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New Day

PTSD and Elected Officials; A Look at the Vice Presidential Debate; Storm Warnings in Florida. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired October 05, 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] STEPHANIE KEEGAN, MOTHER OF VETERAN WHO SUFFERED FROM PTSD: He wanted to stay in the service for the duration, for the rest of his life. He wanted to be a soldier. And it finally came to the point where he could no longer serve because he was struggling so.

People need to understand that this is a medical condition, an illness that needs to be helped. The V.A. needs to step in and serve the people who have served the country in a much more efficient and timely manner and with compassion. He did not have that help. And it wasn't because the V.A. wouldn't - didn't want to, but because they didn't have the resources to do it.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Jackie Maffucci, Paul Rieckhoff, head of the IAVA, jumped on me in this situation and said, do no miss this opportunity, do not make it just about the politics. But if you're going to be commander in chief, if you're going to be president, you have to speak with knowledge and sensitivity on this issue. Why is it so important to you?

JACKIE MAFFUCCI, RESEARCH DIR., IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA: This is so important for us and - so I'm the research director for IAVA. One of my roles is to hear from our members every year in our member survey. And this year, in our latest member survey, 20 percent of those who said that they were struggling with a mental health injury, they - they were not seeking help. And stigma is a big part of this.

The message we really need to send is, those who are struggling with mental health, PTSD and others, we need to make sure that they know that we're - we're supporting them, we're here for them, and there are resources out there to get them the help they need.

CUOMO: One of the things that came in response to this, because it was put in a political context, you're going to have people who are going to defend Trump, you know, who support him.

KEEGAN: Absolutely.

CUOMO: It doesn't matter what the situation is.

KEEGAN: Right.

CUOMO: Even this one, because it's political, and - and people have come - ah, this is just PC, you know, saying strong, not strong, you know, you're making too much of it. What's your response?

KEEGAN: I lived with a child who had PTSD. This child could not go out of his house during the daylight hours because he didn't want to be seen. This is not political correctness. This is concern and respect and understanding. And if you aren't educated in the topic, you should leave that conversation up to the people who are educated in the topic. Fight for the veterans, fight for the V.A. to serve better, but don't speak on things you don't know about. This is not an issue of political correctness. This is an issue of understanding and compassion. And there was no understanding or compassion in what he said.

I'm not angry so much at Donald Trump for trying to help the V.A. as I am frustrated with the fact that he showed that he didn't understand what he was talking about.

CUOMO: Is there any silver lining in this, Jackie Maffucci, in terms of people coming forward in the wake of the bravery of Mrs. Keegan, to come forward, to talk about this and her family's loss, you know, giving it some acknowledgment? Are you getting any kind of people asking for information about knowing more or getting help?

MAFFUCCI: Yes. I mean it's so important to continue this conversation. And whenever we have the opportunity to really bring this to light, this has to be in the light all of the time. There are veterans, service members, their families and others, this is not just a veteran issue. There are others who are also struggling with PTSD. So to be able to have a real conversation about what PTSD is, about the resources that are out there, and to ensure that everybody out there knows that there is help available, and we're going to help them get there.

So one thing I would like to just shout out to the National Center for PTSD. If you are someone who wants to learn more about PTSD, the National Center is a fantastic resource. And also, of course, iava.org. We can help you to find the resources you need to learn more and understand how to talk about this because talking about it is the first step to really crushing the stigma and allowing individuals to feel comfortable coming out and getting the help that they need.

CUOMO: Let's end this segment by showing your son in uniform. Very often, you know, you don't want these fighting men and women to be only remembered for what took them, but how they were when they were at their best. And there he is with a big smile on his face serving his country.

KEEGAN: Yes, my son. A beautiful boy, inside and out.

CUOMO: And thank you for representing him so well.

KEEGAN: Thank you.

CUOMO: And taking this on. I know that you don't want to be involved in this kind of public debate, but it mattered to you and you did it for the right reasons.

KEEGAN: Thank you.

CUOMO: Thank you for doing it on NEW DAY.

KEEGAN: Thank you very much.

CUOMO: Absolutely.

Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: What a handsome guy.

