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President Obama & VP Biden To Speak Tonight; 9/11 Survivors & Responders Speak Of Clinton's Support; Hillary Clinton Breaks Glass Ceiling At DNC; Celebrities Sing "Fight Song" In Support Of Clinton. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired July 27, 2016 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:33:00] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: This is the convention. It's about making the case for the candidate. We saw it last week, we're seeing it this week, but in very different ways. So who can make the case for Hillary Clinton in terms of what she does?

Well, you've got to look at the top of this list. President Obama, Vice President Biden -- they say they know best, and they are big heavyweights and they are coming at it tonight. What will they say that absent -- that removes Hillary Clinton from any blame for the status quo?

Let's discuss. CNN political commentator and vice-chair of New York's Democratic Party, Christine Quinn. The former lieutenant governor of South Carolina, Andre Bauer. And, CNN political commentator, Hilary Rosen.

I could feel Quinn's discontent with my introduction, alone, but isn't that part of the challenge tonight for President Obama to come out, for the vice president to come up and make the case for the status quo that America's in a good place, not a bad place? But it's a trick with Hillary Clinton because you know the opposition is saying there are problems and you were there, Hillary. You were there when these problems were born.

CHRISTINE QUINN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No, I think that what the president and vice president are going to do tonight is share their perspective of Hillary Clinton as the great, as President Clinton said, agent for change that she is and the difference that she's made in the world.

And I think everyone at the DNC is clear things are not perfect, but the way to get to solutions and better is not to degrade the country, it's not to pick on each other. It's to do what Hillary has done her whole life in every capacity, which is to see the problem, affirm the problem, name the problem, and then get the solutions.

And that's what we're going to hear about tonight from probably the perspective of the vice president as a senator with her, and Secretary of State and vice president. And the same thing for President Obama. And President Obama has a special message to tell America.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes?

QUINN: That a woman who he was the biggest of rivals against -- hard, hard-fought race --

CUOMO: Trump's using the 2008 campaign of then-senator Obama as an ad right now.

QUINN: People will always use, you know, those kind of statements from campaigns. But he saw a woman he knew was a great American and skilled, and he went to her and said put your pride aside if you have any in this area and serve. And in a split second, she said yes because above anything else --

[07:35:00] CAMEROTA: Yes.

QUINN: -- she's a patriot and cares about people, and will never say no to the call to service.

CAMEROTA: So, Governor, as a Trump supporter, what has jumped out at you about the testimonials about Hillary Clinton?

ANDRE BAUER, FORMER LT. GOVERNOR, SOUTH CAROLINA, TRUMP SUPPORTER: Well, I think they made a call yesterday in the agent for change. I think most folks aren't better off than they were eight years ago and there's frustration among the American people. And so, they did change the course of discussion a little bit. I thought it was smart. They handed out the signs.

They took the absolute best person in the world to go try to sell Hillary Clinton. I mean, she's one of my least favorite people in office or that's ever been in office, but I will say as he delineated their life it was like taking Cruella de Vil and making her the princess, Cinderella. I mean, I started, at least, listening --

QUINN: Hillary doesn't need for anybody to put her shoe on. I'll tell you that right now.

BAUER: I started, at least --

CUOMO: Poor Andre, he's always in the middle of a hate sandwich. (Laughter)

BAUER: And actually, I started saying, you know, amI just so hardened towards her that I can't -- and so, he did do a fantastic -- his emotion, taking me chronologically through her life. It was -- it was -- I enjoyed it. I actually enjoyed listening to him. That is a shocker.

HILARY ROSEN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That is saying a lot to get you saying that.

CUOMO: Wait, but hold on, Hilary. I think the governor may have just given you a gift here, right, because someone who supports Trump to get insight into why. The governor just said am I so tied to what I already think --

QUINN: Yes, exactly.

CUOMO: -- that I'm not open? Now, that's the trick. How do you get minds open in an election that is so --

QUINN: Right.

CUOMO: -- toxically closed?

ROSEN: And what we've seen this week, behind the scenes in the Clinton campaign, this has been the strategy, which is where are we soft, where do we need to push the envelope harder? And so, part of that is what's Hillary Clinton's sort of personal connection with real people? What are her economic opportunities? And where are we going to go on foreign policy?

So the first night you saw a large focus on the economy. Yes, we had FLOTUS, but we also had Elizabeth Warren talking about why she's a champion of working people. Last night, what we saw was how her professional is really personal. Bill Clinton did that amazingly well.

But you also had these Mothers of the Movement. You had Hillary Clintonwho was brave enough, and really for a politician it's courage, to sit down with mothers of children who have been killed by violence to say not only do I feel your pain, I am determined to work with you and to stay in that space of pain as they work through it.

