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New Day
VA Police Officer Killed On First Day At Work; Representative Tulsi Gabbard Endorses Bernie Sanders; Sixty Six Killed, 180 Wounded In Baghdad Suicide Bombings; Chris Rock Takes On Diversity At Academy Awards. Aired 6:30-7a ET
Aired February 29, 2016 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[06:31:03] JOHN BERMAN, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: A really troubling story this morning, the man accused of killing his wife and a rookie police officer on her first day of work, he will be arraigned in a Virginia courtroom today. Officials say Ronald Hamilton is an Army staff sergeant assigned to the Pentagon.
CNN's Jean Casarez joins us now with more details. Good morning.
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, it's one thing to be gunned down in the line of duty, which is horrible, but almost 24 hours after you're sworn in as a police officer to be killed in the line of duty, and that's exactly what happened.
It started Saturday about 5:30 in the evening, 28-year-old Ashley Gwendon. She is the one that received the call. It was for domestic incident. It was at a residence so she and two other officers went to that home.
All of a sudden they approach the front door. They confront the suspect. He starts shooting. He shoots all three of them with critical wounds. Then other officers arrive at the scene. They have a dilemma because they have three officers that have these critical bullet wounds.
And they also realize somebody in the residence is doing the shooting. They attend medically to the other officers and they then have the suspect surrender to them and walk out.
That suspect is defendant, Ronald Hamilton, who today will be arraigned. He is being charged with capital murder of Ashley Gwendon, who died later at the hospital.
Also when officers went in that home, they realized that there was his wife who was dead. I do want to tell you Ashley Gwendon had started the academy in 2015 while she was doing her graduate work in forensics. Back to you.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: This is one so, so sad. Everyone who heard it, you get that feeling in your gut. She was excited to be a police officer and on the very first day --
CASAREZ: And graduate work in forensics. Look at that dedication right there all the way around.
CAMEROTA: Absolutely. Jean, thank you for the developments. She is a rising star in the Democratic Party. So why did Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard stepped down as the vice chair of the DNC? We'll ask her when she joins us live on NEW DAY next.
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[06:37:23]
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REPRESENTATIVE TULSI GABBARD (D), HAWAII: As a vice chair of the DNC, I am required to stay neutral in Democratic primaries, but I cannot remain neutral any longer. The stakes are too high. That is why I am endorsing Senator Bernie Sanders to be our next president and commander-in-chief of the United States.
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CAMEROTA: Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard stepping down from a top post at the DNC in order to endorse Bernie Sanders. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard joins us now to explain. She is also an Iraq war veteran. Congresswoman, thanks so much for being on NEW DAY.
GABBARD: Good morning, Alisyn. Aloha.
CAMEROTA: So why endorse Bernie Sanders now when frankly it feels as though the momentum after South Carolina has shifted away from him and towards Hillary Clinton?
GABBARD: Alisyn, the most important job of our president in my view is their job as commander-in-chief and I can tell you as a soldier and as a veteran, and what I hear from military families across the country is how real war is. This is something that has a very real cost.
I have seen it first hand in my first deployment to Iraq where I served in a medical unit. I hear about it almost every day from our veterans who come home and who suffer from these invisible wounds.
We need a commander-in-chief who will exercise good judgment and foresight and stop getting us into this interventionist regime change wars as we have seen in Iraq and Libya and now occurring in Syria.
The stakes are very high and the contrast is very clear between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on these issues. You know, with Hillary, we have seen not only was she a champions for the Iraq war, she was the architect for the war in Libya to overthrow Gadhafi, which we've has resulted in tremendous loss of life and chaos.
Now with ISIS and al Qaeda having a stronghold in that country. Now she continues to push for the same kind of regime change in Syria with an escalation by putting a so-called no-fly zone in place that puts us directly at odds with Russia.
With Bernie Sanders, we see a very different post Iraq war and has come out in opposition to this no-fly zone in Syria.
CAMEROTA: But who knows more about foreign policy than the former secretary of state?
GABBARD: I'm glad you asked and that's the important question here is the question of experience versus judgment. You know, we could look to a lot of different places. We could look to Dick Cheney if we want to look for experience in foreign policy.
[06:40:02]But to me, the real question is judgment. As a soldier, that's what I look for in my next commander-in-chief is who will exercise good judgment? Who will exercise foresight in looking to see when should we use America's military power?
Just as importantly, when should we not use that power? I'm confident that with Bernie Sanders he will not take us into these interventionist regime change wars that have cost our country so dealer in American lives, in treasure, what to speak of the hundreds of thousands of lives that have been lost across the Middle East.
