also like the fact that he's forthright. You know, in this poll, you find, I know you're going to talk about "Rolling Stone" thing at some point.
CUOMO: Shouldn't we?
LORD: We find that he's up 13 percent among women. I suspect it's because he's very direct, he's very commanding.
I mean, women like him for the same reason men like him. He's a blunt-spoken guy. And take charge kind of guy with a record of accomplishment. That means a lot to people.
CAMEROTA: I mean, Jeffrey --
LORD: Go ahead.
CAMEROTA: I just want to talk about exactly what you're referencing. Because there is a "Rolling Stone" article in which he talks about Carly Fiorina's looks. "Look at that face," he cries. "Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that the next president?"
CUOMO: You are adding emphasis.
CAMEROTA: There's italics in the article, I believe. But the point is, why does he talk about women's looks so often? At some point, won't female voters sour on that?
LORD: I think the reaction is what is interesting here, is that we get to this political correctness deal all the time, which people hate. I mean, it just drives them crazy.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: Jeffrey, who is your candidate?
LORD: For starters, we live in a society where mean girls is a big hit. And what is that about? It's about women --
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: Anti-heroes, though, Jeffrey. As people that you want to hold out for being something objectionable. I get you on PC to an extent. We talk about it on the show a lot.
But talking about your opponent's looks, whether it's men or women, and a consistency of a pattern where you talk about women, if he were your candidate and you were advising him directly, you wouldn't talk to him about this and say leave this alone? It is not good for anyone?
LORD: I mean, I think -- sure, do I think it distracts on occasion? Sure. But I really do think the political correctness thing drives people nuts. And after all, how many people are out there talking about Donald Trump's hair?
(CROSSTALK)
AVLON: Hey, man. This is the game that the conservatives play too much, Jeffrey. This is the game that conservatives play too much. When there's the divide and distract, they say, you know what? I don't agree with that, but people resonate to them because they hate the political correctness.
So, let's call it what it is. It's bullying, it's a big misogynistic. It's ugly, it's mean-spirited.
LORD: Oh, come on.
AVLON: And no, these words have meaning.
[06:45:02] And moreover, what is really troubling is the fact in the article, Jeffrey, all the Trump advisors are sitting around and laughing. And that dynamic is disturbing.
(CROSSTALK)
CAMEROTA: Jeffrey, isn't it misogynistic to talk about women's looks all the time?
LORD: Oh, I think it's sexist to call it misogynistic. What do you think of that?
CUOMO: Jeffrey, geez, get a dictionary.
CAMEROTA: I mean, Jeffrey, he's talking of her record.
LORD: This is hyper political correctness, that's what it is. And it goes far beyond this kind of thing with Donald Trump.
(CROSSTALK)
LORD: This goes on every day in our society. All day, 24 hours a day. And it's driving people crazy. They hate it.
CUOMO: Jeffrey, if we look at the polls, the proof -- here's the thing, right now state of play as reflected in the poll, he's right. That despite what Donald Trump says about people, within his own party, when polled, they are saying exactly what Jeffrey Lord which is saying, look, we get it, it is not ideal, but they like him for what is there.
The question is, how long until he has to meet that next level of expectation of, here's all the reasons why I'm better than everybody else?
AVLON: Donald Trump has already proven he's Teflon for a certain segment of conservative populist that don't really care about ideas.
CUOMO: Independents do.
AVLON: They do care about bluster. They want the strong man to take authority.
There are things and politicians across the spectrum can learn from Donald Trump, in part, say what you really mean. Stop being so scripted. That is a legitimate lesson.
But if the lesson takeaway is, you know what, you need to be uglier, meaner, more divisive under the vice of being a tough guy, because that's what voters, that's not a good path for democracy, folks.
CAMEROTA: Jeffrey, John, we have to leave it there. Jeffrey --
(CROSSTALK)
LORD: -- a narcissistic, looney tunes, nobody seems to go crazy about that.
CAMEROTA: So, I'm sure we'll talk to you tomorrow, Jeffrey. Thanks so much for the debate. Nice to see both of you.
Take it away.
CUOMO: The candidates are going to be everywhere today. The people that we're talking about in the news are going to be here to speak for themselves. Donald Trump is going to be on next hour here on NEW DAY. He's going to discuss why he thinks he's leading in the polls. And his lead keeps getting bigger and bigger, and what he says, he wants to offer to you in America.