And then tonight, you're going to have the men, right? So you're going to have Mike Bloomberg, you're going to have Joe Biden, you're going to have President Obama, you're going to have Tim Kaine, all taking about you know what, a lot of women have been talking about how historic this candidacy is. Let me tell you, she's good for the guys, too.

So, we're having a sort of building of where might her vulnerabilities be out there on the campaign trail and how can we set this week off with the best case.

QUINN: And you know, the best speaker last night, just to build on what Hilary said -- the best speaker was that woman who was a 9/11 survivor because she really showed that when someone needs help Hillary is there. But she's not when the cameras are there.

ROSEN: That's right.

QUINN: They care --

CAMEROTA: Right, they kept making that point. Without the cameras, without the entourage, she came to my hospital bed, she held my hand. Governor, what did you think of that? Did that play for you? Did you know that about Hillary Clinton? Does that --

BAUER: I didn't, but because I'm in politics, again, all of us have done -- you know, I don't get to see it from exactly the same side because for 14 years I was in office and I did that stuff all the time, and so that comes with the job. It is good to get the word out and it's hard, as a politician, to sell that without looking like hey, I'm trying to do -- to tell you how great I am. But it is a tough -- it's a -- you have to be very gentle in how you approach showing that.

ROSEN: No, no, no. But you heard these stories that Hillary Clinton did this before she ever was a politician.

QUINN: Right.

ROSEN: Before she ever thought about it.

BAUER: She was a politician her whole life.

ROSEN: No, no, no, no. No, she was not. She was actually a --

QUINN: Child advocate.

ROSEN: -- public service worker and, you know, a --

BAUER: She was pushing Bill Clinton before Bill Clinton was a politician.

CUOMO: But that's the perception. This is the perception, what the governor's telling you there.

ROSEN: And that's why that is so important --

CUOMO: He's not alone in this.

ROSEN: -- which is that she showed how politics actually isn't the only avenue to do good in this world and she did that, you know, for the first 25 years of her career.

QUINN: In ways that most people don't know about, like creating a legal aid clinic in Arkansas. All her "on the ground work" with immigrants and registering voters, and helping young children get the education they need. People don't know that. The only know the Hillary Clinton they first met in the White House and from there on, and there's a whole unbelievably full life of service and helping people with no cameras, no reporters, that it's important for people to know.

It's also important for people to know she is just a really sweet, lovely person. On my phone because I'm a geek, I have every birthday message, every happy gay pride "I'm sorry I can't be at the parade this year" message she's ever left. And every timeI see her she asks about my dad, she would ask about my late father-in-law, my late brother-in-law. She loves people and I want to America to know that because that's one of the reasons I love Hillary. She loves and cares for people.

[07:40:00] CAMEROTA: You got that message out right now. Thanks so much panel. Great to talk to all of you.

CUOMO: Now, one of the things that really hit last night, and always does for Americans, was September 11th. Those who survived and their reckoning of what Hillary Clinton did for them. Now, that's very powerful medicine.

We certainly heard from one former NYPD detective. Now, the first responders often come front and center when it comes to 9/11, so we're going to talk to him next about why he believes Hillary Clinton will keep you safe. What he wants you to know about her as a person, next.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE SWEENEY, NYPD DETECTIVE ON 9/11, SPOKE AT DNC: I'm proud of every day that I serve my city and my country, but I'm especially proud that I served on our worst day. When we needed someone to speak for us, to stand with us, to fight on our behalf, Hillary Clinton was there every step of the way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: That was former New York police detective, Joe Sweeney, speaking at the Democratic Convention here in Philadelphia last night. He shared his experience on 9/11 and he calls Hillary Clinton the NYPD's toughest champion. And Joe Sweeney joins us now. Joe, thanks so much for being here.

[07:45:00] SWEENEY: You're welcome.

CAMEROTA: That was an emotional speech last night. You're getting a lot of praise --

SWEENEY: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: -- for delivering that. Why did you want to speak out on behalf of Hillary Clinton?

SWEENEY: Well, to me, it was -- I wanted to say thank you for, you know -- for sticking up with -- for us on -- you know, when we responded to 9/11 and down at the World Trade Center attack we weren't thinking about our health, you know. We were thinking about rescuing people and then trying to recover remains and focused on our job. And she was looking out for us in the long-term.

CAMEROTA: For people who don't know your story what did happen on 9/11? What was your involvement?

SWEENEY: Well, I was -- I responded -- I was a detective in the Midtown South precinct at the time and we responded after the attacks. We were on our way down there and me and a few other detectives were basically just about under the building when it started to come down. We were in a vehicle and we were able to drive backwards very quickly and, you know, avoid getting crushed by the debris.

So it was an intense, very surreal, you know, moment. And then, of course, like thousands of others, we -- after the buildings came down we worked, you know, digging on the pile for remains and working at the morgue. And going out to Fresh Kills in Staten Island, where they brought all the rubble, to sift through that. So, you know, I'm not alone in that. There's thousands of people who participated in that.

