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New Day
Trump Doubles Down; CDC Issues Travel Warning; Military Mom Confronts Pence. Aired 8:30-9:00a ET
Aired August 02, 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] DEAN OBEIDALLAH, HOST, "DEAN OBEIDALLAH SHOW" (SIRIUS XM): He's done it throughout the campaign, making Muslims and immigrants cornerstones of his scapegoating. And to be blunt, I thought he could get away with it too. And we were all surprised. And I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of Democrats, Republicans, non-partisan people to this. So, Donald Trump continues the fighting and he's continuing losing this battle.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Khizr Khan, as you say, continues to go on TV, you know, when invited and talk about this. a very different opponent or different punching bag for Donald Trump than Judge Curiel, for instance, who couldn't talk when he was under the attack of Donald Trump because he was bound by his job.
Lieutenant Governor Andre, you know, you were an elected official. You have political experience. Get Donald Trump out of this right now. How does Donald Trump move past this politically speaking over the next few days? What advice would you give him?
ANDRE BAUER, FORMER LT. GOVERNOR, SOUTH CAROLINA: Well, as he's campaigning, he'll shift hopefully to other issues. But this is an issue. The people of America are concerned for their safety. You know I admire the Khan family for their sacrifice. My family gave their life as well. My grandfather's buried in Arlington as an admiral.
But there's a bigger problem here. We have a problem with radical Islam. And the - the - we do need to engage in a discussion about how you vet people coming into this country. But Mr. Khan worked for the Clintons. I mean there is a direct connection and nobody wants to engage in that because of the loss of a child, which is a terrible thing. But again, he's continuing to push this too. He is making it political and there is a bigger tie to the Clintons. He's worked for them. He's worked with the EB-5 program, which is controversial. Senator Grassley even pointed out there are inconsistencies and really not checks and balances in a program that's let too many folks in that were questionable individuals that probably should have never been allowed in our country.
CAMEROTA: Yes. Go ahead, Dean.
OBEIDALLAH: Well, I mean this is a continued smear of the Khan family, sir, and you should be better than that, frankly. I'm going to be blunt with you, you should be. The Khan family, Mr. Khan was talking about his son. Donald Trump egged this on. Donald Trump, the thin- skinned man, who was narcissistic -
BAUER: Well, was what I did to smeared them? What did I say that smeared him? What was - what was incorrect?
OBEIDALLAH: Well, you just - you just went after his character. Mr. Khan - all Donald Trump had to do was say, like most human beings, like most Americans would say, I recognize their sacrifice and my sympathy and heart goes out for their family. End of story.
BAUER: And I said that. But I didn't smear him in any way. But, again, you're saying -
OBEIDALLAH: Not you smear - I'm doing (ph) Donald Trump, the person that you're fighting for. This is what Donald Trump -
BAUER: Well, you said I smeared them now. Now you're saying I smeared him.
OBEIDALLAH: You just did by going through his background that he worked with Hillary Clinton. What does that matter? And radical Islam has nothing to do with this.
BAUER: Well, that's true. If that's not true, then why is that smearing?
OBEIDALLAH: It has nothing to do with Mr. Khan. Mr. Khan's issues was -
BAUER: Facts matter.
OBEIDALLAH: No, the facts matter, of course, sir. Mr. Khan's point was his son was -
BAUER: Well, you just said I smeared him because I said who he worked for.
OBEIDALLAH: You did because you connected - yes, like he worked for Hillary Clinton. Like somehow that makes him unqualified to speak about his son. Here's the reality.
BAUER: Well, if that's not - if that is incorrect, then I'm - then I'm wrong. But correct me if I'm incorrect.
OBEIDALLAH: Here's - here's the issue. The bigger question was, is this having an impact? On my radio show yesterday -
BAUER: Yes, the facts matter, but not to you.
OBEIDALLAH: On my radio show yesterday, I had two active military service men call up and say, men in their unit, who had been pro- Trump, are now against Trump. I have men - people who call up who say they were on the fence before because I knew them, now anti-Trump. Not saying they're pro-Hillary. They're anti-Trump.
And this has actually brought up Donald Trump's history of belittling the military, from John McCain, to saying the 1990s, his personal Vietnam was avoiding STDs.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. But I want to - I want to build on what Andre Bauer just said because I think that that's - unless we just lost Andre Bauer. All right, I'll speak for him because I think that -
BAUER: No, I'm still here.