Bernie Sanders, you get to feel the Bern on Wolf Blitzer at 1:00.
And Jeb, I'm going to keep calling him this because I love the line, better looking than my brother Bush, speaks with Jeff Tapper on "THE LEAD" at 4:00 p.m.
So, we're going to get all flavors for you today.
PEREIRA: I wonder why he likes that so much. It feels personal to me with him.
CAMEROTA: He said that before himself.
PEREIRA: Yes.
CAMEROTA: Be sure to tune into the big Republican debate here on CNN. It's Wednesday night, September 16th, 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
And tonight at 8:00 Eastern, tune in to "AC360", you will find out which candidate will be on the main debate stage.
PEREIRA: We might have actually to test that proposition. Is he better looking than his brother?
CAMEROTA: Let's do that.
(CROSSTALK)
PEREIRA: Still ahead here, another big special guest we're going to be talking to is New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. He's pushing back against New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who says New York is less safe without stop and frisk. We're going to talk to the commissioner about the controversy over the police program. It's coming up next.
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[06:51:49] CAMEROTA: New York City leaders taking heat over accusations of rising crime in the city. This after a former pro- tennis player was tackled and handcuffed by officers in a case of misidentification.
Joining us to discuss all of this is New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.
Commissioner Bratton, thanks so much for being here.
BILL BRATTON, NYPD COMMISSIONER: Good to be with you.
CAMEROTA: Let's start with the news of the day and this former pro-tennis player who was standing outside of his hotel, he was heading to the U.S. Open, and in a case of misidentification, police believe he was a suspect. They tackled him to the ground and sort of asked questions later and figured out he was not the suspect.
And people are claiming it is the because he's biracial. The officers were white. And this is yet another case of police excessive force.
BRATTON: Sorry, race has nothing at all to do with this. If you look at the photographic of the suspect, it looks like the twin brother of Mr. Blake.
So, let's put that nonsense to rest right now. Race has nothing to do with this.
We have a witness who identified Mr. Blake has an individual that he had sold a phone to and has been given a false predicate. The officers acted on the information. The witness was there and pointed him out. Turns out, he was not the individual. They looked so much alike.
CAMEROTA: But this was about fraudulent credit cards.
BRATTON: That's correct.
CAMEROTA: This was not a violent crime.
BRATTON: That's correct.
CAMEROTA: Why physical force being used against the suspect anyway?
BRATTON: Well, understand, this thing happened about 18 hours ago. We are in the preliminary stages of investigation. We have video.
Based on that video, which I have not yet seen, we have placed an officer that was involved in the incident on modified desk assignment while the investigation goes forward. We have been attempting to reach Mr. Blake without success at his hotel. We'll attempt to reach him at the U.S. Open today and the hotel again so we can talk to him about the incident.
But they are saying our investigation initially is based on press reports as well as now the video we have retrieved from the hotel.
CAMEROTA: OK. We'll look forward to your update on that.
Let's talk about the overarching issue, and that is what's going on in New York City. Some high-level people, Chris Christie, Ray Kelly, the former police commissioner, said they believe that crime is on the rise in New York City. In fact, Chris Christie this week said there's a feeling of lawlessness in New York City.
And, in fact, it does appear from the NYPD Web site stats that violent crime has ticked up. Let me pull up the numbers for you.
In 2004, there were --
BRATTON: 2004?
CAMEROTA: Sorry, 2014, you're right.
There were 205 murders. This year so far, 222. That's up 8 percent. Rape up 5 percent.
BRATTON: First up, what date you're using the stats?
My stats as of this morning, we have an increase of 10 murders. Last year was the lowest level of murders in the history of the city. So, we are working against our own successful numbers.
Crime is not up overall in New York City. It's down by 3.9 percent as of this morning.
Chris Christie knows nothing about the crime rate in New York City trying to make political points. Basically he needs to pay attention to his own cities, Camden, Trenton, Newark, New Jersey, some of the highest crime rates in America.
New York City has one of the lowest crime rates of any city in America.
[06:55:02] Besides Commissioner Kelly and his comments, once again, I'm sorry, crime is not up in the city overall. Certain categories may be, but we are working against last year's record low numbers.