Well, meanwhile, how will last night's debate affect Sunday's presidential face-off? And was Mike Pence setting the stage for his own presidential run? We discuss all of that next on "The Bottom Line."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:38:43] CAMEROTA: All right, so did last night's debate move the needle in the campaign? What are the big takeaways? Here with 'The Bottom Line" is CNN political director David Chalian.

David, great to see you.

So, what changes today?

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, to answer your question, Alisyn, I don't think it's going to move the needle all that much. Clearly, Mike Pence did himself some good. He won the debate, according to our poll. He had a very smooth performance. He didn't take the bait from Tim Kaine for the most part. But, in terms of, we asked folks, though, how does this impact your vote, and a slim majority says, it doesn't make me want to vote one way or the other for Trump or Clinton. So I don't think that it - it actually moves the needle. Which means that, you know, it's - Donald Trump still has a big task ahead of him this Sunday because he does need to move the needle in this race.

CUOMO: Hey, David, let me ask you something. I was just - I was just checking my phone because there's so much strong reaction to this PTSD story. It didn't come up last night with Donald Trump and said a lot about Mike Pence with LGBT rights and Planned Parenthood didn't really come up. There were a lot left on the table, maybe even for both sides. What do you think that suggests about what may be doubled up on the next time?

CHALIAN: Well, listen, I think that the vice presidential candidates did cover some ground not covered in the first presidential debate, Chris, but we're still going to need to hear from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton themselves on some of these topics, whether her comments about deplorables or his tax returns. I would imagine that that stuff is not exhausted for the next two presidential debates because it's one thing for the vice presidential candidates to talk about it, but we do still want to hear from the candidates themselves. And the PTSD comments that you were discussing, clearly seems to me like that could be fodder for one of the future presidential debates. [08:40:30] CAMEROTA: We just had Jason Miller on from the Trump

campaign and he shared with us what he thinks the big takeaway is from last night. So let me play that for you, David.

Oh, OK. Well basically what he said, "Governor Pence was flawless. Tonight showed the strength of the Trump/Pence ticket and that our ideas are better for America. And ultimately, it showed the -

CUOMO: "Good judgment Donald Trump has in selecting such a strong number two in Governor Pence."

CAMEROTA: Teamwork. So do you think that that is it, that it somehow elevated Donald Trump's judgment?

CHALIAN: I don't necessarily know that people are going to go back and reflect on Donald Trump's judgment. I think that Mike Pence did himself well, did the ticket well. And I certainly think, if you look at the three finalists, Newt Gingrich, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, in that final VP selection process for Donald Trump, I don't think Newt Gingrich or Chris Christie probably would have delivered this kind of debate performance, which was every time that Tim Kaine tried to raise the temperature in the room, Mike Pence came in to cool it off. That's not sort of a feature well known to Newt Gingrich or Chris Christie.

CUOMO: The proposition of what Trump says versus what Hillary Clinton has done, if that's the proposition for voters of analysis, is that going to play to advantage for one side or the other?

CHALIAN: I - both sides see opportunity in precisely those things that you're saying. It is - you know, the last NBC/"Wall Street Journal" poll that I saw, his - Trump's comments about immigrants, about women, were one of the major concerns about him that voters still had. And I think that's why you saw Tim Kaine hitting rapists and criminals over and over again, bringing up birtherism again. Sort of the great controversies of Donald Trump and what he has said to remind the tens of millions tuning in about that. But Mike Pence did, I think, a much better job than did Donald Trump in trying to turn it back to Clinton's record, the Obama/Clinton administration, and to not be out there trying to defend every one of Donald Trump's words. Instead, trying to keep on the attack about their record.

CAMEROTA: So did we actually see Mike Pence sort of auditioning for his first foray as running for president himself?

CHALIAN: Listen, I think Mike Pence has been keenly aware of his political future throughout this entire process. He has been playing the loyal soldier to Donald Trump. Cleanup in aisle 5 every few days if there's a controversy to take care of. But trying to do so, obviously, with trying to acquire no damage to his own political prospects -

CUOMO: Right.

CHALIAN: And I think that's how last night went for him, too.

