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New Day
President Obama Passes Baton to Hillary Clinton; Top Democrats Unleash Blistering Attacks on Trump. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired July 28, 2016 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America isn't about "yes, he will". It's about "yes, we can".
SEN. TIM KAINE (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Yes, we can. The brightest future for our country is the one we build together.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: I'm a New Yorker. I know a con when I see one.
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He has no clue about what makes America great. He has no clue, period.
OBAMA: There has never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to say madam president.
OBAMA: Elect Hillary Clinton and show the world we still believe in the promise of this great nation.
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We want to welcome our viewers here in the U.S. and around the world. It is Thursday, July 28th. You're watching NEW DAY. And Chris and I are live in Philadelphia at the Democratic National Convention.
It's already been quite a week here for Democrats. It was a night steeped in symbolism and history.
[05:00:02] President Obama says he is ready to pass the baton to Hillary Clinton. America's first black president embracing his one- time rival and making a case for her to also make history.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: He wants to pass the baton, but first, he used it to beat Donald Trump over the head. It was a night of big repeated themes and pounding on the GOP by the big dogs of the Democratic Party. Hope versus fear. Ready versus reckless. And then the president explained why Hillary being in the arena has made all the difference.
How did the race changed because of last night? Let's begin the discussion.
CNN White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski is still inside that convention hall -- Michelle.
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Chris. It is interesting to see how this was all put together. I mean, remember it started with this video presentation of President Obama's accomplishments in the voices of people closest to him, but it was also about presidential temperament. What the job requires. The tough decisions involved.
And you see President Obama come out and the look on his face. I mean, this is the last time he will have an audience like this while he is president. It was emotional. You could see the work that went into this, weeks of writing, six drafts.
This time going after Donald Trump directly and painting a picture in his view what is America versus what is not.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KOSINSKI (voice-over): You could almost see the weight of this moment, and of America's voice on President Obama's face as he tried to connect past with present with future.
OBAMA: While this nation has been tested by war and it has been tested by recession and all manner of challenges, I stand before you again tonight after almost two terms as your president to tell you I am more optimistic about the future of America.
KOSINSKI: Optimism, the focus in the speech the president delivered with an almost constant smile even as he ripped into Republicans, laying out a stark contrast.
OBAMA: But what we heard in Cleveland last week wasn't particularly Republican. And it sure wasn't conservative. What we heard was a deeply pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other and turn away from the rest of the world. There were no serious solutions to pressing problems -- just the fanning of resentment and blame and anger and hate.
And that is not the America I know. The America I know is full of courage and optimism and ingenuity. The America I know is decent and generous.
KOSINSKI: And this time, President Obama didn't hold back. Yes, saying the name.
And then there's Donald Trump.
Don't boo. Vote.
The Donald is not really a plans guy. He's not really a facts guy, either.
The choice isn't even close. There has never been a man or a woman. Not me, not Bill, nobody more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America.
We're not a fragile people. We're not a frightful people. Our power doesn't come from some self declared savior promising he alone can restore order as long as we do things his way. We don't look to be ruled. And the American dream is something no wall will ever contain.
KOSINSKI: Making the point that unity and democracy work. Not to be overlooked.
OBAMA: We all need to be as vocal and organized and persistent as Bernie Sanders supporters have been during this election.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
KOSINSKI: He urged this crowd to vote and for gun control advocates to be as vocal as the gun lobby, becoming emotional as he started to tell some real stories of American struggle, compassion and perseverance.
OBAMA: And I'll tell you what's picked me back up every single time -- it's been you, the American people. It's the painting I keep in my private office. A big eye green owl with blue wings made by a7-year- old girl who was taken from us in Newtown, given to me by her parents so I wouldn't forget.
Time and again, you've picked me up. And I hope sometimes I picked you up too. And tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me.
I'm asking you to join me to reject cynicism and reject fear and summon what is best in us to elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States and show the world we still believe in the promise of this great nation.
Thank you for this incredible journey. Let's keep it going. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSINSKI: He said the choice between candidates is not even close. But we all know the polling has been extremely close. The task for Democrats now is to make that message resonate far wider.
Tonight, we'll hear from Hillary Clinton introduced by daughter Chelsea -- Alisyn and Chris.
CUOMO: All right. So those were the words. Let's see how they landed and discuss with our panel.
CNN political analyst and host of "The David Gregory Show" podcast, David Gregory. CNN politics executive editor Mark Preston, and CNN politics editor, Juana Summers. I cannot get through the introductions fast enough. So, we're through
the titles. Let's get to the part that matters now. A lot of language last night. A lot of symbolism last night.
