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Clinton Grilled in Debate; Democrats on Immigration; Sacha Baron Cohen on "The Brothers Grimsby". Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired March 10, 2016 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] JORGE RAMOS, MODERATOR: Specifically gave you permission to operate your e-mail system as you did? Was it President Barack Obama? And would you drop out of the race if you get indicted?

On the night of the attack in Benghazi, you sent an e-mail to your daughter Chelsea saying that al Qaeda (INAUDIBLE) was responsible for the killing of the Americans.

Secretary Clinton, did you lie to them?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, joining us now to discuss all of this is Democratic Senator Bill Nelson from Florida, who supports Hillary Clinton for president.

Good morning, senator.

SEN. BILL NELSON (D), FLORIDA: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: OK, let's just start there. I mean let's start with where we left off, and that was Benghazi, when she was asked, you know, why the narrative on Benghazi kept changing. Was it really about a video? Was it an out of control protest? Why did she tell Chelsea one thing? How do you think Hillary Clinton did in answering that?

NELSON: Well, I think she did very well because she has the truth on her side. But when you compare that to the Republican debates, this is mild by comparison. I mean on the other side they're talking about body parts and the size of hands and whether or not the condition of your pantalonis (ph). So this is mild compared to that.

CAMEROTA: Well, I mean I think what you're referring to is that there is substance. There was a lot of substance last night.

NELSON: Yes, ma'am.

CAMEROTA: And it wasn't just, you know, sort of engaging in some sort of juvenile playground insults. But, you know, this - the issue of Benghazi and the issues of her e-mails do continue to dog her. And what she said last night was, well, the narrative kept shifting, so - or, I'm sorry, the intelligence kept shifting, so the narrative kept shifting. Do you think that put the issue of Benghazi to bed?

NELSON: Of course. At first the intelligence was, was the demonstration in Cairo. And then, once they learned more on the intel - and I was a member of the intel committee at the time - you started to learn more of what was happening so that it became the full out terrorist attack on the consulate there in Benghazi.

CAMEROTA: She was also asked last night about the issue of her e-mails and something that the Republicans have been saying. They have been saying that they believe that the issue of sending classified information is so dire that she might actually - the FBI investigation might actually lead to an indictment of some sort. Let me play for you the moment she was asked about that and her response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you get indicted, would you drop out?

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Oh, for goodness, that is not going to happen. I'm not even answering that question.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: OK, here again, what did you think of that - I mean what did you think of that response that she said basically, it's not going to happen and I'm not even going to answer it?

NELSON: Well, it's a stretch to say that she's going to be indicted because the information that she received over the personal computer did not have the classification on it. I have handled a lot of classification. And the first thing you know is that classified material, number one, doesn't come over a personal computer. And, number two, any classified material is identified before the very first sentence of the paragraph. And so if you are receiving information that does not have that indication that it's top secret or compartmented, then it is not classified.

Now, what's happened is that different agencies of government - after the fact - have gone back and said, well, that information should have been classified. But you can't blame Secretary Clinton on that. She was responding to what she received.

CAMEROTA: So, senator, did you hear any recalibration in Secretary Clinton's take or tact last night after the surprising loss in Michigan?

NELSON: Well, remember, she only lost by one point. That's not a huge loss. And, in addition, I thought she -

CAMEROTA: But it was surprising. I mean the polls hadn't predicted it.

NELSON: Look at the polls. Can you believe a lot of the polls? But last night I thought she was stellar on immigration. And there is a flaw for Bernie, who I love. Bernie is a great senator. But he voted against the signature issue, which was the comprehensive immigration reform package. And he voted against it. Hillary voted for it. You can explain it away, as Bernie has tried. But at the end of the day, it's either yea or nay. Interestingly, the same vote that is bedeviling Marco in the Republican primary for exactly the opposite reason. [08:35:14] CAMEROTA: Senator Bill Nelson, thanks so much. Great to get

your take.

NELSON: Thanks. Have a great day.

CAMEROTA: You too.

Well, he's out of the race, but could Jeb Bush make a big impact in Florida next week? The latest on his meetings with his formal rivals. What were they about? And why didn't he meet with Trump?

Plus, actor Sacha Baron Cohen stops by to chat about his new film. If you don't know what to expect, neither do we. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: A big night last night. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders squaring off on the all-important issue of immigration. The Democrats pressed hard, specifically on deportation. How will their responses play out in the general against a Republican?

Let's discuss. We have CNN political commentator Ana Navarro. She's Marco Rubio's friend, supported Jeb Bush. CNN political commentator -

[09:40:04] ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Now I'm about to have nowhere to go.

