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GOP Debate in Colorado Tonight; Interview with Rep. Scott Tipton; What Role Should School Resource Officers Play?; Apple Sales Soar; Late-Night Political Punchlines. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired October 28, 2015 - 07:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[07:32:52] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: This is a big one, this third debate tonight for the GOP. It's going to be a big deal. It's going to be the University of Colorado. There are going to be fireworks, because you got a new leader coming into the polls, right, and his name isn't Trump. So what do we think we're going to be watching for?

Let's get it from the perspective of a party member who's also an elected official, Republican Congressman from Colorado, Scott Tipton. Congressman, thank you for joining us. So let me state a proposition for you. Do you believe the GOP is the party, more so, of Trump and Carson or of Bush, Rubio, and maybe Kasich?

REP. SCOTT TIPTON (R), COLORADO: You know, I think right now it's a very fluid situation. If we step back to the last presidential election at this time, we saw Rick Perry, Herman Cain leading the polls. The poll that you just released in the previous segment saying 71 percent of Republican voters have yet to make up their mind, I think it's going to be very fluid and I think Coloradoans are really looking for people that are coming forward with solutions to address some of the challenges that we have in our state and in our country as well.

CUOMO: Do you think that the people at the top of the polls now will be there six months from now?

TIPTON: You know, I think it's hard to say. There's a lot of frustration, certainly, in the State of Colorado and nationwide -- wanting to be able to see progress, to be able to get this economy moving, to be able to get our people back to work. And I think the candidates come forward with those best solutions will be the ones that will rise to the top.

And I think, again, it's a very fluid situation, and these debates are going to be able to help allow the candidates to have that opportunity, to be able to give their vision for where America can go.

CUOMO: Do you think the best solutions have been what is motivating Ben Carson and Donald Trump to be at the top of the polls?

TIPTON: I think we see a common theme, frankly, through all of the Republican candidates. It's about getting the economy moving. We've seen a Washington that has grown too big, too cumbersome, overpromised and underperformed. And we've got to be able to have solutions that's going to be able to empower the American people, to be able to provide those opportunities for our families, to be able to have good prospects looking forward, and to be able to have some of that security that they need not only economically but in terms of their personal safety as well.

[07:35:07] CUOMO: I know that people in your party are scratching their heads. You know, a lot of Republicans talk about how we had Perry and Cain. They were not like Donald Trump and Ben Carson. They didn't represent the same things politically. They weren't as unorthodox. This is different, what you guys are dealing with. And we heard that frustration voiced by Governor Kasich. Do you feel where he is coming from in terms of saying I don't want to hear about these guys anymore. This is ridiculous. It's time to get back to what's going to win this election for us?

TIPTON: We can get back to what's going to win the election for us, but I think it's also noting that there is real frustration in the electorate. People are not seeing the progress they would like to be able to see out of government, because it's impacting them literally at home. Their ability to be able to grow jobs, to be able to get a job, oftentimes in our district. And I think that those are something that all of the candidates are going to be able to draw from and hopefully to be able to put forward good, positive solutions.

CUOMO: I know that you haven't picked a candidate yet, but if it were Trump or Carson, would you get behind them? And do you think you could win the general?

TIPTON: You know, I listened to the Democrat debate, and we had the mirror image of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders seeing who could outbid each other to spend more American money. They feel, apparently, that we're just one tax increase, one regulation away from prosperity in this country. But it is those policies that are inhibiting our ability to be able to grow the economy.

Very mindful in the state of Colorado. And we're seeing this nationwide. We have the lowest labor participation rate in four decades. For the first time since we've been keeping records, we've seen more small businesses shut down than there are new business start-ups. We've got a lethargic economy and as I'm visiting with people in our district, they want to be able to have that hope for the future. And bigger government, more taxes, more regulations, that's what the Democrats are proposing. That's not going to be the solution. I believe our Republican nominee is going to be coming out with ideas to be able to empower the American people rather than shackle them with more big government.

CUOMO: The problems are there. They're obvious. And the political cycle suggests that the Republicans should win this race, if you look at it historically. And yet, you have two people at the top of your polls that many suggest can't win. How surprised are you that you're in this situation right now?

TIPTON: Well, again, I'll go back to the fluidity and the poll that was mentioned in previous segment -- 71 percent of Republican voters have yet to make up their mind. So I think it's going to be very dynamic. I think the ideas that we're seeing out of Kasich, Fiorina, you know, she was very specific in some of the ideas that she wanted to be able to put forward. I think we'll see this debate continue and I think, ultimately, we're going to settle on a candidate who's going to address the concerns of the American people and be able win the election.