CAMEROTA: And, yet -- absolutely, and there are lingering health consequences to people.

SWEENEY: I -- yes. I got a friend of mine, a police officer, who was buried on Monday from a 9/11-related illness.

CAMEROTA: I'm so sorry.

SWEENEY: So, yes.

CAMEROTA: I mean, the idea that this -- 15 years later that this is still -- that people are still grappling with the consequences. So what made you think that Hillary Clinton took on your cause and that she was effective?

SWEENEY: Well, I think, you know, she was a leader in passing the legislation for the, you know -- for the health benefits that we now still have.

CAMEROTA: For federal funding to get you health benefits.

SWEENEY: Yes, yes. And then, also the air quality, you know -- they -- which, to me, felt like a betrayal, almost, where these people who were praising us at the time when we were down there digging. And she stood up and said hey, wait a minute, these -- there's something wrong here. There's no way the air could be -- could be clean and good, you know.

CAMEROTA: Oh, meaning that people were misrepresenting that the air quality --

SWEENEY: Right, yes.

CAMEROTA: -- was fine. But you -- did you know that it wasn't? You sensed?

SWEENEY: It was obvious, you know. Anybody who was in and around that area you could -- you could -- you could almost taste it, you know. There's no way it could have been -- could have been, you know, good for you.

CAMEROTA: So what has your relationship since she helped with the federal funding been? Do you know her personally?

SWEENEY: No, I mean I've met her but I don't know her personally. I mean, to shake hands and say hey as she walks by, but I don't her personally. So I went on with my life and thank God I'm healthy and I go every year for my -- for my checks and, you know, I'm fortunate.

CAMEROTA: You are fortunate.

SWEENEY: Yes.

CAMEROTA: I mean, even if -- you were so heroic that day and so many people do carry more of the lasting consequences than you do. But I know that you said that you felt that Hillary Clinton shared your credo. What is that?

SWEENEY: Well, I just think it's protect and serve, and that's any law enforcement person or first responder. That's their job -- is to protect and serve. And I feel like she was doing that that day in trying to protect us from future sickness that might come up, being aware that this might be an issue later on in life. And 15 years later, like you said, it's still happening. And I feel like she was serving, you know, the country, really, in making sure that we were taken care of.

CAMEROTA: And you felt that not all politicians had your back in those days?

SWEENEY: No, especially, like I said, when the politicians are misrepresenting the health -- the air quality tests, you know, to the, you know, to the very people who are down there and they're saluting as heroes, it just seemed somewhat of a betrayal, and I felt that she stood up and was a champion for that.

CAMEROTA: Joe Sweeney, thanks so much.

SWEENEY: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Thanks for your service, again, and thanks for telling your story here now.

SWEENEY: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Great to see you. All right, well, the stars, they came out last night and they will be out tonight to support Hillary Clinton. But will the Hollywood touch make any difference with voters? We'll look at that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:53:15]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(Music playing, graphic showing Clinton breaking through glass ceiling)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: That was Hillary Clinton literally breaking through a glass ceiling graphic at last night's convention. The Democratic nominee making her first appearance at the DNC. Many celebrities and performers were there to mark the historic occasion, as well. Will the star power translate into votes?

Here to discuss is CNN senior reporter for media and politics, Dylan Byers.

CUOMO: (Laughing).

CAMEROTA: What's so funny? CUOMO: I love the history of it, but I love that Alisyn says breaking through a glass ceiling "graphic". Just in case --

CAMEROTA: I first said literally.

DYLAN BYERS, CNN SENIOR REPORTER, MEDIA AND POLITICS: Yes, it's not literal.

CAMEROTA: She's not breaking through a glass ceiling literally --

BYERS: It's quite difficult.

CAMEROTA: -- so I would have taken that word out.

CUOMO: Should we call Cirque du Soleil? Taking one for team?

CAMEROTA: Why doesn't she come in on a trapeze, Dylan?

BYERS: Look, that -- it is a historic moment. Yesterday was all about it because it was the official nomination of the first woman. It's a little hokey. Like, it's a little bit like couldn't we have done something a little more, you know? You don't want to actually like bring out glass onto the stage.

CAMEROTA: You're a tough customer because you thought that the RNC -- the production -- you rated it terribly --

BYERS: I did.

CAMEROTA: -- because they had horrible production mishaps.

CUOMO: He was all off on that.

CAMEROTA: And this one, you don't think, is perfect either.

CUOMO: The smokescreen there.

BYERS: You like the smokescreen?

CUOMO: Oh, I love it. I want it for our show.

BYERS: Do you prefer -- do you prefer the Donald Trump smokescreen or the Elizabeth Banks smokescreen that we saw last night?