CUOMO: I know. I know. So you're running out of friends.

CNN commentator and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile here as well.

Ana, you were just saying, what a debate, what a debate. Why did you like it so much?

NAVARRO: You know, I think because I heard issues addressed in a way that I have not heard until then. I had not heard a single question on Cuba, which has been a big policy issue in the last year with a change of policy. I think the, you know, that moment where the Guatemalan woman whose husband was deported asked the question about reunification of families was so poignant. It was nothing but emotion. It had my false eyelashes falling off because I was, you know, tearing up. I think Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas did an exemplary job. They went at these candidates like pinatas. They asked tough question. They had good follow-up. It was a wonderful, wonderful debate and it was very policy oriented.

CAMEROTA: In fact, at one point the hosts asked Hillary Clinton if her positions on immigration had changed and, in fact, they coined an interesting phrase in the process. Let me play this for you, Donna.

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA ELENA SALINAS, MODERATOR: Your new immigration plan is that you would expand President Obama's executive actions and that you would push for legislation that would include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. So are you flip-flopping on this issue or are you pandering to Latinos, what some would call Hispandering (ph)?

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, in 2003 I sponsored the Dreamer Act. I sponsored it, I think, in every Congress after that. I have been consistent and committed to comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Was she Hispandering, they wanted to know, because she hasn't always been as strong?

BRAZILE: Oh, she's been strong. On the Dream Act in 2003, you know, helping Ted Kennedy with comprehensive immigration reform in 2007. She's been strong. I mean that's - that's not a problem for us in the Democratic Party. We're not flip-flopping. We believe that we have to have strong border security, but also a path to citizenship for those who want to come from the shadows, et cetera. So -

CAMEROTA: I mean what they were referring to, just so - to be clear, is that she hadn't always supported driver's licenses for undocumented workers and she hadn't always been as clear about never deporting children of illegal immigrants.

BRAZILE: Well, look, there's no question that that issue was litigated back in the 2008 Democratic debate, Philadelphia. But I do believe where we are today, in contrast to the Republicans, we have a - a - I mean with the president as well, the Democrats want to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform. We're not like Marco Rubio who, you know, was a champion in 2000 and - you know, just a couple years ago and now he's flip-flopped. So -

NAVARRO: Oh, girl, leave him alone. He's having a tough, tough couple of days.

BRAZILE: I'm trying to at least raise his name. That might get him two more votes, OK?

CUOMO: But it is a stark contrast.

NAVARRO: Yes. OK, but - but I - I -

CUOMO: There's certainly a stark contrast. Marco Rubio, you could argue paid the price for trying to compromise on immigration.

NAVARRO: Right.

CUOMO: You couldn't have more diametrically opposed positions.

NAVARRO: And I think one of the reasons that that debate yesterday was so good is because these moderates had done their homework.

BRAZILE: Yes.

NAVARRO: I mean when they dug up that, you know, 40-year-old, 35-year- old tape of Bernie Sanders talking about Fidel Castro, talking about Daniel Ortega, I can tell you that, for me, somebody who fled the Sandinistas, you know, hearing Bernie Sandinista was a very stark moment. And I think it matters in this community. Latin American policy is something that I think many of us have felt it was neglected. It was good to hear it discussed yesterday.

And on immigration, they had done their homework. They knew that she has changed her positions. The Hillary Clinton that's speaking today about immigration is very different from the Hillary Clinton in 2008 who, in a debate moment, as Donna brought up, could not bring herself to support driver's licenses for the undocumented. Since then she's become the patron saint of the undocumented.

BRAZILE: No, she didn't - she didn't want to overturn what was going on - if we want to get into the weeds of the politics.

CUOMO: Oh, Democrats have stated (ph), better late than never.

BRAZILE: But she's been a very strong and tough supporter of immigration.

CAMEROTA: But, quickly, let's talk about what's happening today and tonight.

BRAZILE: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Jeb Bush has met with three of his former Republican rivals. Not Donald Trump. Is Jeb Bush going to endorse somebody? And, if so, would it help or hurt them?

CUOMO: What are you asking Donna for?

CAMEROTA: Because I'm curious. But we'll - we'll get her take and then she can shoot it down.

BRAZILE: Well, first of all - right. First of all, Jeb Bush -

CUOMO: Well played.

BRAZILE: Jeb Bush, what he - what the frontrunner of the Republican Party. Look, Paul Ryan had a -

NAVARRO: What? See? It's happening.

BRAZILE: Paul Ryan had a - Paul - Paul Ryan had a conversation with Donald Trump. Donald Trump is the frontrunner, period. Jeb Bush should meet with all of the Republican candidates and see - and they should -

NAVARRO: Hey, down there, what are you drinking this morning?