CUOMO: Well, this is in your state, it's in your wheelhouse. You're on the House Committee on Small Business. Certainly, that's the engine of our economy. So hopefully the ideas will be flowing tonight. Thank you, Congressman, for your perspective.

TIPTON: Thank you, Chris.

CUOMO: Alisyn?

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Chris, video of that South Carolina student's arrest sparking outrage across the country. Should police officers be the enforcers of discipline in the classroom? We'll discuss that, next.

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[07:42:18] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You will get time for even hurting an animal. This is a child. Regardless of what the degree, what the job title is, you do not treat a child like this.

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CAMEROTA: South Carolina parents demanding answers at a school board meeting last night, after watching video of that sheriff's deputy arresting a female high school student by throwing her to the ground. The incident raising questions about whether police officers even belong in schools.

Our next guest works to improve interactions between young people and police. She knows the challenges well. Lisa Thurau is the executive director of Strategies for Youth. Ms. Thurau, thanks so much for being here.

Let's just start with that question: Do police officers belong in high schools?

LISA H. THURAU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGIES FOR YOUTH: Well, I think they can be very effective in high schools. I know many SROs who are effective, but there have to be some rules in place. And the U.S. Department of education has made very clear to school districts, to law enforcement agencies, what those conditions are. And the first is very clear role definition. The second is repeated, rigorous, routine training. And the third is clear agreements between the schools and law enforcement agencies about the use of force and the use of arrests in public schools.

And I would say in this situation -- CAMEROTA: Just let me stop you for one second, because you said SRO.

That's school resource officer. Can you tell us -- it's interesting to hear these guidelines laid out, because it does seem like something broke down in this incident. But what are they supposed to be doing, if not interceding in moments of defiance, what are SROs supposed to be doing every day?

THURAU: Well, that's the $64 question, which unfortunately we have left up to every school district to answer. And that's part of the problem we're having right now. It is pretty clear that when you have school resource officers doing school discipline -- for instance, a child not paying attention to a teacher and looking at a cell phone, which is a disciplinary school incident and really not something that requires law enforcement -- when you bring school resource officers into that kind of incident, you see escalation of terrifically minor incidents into these kind of brutal or sometimes arrest situations that lead to young people dropping out.

So I would say if we're using school resource officers for that purpose, that's the wrong purpose. No, they don't belong in school. The perception --

CAMEROTA: Let me just get to this cell phone video, because the reason that we all know about what happened there is that another student took video of the incident on his cell phone. And then he posted comments with it. And he has an unexpected perspective.

[07:45:02] So let me read to you what this other student said and then have you remark on it.

In the comments section, he posted, "This officer is a cool dude. He is not racist. Girl was asked to put the phone away, but told teacher no. An administrator was called and asked her to come to his office. She told her no. He then called the resource officer. When he got there, he asked her nicely to get up. Over and over. He did nothing wrong. They asked her to get up, but she wanted to show off. To some it looks bad, but she wanted to prove that she was bad."

What do you say to that?

THURAU: Well, this is not unusual. This is typical of teen defiant behavior and there are easy ways to de-escalate this. And the first thing that anyone who works with teenagers know is don't turn this into a power struggle in front of peers where the teen is going to do all sorts of things to come out looking like they're on top. So --

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CAMEROTA: So what do you do? What is the answer if not a power struggle? What should he have done?

THURAU: Well, there are many de-escalation techniques. There are ways of saying, look, let's not make this an issue. Let's do this between us. Please step outside.

It seems to me the teacher, the administrator, and the school resource officer all need some training here. And it disturbs me to think that a teacher needs or an administrator needs to call for backup all the time, because then it affects the way teachers and school administrators use their authority. In fact, they seem to cede their authority to police when they can't figure out how to work with youth one on one.

What happened here is not an isolated incident. I'm sure you can find principals and teachers across America saying identical thing happened with cell phones in their classrooms all the time. There are better ways and I can think of 20 SROs who could have suggested to that officer a different way to do it.

CAMEROTA: And, in fact, this very school, asked your organization back in April to provide them with some recommendations, because they thought that things were going wrong in their schools between teachers and students, and you gave them recommendations. Is that right?

THURAU: Actually, no, it was advocates in the community who were hearing concerning stories about use of force and arrests and suspensions in that school system by sheriffs and others law enforcement agents, and they asked us to submit a proposal to the Richland County Sheriff's Department, which we did, proposing school resource officer training. And for one reason or another, we never heard back.