CAMEROTA: But then what is his answer for fighting ISIS?
GABBARD: He's been very clear about coming out strongly and fighting ISIS and al Qaeda and his commitment to continue to doing that. This isn't a question of being an isolationist. Of course, we should continue to be very strong in this fight against those who threatened the American people --
CAMEROTA: But with troops, how? How to fight ISIS if not ground troops, more aerial war?
GABBARD: Whether we look at Syria, if we look at Libya, Iraq, we will see different strategies in these different places. I have been very vocal about saying we need to work with Kurdish, ground groups there. We need to deploy our special forces quick and certain.
Quick exit to be able to conduct these missions and of course, support these with our air strikes. But the issue with Syria here and where there is a great contrast between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders is whether or not to continue this counterproductive war to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad, which is strengthening ISIS and al Qaeda and those who threatened the United States.
It is also worsening the humanitarian crisis on the ground. The difference between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on this issue as an example speaks directly to the difference in judgment. And that's the critical key here, the critical point here with this election.
CAMEROTA: Very quickly we mention that you had to leave your post at the DNC in order to endorse Bernie Sanders. Did any part -- how much of a role did any tension with Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the head of the DNC play in your decision?
GABBARD: Not at all. Look, this is not about politics. As I said, this is about the very high stakes that exist in this election. I couldn't stand on the sidelines any longer. I have been talking about these issues.
But I felt necessary to make sure as people are heading to the polls tomorrow and in the coming weeks that they are informed about who our next commander-in-chief could be, what kind of judgment they exercise.
And you can tell what a person will do in the future by their record and what they have done in the past. I think it's important for the American people to know that as they go to select who our Democratic nominee for president will be.
CAMEROTA: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, thanks so much for being on NEW DAY.
GABBARD: Thanks, Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: Let's get over to John.
BERMAN: All right, Alisyn, thanks so much. Politics play a leading role at the Oscars last night. Chris Rock, he called on Hollywood for its lack of diversity. Will it make any difference? Michaela joins us live next.
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[06:47:10]
BERMAN: All right, breaking overnight, the death toll is rising after two bombings near a busy market in Baghdad. The Iraqi Health Ministry said a motorcycle bomb and a suicide bombing killed 66 people and wounded 160 others. ISIS claimed responsibility.
Also in Baghdad, the U.S. Embassy is warning that the Mosul Dam is on the brink of collapsing. The embassy is urging hundreds of thousands of Iraqis living the near the Tigris River to evacuate from the eventual flood path.
CAMEROTA: OK, back here at home, a fractured knee, no problem for all-around super woman/Olympic champion, Lindsey Vonn. Coy Wire has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report." Good morning, Coy.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn. Vonn suffered a hairline fracture in her left knee after crashing on Saturday. She persevered and she allowed herself to extend the lead in the overall World Cup title hunt.
She hit a soft spot in the snow. You see her being taken down on a rescue sled. Turn your head if you get queasy. Vonn posted an Instagram video Sunday morning, which showed her getting her knee drained before competing.
She wrote that she was going to give it a try on Sunday. Give it a try she did. She posted the fastest time in the opening section of Sunday's competition, The Super G. She struggled in the slalom, but still finished 13th overall. Gutsy performance by Vonn.
To the Honda classic where Adam Scott was scaring the pants off the competition. That's Gary Woodland. He hit it straight into the sand pit. He would actually end up impressively parring that hole on the sixth. Adam Scott, he ended up tournament champ. His first win since May of 2014. He's currently third overall in the FedEx Cup standing -- John.
BERMAN: All right, Coy, thanks so much. Pants here always optional. Chris Rock keeping Hollywood's controversy in the spotlight. Michaela and our entertainment gurus will break down the biggest Oscar moments live from the Montage Hotel. There she is laughing it up in Beverly Hills, next.
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[06:53:18]
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to NEW DAY live from Beverly Hills at the Montage Hotel. The 88th Academy Awards certainly did not shy away from diversity controversy. Host Chris Rock addressing that issue head on in his opening monologue.
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CHRIS ROCK, ACADEMY AWARDS HOST: Well, I'm here at the academy awards. Otherwise, known as the white people's choice awards. You realize if they nominated hosts I wouldn't even get this job. So y'all would be watch Neil Patrick Harris right now.
This is the wildest, craziest Oscars to ever host. We have all of this controversy. No black nominees, you know? People are like, Chris, you should boycott. Chris, you should quit. You should quit.
No other job is ever tells you to quit. So I've thought about quitting. I thought about it real hard, but I realize they are going to have the Oscars anyway. They're not going to cancel the Oscars because I quit. And the last thing I need is to lose another job to Kevin Hart, OK?