CAMEROTA: OK, good. Sorry, I didn't know if your satellite had gone down. But basically what you're talking about, you're saying that Donald Trump wanted to highlight the fact that there's a problem with radical Islamist terror. So let me play for you how Donald Trump tried to explain what he thinks has angered Mr. Khan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Border security is very big. And when you have radical Islamic terrorists probably all over the place - we're allowing them to come in by the thousands and thousands. And I think that's what bothered Mr. Khan more than anything else. And, you know, I'm not going to change my views on that. We have radical Islamic terrorists coming in that have to be stopped. We're taking them in - we're taking them in by the thousands.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: Mr. Bauer, we've allowed them to come in by the thousands and thousands, radical Islamist terrorists? That's not true.
BAUER: Well, I would disagree. We've seen instances where we've actually experienced death. Some of them within our own military.
CAMEROTA: Yes.
BAUER: And so this is a conversation that we as a country -
CAMEROTA: Thousands and thousands that the U.S. is allowing to come in?
BAUER: Well, again, I referenced the EB-5 program earlier. Senator Grassley said - look, I think everybody can agree Senator Grassley's a moderate person. He's a fair person. Nobody's ever questioned if he's not fair. And he said, look, this program is riddled with problems. I'm paraphrasing, of course. But we see time and time again - why would someone that wants to protect this country not want to engage in a discussion that there are people coming into our borders that are dangerous to our way of life as we know it?
BERMAN: All right, lieutenant governor, thank you very much. Dean, thanks very much. Appreciate you both being here.
An unprecedented travel warning in the United States over the Zika virus. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us next with what you need to know.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [08:38:55] CAMEROTA: In an unprecedented move, the Centers for Disease Control issuing a travel warning in the continental U.S. Health officials are confirming 14 cases of Zika virus in the Miami area and they're warning pregnant women to stay away from one neighborhood.
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from Rio with more.
Sanjay, wow, what a backdrop. I mean what a backdrop that we're seeing you against. But, of course, the beauty is contrasted with this travel warning. What do you make of this unprecedented CDC warning?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is unprecedented, absolutely, Alisyn. The first time ever, according to the CDC, that they've said that people should not visit a particular American neighborhood. This one in the Miami area, as you mentioned. So, it's remarkable I think certainly from a health standpoint, but not entirely unexpected. Because of what they've learned here in Brazil, when they started to get the Zika infections here in Brazil, they were totally unprepared for it. But we've known for some time it was going to travel to the United States and probably primarily in areas like south Florida, south Texas, Louisiana.
[08:40:02] But it's incredibly tough. I imagine, you know, telling pregnant women not to travel there is one thing. But certainly if you are a pregnant woman who's already living there, it's really tough. Are you staying indoors all the time, doing everything you can not to get bitten by a mosquito or moving somewhere for the duration of your pregnancy is essentially what they're being told. That's what they've been hearing here in Brazil for the first time, but the first time now in the United States, Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: And, Sanjay, is it realistic to think that the Zika threat can be contained to this one square mile neighborhood?
GUPTA: No. Well, I don't know, but I don't think so. I don't think that it can be contained to that one square mile area. I think that the Aedes aegypti, which is the type of mosquito, you don't need to remember the name, but that type of mosquito has already been in the United States for some time. It transmits other diseases like dengue, for example. And if you look at dengue sort of as a model, we know there have been outbreaks of dengue in certain areas of the United States, again, south Florida, south Texas, Louisiana, for example, but that is the - that is the sort of - those are the same areas where they're focused on for Zika. It's not just a square mile area, ultimately. It's going to be larger swaths of the state.
Having said that, I don't think it's going to spread far north, for example, to where you are in New York. I don't think it's going to spread quickly. But I think it will spread.
CAMEROTA: So, Sanjay, we know that you are in Rio for a special report, obviously on Zika and all the challenges as the Olympics begin there. So what have you found?
GUPTA: Yes. Well, you know, Zika's obviously one thing, although the weather is getting cooler here, which helps with mosquitos. As nice as this water looks behind me, there are significant concerns about pollution in that water for the citizens, but also for the athletes. And then also in the world we live today, Alisyn, the concerns about a mass casualty incident, the terrorism incident. Take a look at what we found.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA (voice-over): You're looking at an image from just last month, body parts on Copa Cabana Beach. It was a scene that couldn't have been predicted seven years ago when Copa Cabana Beach erupted. The games were to be a legacy for Rio. In its bid, Brazil promised to clean up at least 80 percent of the sewage that was flow into the city's notoriously dirty water.
LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, FORMER BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): This is a challenge for us. And you can be sure that we will not waste this chance at history.