BRAZILE: And they should - coffee. Cuban coffee.

NAVARRO: Well, you haven't drunk enough of it. We're going to go get more at Versailles the moment this ends.

No, listen, there is no reason why Jeb Bush should be legitimizing Donald Trump at this, you know, at this moment (ph).

CUOMO: He is legitimate.

[08:45:00] BRAZILE: He's the frontrunner.

CUOMO: He's your frontrunner.

NAVARRO: Well, he might be the frontrunner, but he's not legitimate in many, many eyes of Republicans. Listen -

BRAZILE: So you're going to reject those voters?

NAVARRO: He's not getting a majority of the vote in these primaries.

CUOMO: That is the new bar, then who is legitimate in the field?

NAVARRO: Hopefully there will be somebody that comes across as the clear alternative. I will tell you that today that clear alternative that is emerging is Ted Cruz. But I think that for Jeb Bush, I think for Mitt Romney, I think for people like myself, Lindsey Graham, so many others, whomever emerges as that clear alternative to Donald Trump --

BRAZILE: I have advice. I have advice. I think the Republicans should stop spending all this money on anti-Trump ads and give to it charity. Give it to the kids. Okay?

CAMEROTA: There you go. Okay, ladies.

NAVARRO: All right -- And Hillary can do the same.

CAMEROTA: And use it at Versailles where you will be having breakfast momentarily --

BRAZILE: Bernie, too. Yes.

CAMEROTA: In Miami.

NAVARRO: That's cheap, by the way.

CAMEROTA: Thanks --

NAVARRO: You can get coffee for like 50 cents. Not like Starbucks.

CUOMO: Mick, save us.

CAMEROTA: Ladies, thank you. Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: I'm going save you and watch how I'm going to save you. We have a special guest here in studio. One fine looking cowboy this morning. Sacha Baron Cohen has a new film, it's called "The Brothers Grimsby." It opens tomorrow. He's braving the stairs on the NEW DAY set to be here live with us. Oh, yeah. It's on. Come on over here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PEREIRA: Oh yeah. That's him right there. The comedic genius behind, "The Dictator," "Ali G," "Borat" and "Bruno" is back.

[08:50:00] (CLIP FROM "THE BROTHERS GRIMSBY" FILM)

PEREIRA: That was a clip from the new comedy "The Brothers Gimsby." One of the few that we can show you here on CNN. Our next guest not only produced and wrote the film, he stars in it. Oscar-nominated writer, Golden Globe-winning actor, Sacha Baron Cohen looking fine, my dear, as the cowboy this morning.

SACHA BARON COHEN, OSCAR NOMINEE AND GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER: No, this is how we dress in England.

PEREIRA: I'm sorry. I didn't know that. I should know that. I'm so embarrassed.

COHEN: Thank you for having me.

PEREIRA: This is a delight to have you.

COHEN: It's lovely to be here.

PEREIRA: First of all, comedy, but this is a bona fide action flick.

COHEN: Yes. This is a full-on action flick. We have action director who did some Marvel movies, Louis Leterrier, and we had a lot of the team who made "Star Wars" and "The Bourne Identity" and that kind of thing. But there's some outlandish and unpleasant humor as well. Don't worry.

PEREIRA: I've read some of the reviews. Hilariously funny. Weepingly funny. People -- they kind of losing their minds about the humor, but also saying that is really smart. I want to go back to the action. Was that fun for you? Because this is exploring a very different side. We know you are very funny. We know you have a twisted sense of humor.

COHEN: Thank you very much. You know that I'm a sick man, yeah.

PEREIRA: No. A sick sense of humor maybe.

COHEN: Yes. Yeah.

PEREIRA: But the action, did that sort of appeal to the kid in you?

COHEN: Well, yeah, I mean my secret -- my secrets or hobby is actually watching action movies so I wanted to make a movie that wasn't a spoof of a spy movie, but actually was -- could be a rival to Bond or Jason Bourne and this is kind of Borat meets Bond. And so the (inaudible) was made about $150 million less. So we developed this new style of action where you put a kind of GoPro on a stuntman's head and they do the action scenes for real. So it's a bit like Call of Duty.

PEREIRA: That's amazing.

COHEN: Unfortunately about five stuntmen died making the film, but it was worth it. Got to break some legs.

PEREIRA: Well somebody's going to get hurt.

COHEN: Yeah.

PEREIRA: And at least it wasn't you.

COHEN: Yes. And they were --

PEREIRA: And at least it wasn't your wife.

COHEN: Yes.