CUOMO: It's a lot easier to be cool defending what somebody else has said and done than your own self. He got somewhat of a pass last night on what, if he ever runs for higher office himself, he's going to hear a lot about in terms of his social issue positions, don't you think?

CHALIAN: Sure. Obviously, if you're running for president, your record, your votes, your quotes, that - that is what you have to stand and defend. I agree that that won't be as smooth sailing for him. But I do think he has, throughout this process, while being the loyal soldier, trying not to whatever negative may exist about Donald Trump in voters' minds, try not to have too much of that on him to preserve his political future.

CAMEROTA: David Chalian, thank you very much for the bottom line. Great to talk to you.

CHALIAN: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Join us for the second presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton this Sunday night, 9:00 p.m. It will be co- moderated by our Anderson Cooper. CNN's live coverage begins at 4:00.

CUOMO: Hurricane Matthew, you have to watch it. It's churning north, preparing to slam the East Coast. The director of the National Hurricane Center is going to join us from Florida to talk about which areas need to be on alert and for what, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:47:51] CAMEROTA: Hurricane Matthew bearing down on the Bahamas at this hour. The powerful storm already slammed Haiti and Cuba, devastating those islands with floods and strong winds. The East Coast on high alert now. So will this major hurricane make landfall in the U.S., and when? Joining us now is CNN meteorologist Chad Myers and Dr. Rick Knabb, he's the director of the National Hurricane Center. He joins us live from Miami.

Dr. Knabb, I know that you've just gotten a new advisory out. Tell us what you're seeing.

DR. RICK KNABB, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: Yes, well, we do have both NOAA and hurricane hunter - NOAA and Air Force, hurricane hunter aircraft, inside of Matthew right now. And based on the data we've seen so far on our intermediate advisory, we went out with 115 miles per hour category three. But you can see the thunderstorm activity getting more organized now that it's cleared eastern Cuba. We would not be surprised to see the winds increase. And even if it reaches a stronger intensity later, it could come back down. Major hurricanes tend to go through fluctuations.

But the bottom line is, we are forecasting a major hurricane, category three or stronger, to approach Florida, and it could even come ashore in the hurricane warning area in Florida as a major hurricane tomorrow night.

CAMEROTA: OK, tomorrow night is what you're seeing. Chad, what are you seeing in terms of the timing of this for West Palm, as well as the strength when it hits? CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Sure. Well, late tomorrow night, after

dark, which is always the worst time for a storm to hit. You don't really see it coming. You're less prepared and you don't know where the storm or the winds or the (INAUDIBLE) are coming from.

But, Dr. Knabb, something else you changed today is the - I know we have big errors in day four and five, but day five, way out here now, not running up the East Coast. That is a major change from yesterday. And, in fact, Alisyn, some of the models will make this whole thing do a loop.

Dr. Knabb, how confident are you that the storm will not turn to the left back up toward let's say New York or New England?

KNABB: Well, we're actually, Chad, in the middle of evaluating those model runs right now. We would not be surprised to see changes in our forecast here of day four and five at the 11:00 a.m. advisory.

MYERS: OK.

KNABB: But our forecasters are busy poring over that right now. But I wouldn't be surprised to see some changes.

[08:50:01] But back to the timing issue, when it comes to south Florida, preparation time is today and tonight because -

MYERS: Absolutely.

KNABB: Even before the center of Matthew might arrive near or over the coast, the bad weather will start tomorrow morning. So today and tonight is preparation time in the hurricane warning areas.

CAMEROTA: Hey, Chad, category four, that's scary. Winds between 130 and 156 miles per hour. Is that what you're seeing could hit the U.S. mainland?

MYERS: You know, this has been a major hurricane now for five days. The last one that was this long, as a major hurricane, was Ivan. Think about how much damage that thing did. Yes, of course, a category four making landfall.

And it will make a huge difference, Alisyn, whether we are 60 miles offshore or right along the shore or even on land. And so that's all still in the cone. I mean we're talking from a billion dollar storm to a wind maker that people are going to go, what was that all about. It's - the left and the right movement is still not determined. Florida, you are still in the coned. It's time to take and make those precautions now.