GUPTA: In fact, some of the city's most dilapidated quarters have been turned into green spaces. Here, public art is being spray painted on walls. But the rest of the world is more concerned about this spraying.
GUPTA (on camera): We know that Brazil is the epicenter of the Zika epidemic. And as the numbers continue to increase in Florida, experts are continuously looking here to try and find some answers. For example, we know that more than 1,700 children have been born with Zika associated microcephaly, a birth defect. We also know that 150 public health experts called for the Olympics to either be delayed or moved because of concerns about Zika.
But I want to be clear about something, the weather is starting to cool here, even as it warms up in the United States. And as a result, the threat of infection is pretty low. According to the University of Cambridge study, out of the hundreds of thousands of tourists who are likely to visit the Olympics, there will probably be only one or two infections. But that still hasn't kept some of the athletes from dropping out of the games.
TEJAY VAN GARDEREN, U.S. CYCLIST: Honestly, if my wife wasn't pregnant right now, I would be going to Rio. I mean my biggest concern is for - is for the baby on the way.
GUPTA (voice-over): Now, remember, even if he went and then didn't show any symptoms, Van Garderen could still be infected and potentially pass the virus onto his wife. After all, only 20 percent of those infected have any signs of the disease.
But when it comes to athlete health, the concerns here are not just about Zika. Those promises of clean water, not in Guanabara Bay, where sailors will be competing for gold and where trash and sewage continues to litter the surface.
HEIKO KROEGER, GERMAN PARALYMPIC SAILING: Every time you got some water in your face, it feels like there's some alien enemy entering your face. So I keep my nose and my lips closed.
GUPTA: His teammate, Erik Heil, believed the waters are the source of the multiple infections he contracted last year after racing in an Olympic qualifying event. Just last month, Brazilian scientists detected the super bug, CRE, in these waters.
MARTINE GRAEL, BRAZILIAN OLYMPIC SAILOR (through translator): Very little has been done. And the measures that were taken were not done the way we would have liked them.
GUPTA: Brazilian officials say the water have met international standards. But then just one month ago, the WHO said that athletes may become ill from this water. And U.S. Olympic doctors are prepping their teams for such a situation.
DR. CLIFTON PAGE, U.S. SAILING MEDICAL ADVISER: We have a number of medications that they can take prophylactically to avoid those illnesses and then also to take - to treat the illnesses as well.
[08:45:04] GUPTA: And doctors on the ground have another concern.
DR. NELSON NAHON, CREMERJ (through translator): If there were a big catastrophe, an attack or a brawl, we don't have the infrastructure to deal with it.
GUPTA: Political and economic crisis have burdened local hospitals. Even under normal circumstances, waits for emergency surgery can be as long as six days. But Rio's mayor says the games legacy will not be a shadow on Rio.
EDUARDO PAES, MAYOR OF RIO DE JANEIRO: Don't come here expecting that everything will be, you know, perfect. We live in a country that has economic crisis, a country with lots of inequality. With all the problems that we've seen. But the city will be much better than it was when we got the games.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: And safe to say that the promises that were made when Rio won the bid for the Olympics have not been met. As we said, one of the big concerns again, the water behind me.
Nevertheless, opening ceremonies are this Friday. We're going to be touring the hospitals to see what happens in the city's public hospitals should there be a need for significant care. But, John, we'll be reporting all week from here on Zika, on water and how the hospitals are preparing.
Back to you.
BERMAN: All right, Sanjay, thank you so much. Great to have you down there.
All right, the ongoing feud between Donald Trump and a Muslim-American gold star family, where does it go next? We're going to speak to a Muslim member of Congress whose son serves in the military. Come back with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:49:59] BERMAN: Donald Trump's running mate, Governor Mike Pence, now in the middle of the feud between Donald Trump and a gold star family. At a rally in Nevada, Governor Pence was confronted by the mother of a service member. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) my son when you're able to look at Trump in the eye and tell him enough is enough.
GOV. MIKE PENCE (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: It's OK. It's OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have a son in the military.
PENCE: It's OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do you tolerate his disrespect?
PENCE: Well, I thank you for the question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
PENCE: It's all right. It's all right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't politicize the military.
PENCE: Folks, that's what - that's what freedom looks like and that's what freedom sound like, OK? It is.
Captain Khan is an American hero and we honor him and honor his families, as we do all gold families.
Captain Khan moved people out of the way, told them stay back and he walked toward the danger. I want to say it again, Captain Khan is an American hero.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Donald Trump's running mate, Governor Mike Pence.