But I wish I could say this is the only law enforcement agency which has not responded. We find that there's very little investment in training of law enforcement officers, who are really put in a very difficult position between being there for the good of the youth and to enforce laws in a very murky legal position, with even less guidance about what to do with kids who are defiant, or who may have mental health or special education needs.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I mean, it seems that one thing everyone can agree on is that there needs to be better training.

Lisa Thurau, thanks so much for your expertise this morning. Great to have you on NEW DAY.

THURAU: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Let's get to Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, I think we need some levity. Ahead of tonight's debate drama, a little levity for you. Last night Stephen Colbert asked Hillary Clinton if she would rather run against Donald Trump or Ben Carson. You'll hear her response, ahead.

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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. I'm Christine Romans for CNN Money now. A giant pharmacy merger -- Walgreens buying Rite Aid. The $17.2 billion deal would create the country's biggest pharmacy with 13,000 stores in the U.S.

[07:50:03] More consolidation in health care as the industry adjusts to the Affordable Care Act and an aging population. That deal will still have to pass antitrust review.

Apple did it again. Profits jumped 31 percent last quarter; sales soared. Look at these numbers. 48 million iPhones sold. A record 5.7 million Macs. Also the biggest big growth in services like Apple Music and its Other category, that's including Apple TVs and Watches. IPads, though, are still a weak spot. Apple sales in China doubled even if the economy there faces hurdles.

NEW DAY back in a moment.

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PEREIRA: I kind of like the jaunty, fun music there. Very good. Politics once again providing late night punchlines. Last night, Hillary Clinton got her own dig in. Stephen Colbert asked her about going up against Donald Trump or Ben Carson. Take a look at this.

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STEPHEN COLBERT, CBS HOST, "THE LATE SHOW": Who would you rather run against, Donald Trump or Ben Carson?

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDDIATE: I'm going leave that to the Republicans.

COLBERT: But you can picture either one of them in the office, right? You can I picture either one of those guys in the office.

CLINTON: Well, I can -- I can picture them in some office.

SETH MEYER, NBC HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH SETEH MEYERS": The latest New York Times/CBS News poll has placed Dr. Ben Carson ahead of Donald Trump with Carson leading 26 percent to 22 percent. And with those two leading the GOP polls, Hillary Clinton is salivating at 100 percent.

CONAN O'BRIEN, TBS HOST, "CONAN": Apparently the top political Halloween costume this year is Donald Trump. That's the top -- that's going to be the top costume. Meanwhile, even Jeb Bush doesn't want to go out dressed as Jeb Bush.

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CAMEROTA: I don't know.

PEREIRA: Not the funniest batch this time?

CAMEROTA: Not the funniest ones. They could have done better. Salivating?

PEREIRA: Are we getting to be a tough crowd?

CAMEROTA: Yes. Yes, because we've had 100 days of this.

PEREIRA: We have 100 more. CUOMO: I like the Colbert thing and I like that he got Hillary Clinton to talk about what she'd do with the big banks. I like the space he's creating for himself.

CAMEROTA: Right, no, it's actual news. I mean they're breaking news on late night news on the talk shows, that's what's happening.

CUOMO: Especially him.

Who's this? I'll take it.

For the first time Donald Trump is going into that Republican debate as not Number 1. I wouldn't necessarily say an underdog but Not Number 1. Does that mean he's going to swing against Ben Carson? Well, he already has. So we have a preview of what you might on your screens tonight.

[07:55:01] Underdog just doesn't work.

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DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump has fallen to second place behind Ben Carson.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He set himself up to look like a failing candidate.

DR. BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's a marathon. It is not a sprint.

TRUMP: Iowa, what the hell are you people doing to me?

COLBERT: Why do you want to be President of the United States?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hands behind your back.

UNDIENTIFIED MALE: Even though that's not my daughter I still feel some strong reactions to it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seeing her being thrown across the classroom like that is really traumatizing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How disruptive was the student?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Zenar (ph) is a batallion commander but this is the size of his battalion.

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ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaea Pereira.

CUOMO: Good morning, welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Wednesday, October 28th, 8:00 in the East. We could get a real shake up tonight in the GOP debate in Colorado. Carson, Dr. Ben Carson, topping the polls but he's going into a debate that will be a real challenge for him. It's a CNBC debate discussing economics.

[08:00:04] So they're going to take the stage. We have Trump in second. And we have the rest of the field desperate for some kind of attention, Alisyn, and that's why we're all looking to tune in.