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PEREIRA: Poor Kevin Hart is there minding his business. Joining me from the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, CNN contributor, Nischelle Turner and also "Entertainment Tonight host. Brian Stelter is with us as well, CNN senior media correspondent and the host of "RELIABEL SOURCES."
All right, guys, how did we feel about the show? How did we feel about Chris Rock, Nischelle?
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I got a little bit of an advance. I had listen to this. Watch out for this. Chris is going to do this. He's cooking some stuff up.
[06:55:05]So I kind of buckled my seat belt. You knew it would be an interesting night when he came out to fight the power. I said get ready. Here we go. I mean, full disclosure I think Chris Rock is the greatest living stand-up comedian of our time. Whatever he does I think is going to be forward thinking and edgy. I did expect him to go there.
PEREIRA: He went there.
TURNER: It was awkward. I love awkward comedy.
PEREIRA: It was interesting to be in the room, Brian. There were moments that it was like, ouch, awkward. How did it play watching it on the screen at home?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: It seemed to me he was almost universally claimed for it. Even though there were moments where you wondered if the audience is being tested. You know, the people in the front rows, are they going to laugh or not?
There were some awkward moments, but I thought the key line was sorority racist. You know, he said Hollywood is racist. There are racial issues here. He went head on about it, but said it's sorority racist, and of course, that was a trending hashtag right away.
PEREIRA: Let's play that sound bite right now and you can hear it for yourself.
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ROCK: Is Hollywood racist? You're damn right Hollywood is racist. It's a racist that you have grown accustomed to. Hollywood is sorority racist. We like you, Rhonda, but you're not a kappa. That's how Hollywood is.
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PEREIRA: You know, it's a good point to point out. Bringing comedy to a topic like -- it is such a great way to handle it. One monologue, one event with the focus on diversity is not going to change the problem, fix the problem, but it is a good start. It's a conversation to have.
TURNER: The conversation we have been having, some of them have been very painful, very raw, but very needed. I think one of the things that Chris did well last night is he didn't just is put it all on Hollywood. He went at Will and Jada, sexism, gender is equality issue. He went there with everything.
Just like Chris Rock does and his comedy is relevant. It's political. I think it's very smart in a lot of ways. When people say, gosh, you went too far, wouldn't you expect Chris Rock? Have you ever seen his comedy?
STELTER: He went back to it so many times. I think it was borderline too much, but it is better to do too much than too little. It wasn't like we were celebrating Hollywood at all. It was such a serious ceremony. But then again it is a big opportunity in front of 40 million or 50 million to talk about these issues. We heard shout outs to indigenous people. We talked about sexual assault survivors.
There were a lot of important themes throughout the whole three and a half hours.
PEREIRA: There certainly were. It wasn't just Chris Rock. There were many people who brought that. In fact, let's listen to the man who won for best director.
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ALEJANDRO G. INARRITU, DIRECTOR, "THE REVENANT": What a great opportunity to our generation to really liberate ourselves from all prejudice and, you know, this way of thinking and making sure once and forever that the color of the skin become as irrelevant as the length of our hair.
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PEREIRA: Such an important statement from such an important voice, the Latino voice on this very issue because diversity is about diversity of everyone, not just about the black experience in America.
TURNER: Absolutely. Alejandro is one of the pre-imminent directors of our time. He is doing film like we have never seen before. Don't try to play this man off when he is giving a speech like that. He was making a beautiful point.
You're right. That all people of color, minorities and the disenfranchised, LGBT community. It's not just the African-Americans in the room that have this thought --
PEREIRA: Just one last thing, I want to show video of a really powerful moment. Vice President Joe Biden and Lady Gaga together talking about an issue important to both of them. I think we have the video we can show.
This performance by Gaga, Brian, was one of the most powerful moments of the night. Walking out there with all of those victims.
STELTER: It is the part I will remember from the Oscars. It was a remarkable performance with survivors of sexual assault coming on stage. Then a few minutes later, "Spotlight" wins the best picture Oscar.
That's a movie about the Boston Globe's investigation into the Catholic Church sex abuse scandals. So we are talking about here was again a big serious issue. To see "Spotlight" win, it was a win for journalism. It was also a win for those survivors including the ones on the stage.
PEREIRA: It certainly was. Boy, Lady Gaga, this is close to her heart. Brian, Nischelle, thank you both. I know you need sleep. I know I do. Appreciate the conversation. Nischelle, stick around. We are following a whole lot of news this morning. A new poll that could really shake up the 2016 race, let's get to it.