Joining me now, Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress. He has endorsed Hillary Clinton now. He was an early Bernie Sanders supporter.
Congressman Ellison, thanks so much for being with us.
First, I want to get your reaction to your former House colleague, Mike Pence, how he handled that situation in Nevada. He seemed to lower the temperature in that room.
REP. KEITH ELLISON (D), MINNESOTA: Well, you know, Mike Pence is right to say that Captain Khan is an American hero. That's absolutely correct. And I think that the whole country needs to be reminded of it, especially those people booing that mother who was speaking up for respecting our service members. And I think her son is - if I heard her properly - it was a little difficult to hear her.
I think also that it's not enough just to say that Captain Khan is a hero at this point. You know, that would have been the right thing to say last week. But now that his running mate has disparaged this family, I think it's time for him to mention Trump and distance himself from Trump. And, again, I commend Mitch McConnell for saying that Captain Khan is a hero.
But, look, we're saying this - they're saying this within the context of their Republican nominee disparaging this family. So, I mean, it's now - I mean I think the Republican Party is at a moral fork in the road. They have to now decide who they are and what they are. And are they people who would stand next to somebody who would disparage a gold star family? Or are they people who would condemn and distance themselves from such a person? That's where they are.
You know, the Trump campaign reached out to Capitol Hill earlier this week asking for members of Congress to make public statements in favor of the Trump campaign and they got no takers. Well, that's fine, but that's not fine enough. They have to say, Mr. Trump, this is unacceptable and we have to condemn what you said. And I think - you know, and I think they have to ask themselves whether they are damaging their own credibility by being associated with him.
BERMAN: I'm not sure that Republican members of the Trump campaign will necessarily listen to your advice, but I'm going to ask you to give some more right now, because I want to play Khizr Khan, what he's been saying. And he not only spoke at the Democratic Convention last week, but he's also been on TV a lot criticizing Donald Trump severely. Here's just a little sense of what he's been saying, congressman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KHIZR KHAN, FATHER OF FALLEN MUSLIM-AMERICAN SOLDIER: When I speak about Mr. Trump's disqualification as candidate for the presidency, he says, oh, I am being severely attacked, harshly attacked. Well, this is political season. You're a candidate for an office. And I have same rights as you do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: What rights does Donald Trump have in this scenario, congressman? What can he say in response to Khizr Khan? Because at this point, you know, yes, you know, he spoke at the convention, but he's been going on and on again. Is there a response that Donald Trump could give that you would think would be within bounds?
ELLISON: If you say rights, obviously the First Amendment guarantees Donald Trump's right to say whatever he pleases. But is - are the - is it wise to just say whatever you please? That's the real question. And is it presidential to say whatever comes to mind? I mean, look, here is the thing that I think most American people, Republicans and Democrats, would expect from the presidential - from the president or somebody who aspires to that job. They'd say, you know what, Mr. and Mrs. Khan, we honor you, we thank you for your tremendous sacrifice. Of course no way have I made sacrifices at the magnitude you have. You lost your son. We honor that.
[08:54:59] But, look I'm running for the presidency from my party and we have a lot of other things. We have things we can agree on, like the hero that the - the hero of your son. But we disagree on other things and then talk about those things.
But you're just never going to be able to win by disparaging a gold star family in the eyes of the American people. You're just not going to be able to do it. You shouldn't try to do it. You shouldn't hope to do it. You should simply on honor them and move forward. And, look, you know, as being an elected public official, city council, state rep, congressman, you take a lot of criticism. That's the job. If this guy is so thin-skinned that he cannot take any criticism, then he's - that shows he's not supposed to be in this race. It shows he's not presidential material.
BERMAN: Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota, thanks so much for being with us. Appreciate it.
ELLISON: Thank you.
BERMAN: "The Good Stuff" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: Time for "The Good Stuff" for you. There is one headstone in a sea of white marble at Arlington National Cemetery that is getting more attention today, and it belongs to Captain Humayun Khan. And the feud between his parents and Donald Trump is sending apparently a steady stream of strangers to his grave to pay their respects.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just wanted to see the site of where Captain Khan is buried and maybe connect a little bit with the story that's in the news.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that was really moving, seeing that his life had impacted someone that much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: Well, the visitors are leaving flowers and teddy bears, flags, cards and letters. Captain Khan paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting his fellow soldiers from a suicide bomber, for which he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
[09:00:10] Thanks so much for joining us on NEW DAY. We'll see you tomorrow.
Time now for "NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello.