2014 was the lowest number of homicides in the city, lowest number of robberies in the city. So, this foolishness at the moment of trying to claim that New York City is this hotbed of crime, I'm sorry. Is that why 58 million tourists are coming to the city? Is that why the U.S. Open is here?
No, New York City is a safe city. We have issues at the moment like every other American city, but in terms of Mr. Kelly who I respect and I'm sorry when it comes to crime, I'm the commissioner at the moment. I know my crime numbers.
I have a little more understanding of those numbers than he might have. And as far as Governor Christie, he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about when it comes to crime in New York City.
CAMEROTA: What they say is you're right, the overall crime rate is down but violent crime is up and shootings are up. Are shootings up this year?
BRATTON: Shootings at the moment are actually down. So once again, if you go day by day, they fluctuate. What you do is you look at over time. By the end of this year, we have the opportunity to have fewer than 100,000 reported crimes in New York City, and a city of 8.5 million people with 57 million to 58 million tourists that come into the city every year. We may have a record low crime year overall.
In terms of homicides, homicides are up. But again, against last year's record low numbers.
I was in the city in the 1990s when he had 2,243 murders. Last year we had 333. So, let's get real about crime in New York City.
There's an issue around homelessness right now that people are concerned with. Every American city has a homeless problem at this moment. New York, because of the tabloids we get more attention. But when we talk about this stuff, let's tack talk with accuracy. The information is five days old versus my stat which is I track every day.
CAMEROTA: I trust your stats.
We'll talk about the widely reported policy of stopping or curtailing stop and terrific. That was a controversy policy.
BRATTON: First off, we have not stopped it.
CAMEROTA: You cut down the numbers radically.
BRATTON: Right, in 2010 and 2011, approximately 600,000 to 700,000 stops, crime went down. In 2014 and now 2015, with many fewer stops, this year about 25,000 to 30,000 --
CAMEROTA: And do you think --
BRATTON: Let me finish.
CAMEROTA: Go ahead.
BRATTON: Maybe 25,000 to 30,000, crime is down even lower.
So when I look at the map, a lot of stops, crime at this level, this year this many stops, crime at this level.
I'm sorry. I'm the police commissioner of New York City. I think I know what I'm doing.
Crime is down in the city. Stop and frisk is down. We can prove racial tensions having it down.
So, take a look at the numbers. When we had a lot of stops, crime was up here. Now we have lower stops, crime is down here.
CAMEROTA: With lower stops, do you think that that means that there are more guns on the street?
BRATTON: Not at all, not at all. Reflected in the fact we have less crime, we have less shootings than in 2010 when they were doing more stops.
So, again, let's get beyond the rhetoric under wraps and take a look at the facts.
CAMEROTA: Commissioner Bill Bratton, thanks so much. We appreciate having you on NEW DAY. Great having you.
BRATTON: Thank you.
CAMEROTA: We have a lot of news to cover this morning. Let's get right to it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CUOMO: A new CNN/ORC poll out shows Trump widening his lead over the entire field.
BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I realize where my successes come from.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need a strong immigration plan. If he doesn't like it, he doesn't understand it.
CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not going to spend a single cycle wondering what Donald Trump means.
PEREIRA: A highly-anticipated bond hearing today.
CUOMO: Former North Charleston cop Michael Slager facing murder charges for the death of Walter Scott.
TRUMP: We are led by very, very stupid people. We will have so much winning if I get elected, you may get bored with winning.
CAMEROTA: Donald Trump joins us live.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota, and Michaela Pereira.
PEREIRA: Busy morning.
CAMEROTA: And sure is.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to NEW DAY.
The more Donald Trump ups his rhetoric, the more his poll numbers climb. A new CNN poll just out this morning shows Donald Trump growing his lead over the Republican field, now with support of 32 percent of GOP voters. That's his highest number to date in any national poll.
CUOMO: He and Ben Carson, you have to mention him, too, posting the biggest gains. Now the two are trading barbs themselves.
Trump also facing some blow-back for comments he made about Carly Fiorina and her appearance.
Mr. Donald Trump will be here to defend his actions and justify his poll numbers.
But first, CNN's coverage of the 2016 race begins with Athena Jones live in Washington -- Athena.
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris.
This is a big deal. Political analysts have been saying for months, all summer, that Trump was going to fade and that has not happened. His lead is growing and he's now the first Republican to get past 30 percent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONES (voice-over): This morning, the Donald still sitting high atop the pack.