What do you think helped Hillary Clinton and what do you think hurt Donald Trump?
DAVID GREGORY, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think the political choreography was excellent. I think the first few nights were excellent. You have huge figures in the political landscape and Democratic Party were able to offer a testimony for Hillary Clinton and do something extraordinarily difficult for her, which is to give her a shot at least of a new introduction to the American people. So, I think that was particularly helpful. I think a lot of slashing at Donald Trump and kind of substantive ways -- there's the risk element and the dark pessimistic element and the idea he doesn't know his stuff, and whether it is on foreign policy or other areas.
You know, I think those were the themes they hammered over and over again. So, there is consistency to reach a big audience.
CAMEROTA: Mark, what jumped out at you?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Look, I think Michael Bloomberg's speech, you know, which was overshadowed by the speech by President Obama. Joe Biden electrified that crowd. If there was ever a politician who was made for conventions, it's Joe Biden, right? So, he lit up the crowd.
What I think is, is that Michael Bloomberg wasn't speaking to that audience. Michael Bloomberg was speaking to the millions of people that were watching it on TV, specifically independents, because he said time and time again, listen, I'm not a Democrat. I don't believe with everything Hillary Clinton does, but she is the right person at this time. So, you know, effectively, I think that can be powerful.
I think for her going into tonight, though, the expectations are so high. There have been pretty good nights out of this. She is not the great orator. So --
GREGORY: Right.
CUOMO: President Obama, the headliner for obvious reasons, and practical reasons as well, he does not speak out of rhythm. You know, like, Joe Biden, he can go on a flourish. That is not what President Obama does. He is exacting. He is precise.
The two things last night in that way. One, was he used the metaphor of being in the arena versus a timid soul on the outside in terms of why he liked Hillary Clinton and then he said the line about Americans don't seek to be ruled. I want to play that and get your take on it, Juana.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: The Donald is not really a plans guy. He's not really a facts guy, either. Our power doesn't come from some self declared savior promising he alone can restore order as long as we do things his way. We don't look to be ruled. That's why anyone who threatens our values, whether fascists or communists or jihadists or home-grown demagogues will always fail in the end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: I'm told this was important to say for President Obama. Why do you think -- why do you think this hits for him?
JUANA SUMMERS, CNN POLITICS EDITOR: Chris, I think this was one of the best lines of the speech. And it really points to the overarching theme that Obama hit, was that this is an exceptional country. It's a country of greatness, of richness. That is the world view President Obama portrayed, which after being in Cleveland, it is a sharp contrast from Donald Trump and other Republicans.
Also, this is a very unifying speech from President Obama, who is widely popular. Not just from Democrats who support Hillary Clinton. In the arena, you talked about it. It was really powerful. He was saying this is our fight, mine and Hillary Clinton. She is on your side.
He is encouraging Democrats who have gone along with the Clinton campaign to come along with her on this journey and back her. That is important as Hillary Clinton goes into a really big night for her campaign tonight try to win over Democrats who have not backed her yet.
GREGORY: Yes, it's interesting if you think about the larger theme, too, which is that it's bigger than one person.
[05:10:00] That's what the president kept saying, that it's not just about the notion of Donald Trump saying I alone can fix all these problems. Democracy requires a lot of ways in the citizenry to affect real change and in some ways, this is a way to kind of the way to capture Hillary Clinton in the Democratic movement to say look, this is my legacy. This is the potential third term.
I don't think there is any question, this notion of passing the baton. And I think you'll hear it from her, to be kind of a third Obama term. I think she is doubling down on that at this point.
CAMEROTA: Hey, Mark, when President Obama said there is never a person before more qualified. Not me. Not Bill. Was that a nod or return of the favor from 2012 when Bill Clinton said not even I could have gotten us out of a recession this well?
PRESTON: Nice payback, isn't it?
CAMEROTA: Doesn't it echo of that?
PRESTON: Even on paper, even on paper, he was absolutely right. I mean, if you are only going to go by the resume and what they have done their lives. Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and many other presidents do not have the resume she has. That's the bottom line. I mean, what he was trying to do is two things: one, try to humanize
her, and two, play the competency card against Donald Trump who he basically said time and time again was incompetent.
CUOMO: Juana, did you get the feeling at the end of the speech for President Obama, he didn't look like he was ready to leave the stage yet? Did you get that? I mean, I don't mean it, you know, in a pejorative way. But he seemed like he was holding on a little bit, he moved around. What do you think that was, what that was a window into for him?
SUMMERS: I think you're absolutely right, and I think a lot of supporters in the room from the intense city of emotion were not ready for Barack Obama.