PEREIRA: Because your wife -- you act together.

COHEN: Yes. No, it's great. I mean --

PEREIRA: Jump at that opportunity or was that a little odd?

COHEN: No, it was great. It was fantastic to work with someone during the day and then share a bed with them at night. And that's why I want --

PEREIRA: And be okay with it.

COHEN: Yeah. That's why I want to they Penelope Cruz. You were amazing.

(LAUGHTER)

PEREIRA: I can't with you. Let's talk about your co-star who is your brother, he -- actually I learned your wife plays his love interest in the film.

COHEN: Yes.

PEREIRA: And he is straight through this whole thing. He is the serious spy guy. He is the straight man to your -- I don't know -- how would you describe your character?

COHEN: He's kind of like -- well at its heart it is a family movie. A slightly effed up family movie, but it is about two brothers. You know, one is this kind of upper class spy, the other one is this kind of poor northern English football (ph) hooligan who likes to drink a bit and do a tiny bit of heroin. Only a safe amount.

PEREIRA: Just a safe amount?

COHEN: Yes. Yeah.

PEREIRA: Okay. I'm not sure how much that exactly would be.

COHEN: Yeah. I'll -- I'll show you after.

PEREIRA: You'll -- Okay. Fine. Again on those stairs. The humor that you have been known for for years makes us laugh that uncomfortable laugh at times. Usually it's just (inaudible), right? But every once in a while we find ourselves like oh my, he didn't, he did. And this time is no exception.

COHEN: Well there is this scene in this that makes the bear scene in "The Revenant" look like a Disney movie. And I showed it actually on the Jimmy Kimmel show -- I don't want to have (inaudible) shows.

PEREIRA: That's all right.

COHEN: But I've just come back from a tour of Europe and Australia and people are -- it is playing like a rock concert without blowing --

PEREIRA: Wait. Can we show some of the reaction? So do we want to -- do you want to sort of set up what the premise is?

COHEN: Yes. So it is basically about two brothers. One is a kind of James Bond spy and the other one is this northern English football hooligan. They end up on the run and have to escape basically being murdered. And I think -- this might be a clip which is -- there is a fairy tale ending in that Donald Trump gets AIDS at the end. And the interesting thing has been throughout the world when we've shown that scene...

PEREIRA: What has the reaction been?

COHEN: Well, people have been cheering. There's -- Look. Here we go.

PEREIRA: This is overseas.

COHEN: This is overseas in Americas. This is when Donald Trump contracts HIV. People are cheering. There are standing ovations and this is 'round the world.

PEREIRA: This is insane. Are you wondering how that scene is going to play here in the United States, given the fact of what is going on right now in politics?

COHEN: Well, I've just been in Miami. I played in Miami two days ago, New York last night.

PEREIRA: What was the reaction?

COHEN: People are cheering, there are standing ovations. And, you know, I'm a comedian, but I think this shows something quite pointed about what is going on that if there is that much latent hatred that when the potential future president of America contracts HIV people are standing up and cheering, that means something wrong is going on. You know?

[08:55:13] PEREIRA: You think? You think there might be something up in the country?

COHEN: Yes.

PEREIRA: Is there anything that you won't touch comedy wise? I mean, every comedian has their own personal line, right? COHEN: Yes, certainly. I mean, there is a lot of debate. You know,

if I'm in the writers room with my -- couple of my mates and we do something that's on the edge, we always discuss whether it's funny or whether it's actually crossing the line. We don't want to it actually conform or consolidate any racial or negative stereotypes.

PEREIRA: Do you all have the same line, though? Because that is the thing about having a great group, right? You can sort of push the boundaries.

COHEN: Yes, we discuss it. We discuss it. I mean, you know, I'm not a politician. I don't have an ethical duty. But, you know, at the end of the day we are putting a movie out there and we want it to be a good force in the world. Which is why Donald Trump gets AIDS in it.

PEREIRA: Well, you know what, I saw you yesterday with our friend Matt Lauer. I came prepared. I brought a handcuff key because you don't fool me. No, you don't.

COHEN: Yes.

PEREIRA: Listen, it was a delight to meet you.

COHEN: Thank you very much. Loved it.

PEREIRA: And really, really great that you were hear.

COHEN: Thank you very much.

PEREIRA: Our colleagues in Miami send their love. You can catch "The Brothers Grimsby." It's in theaters wide tomorrow. Congratulations.

COHEN: Tomorrow. Thank you very much.

PEREIRA: Awesome.

COHEN: Thank you very much.

PEREIRA: "NEWSROOM" will Carol Costello will begin right after a quick break here. We're going to stay and chat.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)