CAMEROTA: Maybe we can play that. She was parodying Donald Trump's.

BYERS: She was.

CAMEROTA: But you -- we liked the Donald Trump smokescreen. That was also impressive.

[07:55:04] CUOMO: But this is symbolism. This is about, you know, the magic of the moment and how you build it up and how you exaggerate it. That's -- politics, very often, is trying to make your moments. And they did their parody. That was kind of funny with Elizabeth Banks but I prefer the original. But, Hillary's momentous occasion, OK --

BYERS: Right.

CUOMO: I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat, this is history, this matters, and the shattering is an interesting image. How does it work for her and is there any downside?

BYERS: No, look, I think -- I think ultimately the historical import of what happened last night far outweighs whether or not, you know, it was a digital or a literal breaking of the glass ceiling. I will say, in terms of the star power that turned out, so many of those celebrities that we saw last night were women. So many of the speakers on stage last night were women. I really think the whole night was a testament to women.

In fact, the biggest star power on that stage last night, former president, Bill Clinton -- I think his speech, in terms of telling Hillary Clinton's story, was largely geared toward women who haven't made up their minds yet in this election.

CAMEROTA: Let's listen to a moment of this where two young women, actresses Lena Dunham and America Ferrera, came out and spoke about her. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENA DUNHAM, ACTRESS: Hi, I'm Lena Dunham and, according to Donald Trump, my body is probably like a two. (Laughter)

AMERICA FERRERA, ACTRESS: And I'm America Ferrera and, according to Donald Trump, I'm probably a rapist. (Laughter)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Oh, OK, they didn't speak about her, they spoke about Donald Trump. So how effective was the star power -- the use of star power?

BYERS: Well, that certainly played well in Brooklyn. You know, it's interesting because we talked about some of the celebrities at the Republican National Convention, that they're not a big deal. On the one hand, guys like Willie Robertson, of Duck Dynasty, are a very big deal on the right.

Lena Dunham is a big deal on the left but she has as much scorn coming at her from the right as any of the sort of celebrities we saw have coming at them from the left.

CUOMO: But what's the challenge? What's the optics challenge? Is it to galvanize the base or is it to reach out? Is it a balance?

BYERS: No, I think -- I think you -- I think what you are doing is you're doing two things. You're galvanizing the base and you're reaching out towards independence. What you're not doing -- you're not worried about all the criticism you're going to get from the right. Last night was not -- you're not trying to win any Donald Trump voters with Lena Dunham. She can't do that for you.

But you are trying -- you are trying to expand the base. And, again, you are trying to go towards those women who maybe haven't made up their minds. I don't know how effective Lena Dunham is in that. I do think that Meryl Streep is effective. I think Elizabeth Banks was huge star power for, you know, being in "The Hunger Games" --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

BYERS: -- is very effective. I think Alicia Keys is effective, so --

CAMEROTA: Let's watch this DNC-produced music video and this is Chris Cuomo's anthem -- "Fight Song".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

("Fight Song" being sung by various celebrities)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: You like a good music video, Dylan.

CUOMO: I don't understand what the point of this is.

BYERS: Sure, I grew up with MTV.

CUOMO: What is it -- although this is my jam, as Alisyn just revealed --

CAMEROTA: He doesn't know what's happening here.

CUOMO: What was the magic that they were trying to capture here?

BYERS: Yes, that's a good question. Here's what I think. I think that -- David Axelrod said this last night. He said you worry about how much you want to play up the historic significance of the first woman or the first African-American president, and you want to sort of downplay. You don't want to make voters think that that's the reason you're asking them to vote for you.

That said, this -- a video like this is, especially to I think younger voters, is come be on the right side of history. Come be on the side of history that's ready to elect a female president. Don't stand on the wrong side of history. I think that's what they were trying to achieve. Whether they achieved it -- I mean, this is your theme song, so you might tell me, did it move you? Did it move you because if it didn't move you --

CUOMO: It's my -- oh, no, I'm moved by the song but when you take Katy out of it you kind of lose it.

BYERS: Yes, that is fair.

CUOMO: I'm a purist.

CAMEROTA: It's not Katy. You don't even know who sings it. Rachel Platten.

BYERS: There you go.

CUOMO: Who's also known as Katy Perry.

CAMEROTA: Got it.

CAMEROTA: Dylan, thank you --

BYERS: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: -- very much for this strange segment. Our convention coverage continues right now, so let's get right to it.

CUOMO: Were you lying to me or is it really --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling.

ERIC HOLDER, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL: Did you hear what I just said? Donald, did you hear me? Already great nation.

CECILE RICHARDS, PRESIDENT, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Mr. Trump, come this November, women are going to be the reason you're not elected.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This woman has never been satisfied with the status quo.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Poor kids, kids who live in poverty, kids who need help. You got a champion.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee.

(END VIDEO CLIP)