CUOMO: You kept hearing people saying, "four more years", and he ignored all of them, he never took the bait and acknowledged it.
SUMMERS: And I think that speaks to the fact this is a president, a young president with a lot of political promise. So, what is next for President Obama is a third rail narrative of this election that bears a lot of exploring. He is not done yet. I expected to see him in the process that moves forward on behalf of Hillary Clinton.
CUOMO: You don't think he winds out kicking out Mark Preston here and we put him out here on the set?
SUMMERS: We have a couple empty seats here.
CUOMO: What do you think?
PRESTON: You know what? You couldn't end the segment without attacking me, Cuomo.
CUOMO: Well, that's politics, pal. Negatives work. Your numbers are tanking.
(LAUGHTER)
CAMEROTA: And we have another opportunity. Stick around, panel. You're going to hear more of this.
President Obama was not the only one going after Donald Trump last night. Vice President Biden and VP nominee Tim Kaine unleashing attacks.
CNN's Manu Raju joins us now with more.
Hi, Manu.
MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Hi, Alisyn.
Remember, this convention started up sort of disarray. There is that sudden resignation of the party chairwoman. There were those angry outbursts by Bernie Sanders supporters. But last night, the party united behind a common enemy -- Donald Trump. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BIDEN: He has no clue about what makes America great. Actually he has no clue, period.
RAJU (voice-over): The Democratic party launching the most blistering attacks to date.
KAINE: You cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump's mouth.
LEON PANETTA, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: In an unstable world, we cannot afford unstable leadership.
BLOOMBERG: I'm a New Yorker and I know a con when I see one.
RAJU: Deploying both the party's high profile stars and independent businessman Michael Bloomberg to deliver a multitier attack on Donald Trump.
BIDEN: How can there be pleasure in saying you're fired?
RAJU: Vice President Biden using his blue collar background to question Donald Trump's dedications to the working class.
BIDEN: He is trying to tell us he cares about the middle class? Give me a break. That's a bunch of malarkey.
RAJU: New York City's former mayor challenging Trump's record as a businessman.
BLOOMBERG: Trump says he wants to run the nation like he runs his business? God help us.
RAJU: Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta taking on Trump's foreign policy credentials.
PANETTA: Donald Trump says he gets his foreign policy experience from watching TV and running the Miss Universe pageant. If only it were funny, but it is deadly serious.
RAJU: And condemning Trump's challenge to Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's e-mails.
TRUMP: Russia, if you are listening, I hope you are able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing.
PANETTA: It is inconceivable to me that any presidential candidate would be that irresponsible.
RAJU: Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine stepping into the attack dog role, mocking the Republican opponent.
KAINE: He has the way of saying the same two words every time he makes his biggest hugest promises -- believe me.
[05:15:06] It's going to be great. Believe me.
RAJU: While painting Trump as untrustworthy and citing his refusal to release his tax returns as proof.
KAINE: Hey, Donald, what are you hiding?
RAJU: The Virginia senator also extending an olive branch to Republicans disenchanted with their party's nominee.
KAINE: If any of you who are looking for that party of Lincoln, we have a home for you right here in the Democratic Party.
RAJU: An effort echoed by Bloomberg who went on script to question Trump's mental clarity.
BLOOMBERG: As an independent, I am asking you to join with me. Together, let's elect a sane, competent person.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAJU: Now, last night, the Trump campaign responded to all those attacks saying in a statement, "Tonight, the Democrats offered more rewards for the rich, powerful and well-connected and more angry demeaning sniping attacks against all of decent Americans who want change for their families."
So, Chris, clearly, Donald Trump wants to argue on his outsider against the political class.
CUOMO: All right. Just to be clear, sanity not a requirement to be president. You just have to be a certain age and a citizen, naturalized.
All right. Manu, thank you very much.
So, the big question coming from last night. The negative has worked well for Donald Trump. Will it work as well against him? The Democrats thought so last night. What will determine this election? We will get you an answer, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:20:43] CAMEROTA: Democrats unleashing their full arsenal to attack Donald Trump's policies and readiness to be president. Listen to some of these.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Does anyone really believe that a guy who spent his 70 years on this earth showing no regard for working people is suddenly going to be your champion?
KAINE: It's going to be great, believe me. We're going to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it, believe me. We're going to destroy ISIS so fast, believe me. There's nothing suspicious in my tax returns, believe me. BIDEN: He's trying to tell us he cares about the middle class. Give
me a break. That's a bunch of malarkey.
BLOOMBERG: I'm a New Yorker and I know a con when I see one.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: Let's bring back our panel. We have David Gregory, Mark Preston and Juana Summers.
David, what do you think of Tim Kaine's impression of Bernie Sanders?
GREGORY: As somebody who enjoys doing impression, my general rule of thumb is you should sound like the person you are trying to mock if you're going to pull that off. I don't think --
CAMEROTA: You don't think he's pulled off Donald Trump?
GREGORY: Somebody had thought it was very funny, like he was an attack Teddy Bear or something like that. I don't think plays a part.
What is striking though about all the clips we just played, everybody and again, you know, Bloomberg is not part of the Democratic fold. The Democrats really know how to micro target. Joe Biden is talking to working class whites. For Bloomberg to talk beyond the hall. Talk to independent voters, white collar voters in particular.
Tim Kaine has a lot of appeal. If you hear the president, this is really about saying this is not a normal election. There are a whole different stakes that are much higher. You may not love Hillary, but you have to get out. For Obama to say to his coalition, you have to turn out for Hillary. That is what they have to have happen.
CUOMO: The president by disposition and position was not going to be the heaviest hand last night. Tim Kaine did the taxes, which I thought was interesting. You know, it popped, the taxes. Maybe it is because we are in the media and we keep asking Trump when he's going to release his taxes.
PRESTON: He's in audit.
CUOMO: He made it a constructive argument about what it means for Donald Trump. Hear for yourself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAINE: By the way, does anybody in this massive auditorium believe that Donald Trump's been paying his fair share of taxes? Does anybody here believe that Trump ought to release his tax returns just like every other presidential candidate in modern history? Of course he should. Hey, Donald, what are you hiding?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: What do you think, Mark? Do you think that landed heaviest or someone we have not talked about? Leon Panetta bringing up the Russian problem, I guess for Trump about asking the e-mail hackers to try to find Hillary's e-mails?
PRESTON: Well, certainly, when Leon Panetta spoke and was critical of Donald Trump that was a serious speech that he gave. Tim Kaine who had a great rollout on Saturday with Hillary Clinton, I think looked foolish up there.
If they did not learn anything from Marco Rubio trying to make fun of Donald Trump, I don't understand. I think Tim Kaine would have been better served delivering the Biden speech and Biden delivering the Tim Kaine speech. He was doing shtick and I don't think it came off vey well.
CAMEROTA: Let's talk about Michael Bloomberg. He knows Donald Trump. They are both New Yorkers and he knows some of Donald Trump's business dealings, he says. So, listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLOOMBERG: Through his career, Donald has left behind a well- documented record of bankruptcies, and thousands of lawsuits, and angry stockholders and contractors who feel cheated. And disillusioned customers who feel they have been ripped off. Trump says he wants to run the nation like he's running his business? God help us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: So, Juana, obviously, Donald Trump supporters don't -- they're not Michael Bloomberg Republicans.
[05:25:04] They are Trump Republicans. But who do you think that played to?
SUMMERS: I think this played really well outside the arena. If you look at the recent polling, in our recent CNN poll shows Donald Trump is leading Hillary Clinton by a single digit market. And it shows that he's buoyed by independents.
And that's who Michael Bloomberg was speaking to, the people outside the arena, people who were just tuning in to politics for the first time in their lives and not regular voters and have seen something in Donald Trump that they are not getting from the establishment Republicans, establishment Democrats and they're coming on board. Michael Bloomberg is saying to them, the biggest thing on this guy's resume, his business record. I can see that and I can tell you it is not working. It's not true. I think he spoke them very powerfully. It spoke to the line on Trump's resume that he claims is the reason why he should be president.
GREGORY: The other thing that is really important and negative, of course, is the positioning of Donald Trump as a bigger liar than Hillary Clinton. They both have such high negatives here.
I think for the Democrats, it is really important they can establish that polling question. Does the candidate care about people like me? You know, care about things I'm worried about? And I think they both have a problem connecting, although I think Donald Trump connects better with people who feel really left out by the system.
And I think that's one discordant note, which is, was there too much happy talk last night, too much celebration of where America is, not enough acknowledgment to the people who feel --
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: That's the risk, right? When you go with optimism, it makes you sound tone deaf. We've been saying that since the start of the convention.
I wonder if Trump didn't do them, the Democrats, their biggest favor last night by what he said about the Russian and e-mails and hacking, because it adds another layer to this where his campaign manager worked for a Ukrainian despot. You know, there's a lot of that. So, we're going to discuss that.
CAMEROTA: Hold that thought, panel. We will check back in with you through the program.
But we do want to talk about this other Donald Trump controversy. His critics are accusing him of treason for challenging the Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's missing emails. Did the GOP nominee cross the line? We'll explore that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