What kind of preparations should they be taking Dr. Knabb? Just quickly with that.

KNABB: Well, the coastal and inland folks need to be preparing. But if you're at the coast and the emergency manager tells you to evacuate because of storm surge, you go. Do preliminary preparations now. But I'm putting my shutters up. I live in inland Fort Lauderdale area. And it's not just going to be coastal event. And even if the center does stay offshore by some distance, it's a big enough system, tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles. Hurricane force winds out to 40 miles.

MYERS: Yes.

KNABB: You don't have to have landfall to have the center of action be happening on land.

CAMEROTA: OK, Clad Myers, Dr. Rick Knabb, thank you very much for all of the warnings.

MYERS: Thanks, doctor.

CAMEROTA: People need to heed those warnings. They need to start evacuating if that's what your emergency managers are saying. And, of course, we will be following this throughout the day as well as tomorrow.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Chris.

CUOMO: So in light of what we just heard, millions of people along the East Coast are getting ready for Hurricane Matthew. Florida's governor is urging people in the state to prepare for a direct hit. What does that mean? Well, it depends on where you are.

Boris Sanchez is live in Daytona Beach, Florida, where people are preparing for the worst.

Now tell us, Boris, what is the worst being defined as for the people there?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Chris, that would be a catastrophe, severe flooding, high winds knocking debris into the streets. The kind of storm we're used to seeing in Florida. Fortunately, people are preparing. As you said, Governor Rick Scott declaring a state of emergency across the state, calling this storm extremely dangerous. Seven people have been killed in the Caribbean.

And, fortunately, people here are taking it very seriously. Already we've seen enormous lines outside of gas stations. I talked to a friend this morning in Miami who said she was waiting in line for an hour and still couldn't get gas. The gas station ran out. Also we've seen at grocery stores, entire shelves of water and nonperishable food items just gone.

Right now it appears that the storm is going to graze the coast, but people here are preparing for that direct hit. We've already heard that there are more than 500 National Guard members deployed. Obviously, a storm that could pack a serious punch, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Boris, thanks so much for keeping an eye on all of that for us. We'll be checking with you throughout the day as well.

So, a little levity, late night laughs are next. Some comedians are turning the biggest story of the year into a fairy tale.

CUOMO: Hmm.

CAMEROTA: Hmm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN COLBERT, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": Once upon a time, there was a man who didn't release his taxes, and a woman who didn't release her e-mails, and fight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:57:39] CUOMO: All right, we know the late night guys are going to talk about the presidential candidates, but it's how they do it. And you know what, your man Gary Johnson is now in the mix.

CAMEROTA: Oh.

CUOMO: So is Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Let's watch.

CUOMO: Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMMY FALLON, "THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON": Politico is saying this is the week that will decide the election. Americans are furious. They're like, you mean I paid attention for the last 65 weeks for nothing?

STEPHEN COLBERT, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": For those of you who missed the debate, I'll boil it down for you. Once upon a time there was a man who didn't release his taxes, and a woman who didn't release her e-mails, and fight.

One of the things I noticed was how much the candidates were writing frantically while the other candidate was speaking. And, um, I was curious what that was. So I believe we've obtained a close-up of what Tim Kaine was writing. "I hate you! I hate you!" OK, that makes sense. And Mike Pence, Mike Pence, yes, OK, good, he did. Mission accomplished. Mission accomplished.

JAMES CORDEN, "THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN": We have to talk about third party candidate Gary Johnson, who appeared on news shows this morning to explain his recent gaffes. He took the opportunity to clear the air, and boy did he do a great job.

CAMEROTA: First there was the Aleppo moment where you didn't know what Aleppo was. And then you couldn't name your favorite foreign leader. So what's - what's going on with you and foreign affairs? How you do explain those moments? GARY JOHNSON (L), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, Alisyn, what is it,

five days now after the name your favorite foreign leader, I still can't do that.

CORDEN: Five days later, he says he still can't name a foreign leader. But maybe we're being unfair. Like we're asking a guy to name his favorite foreign leader, when there's not even any evidence this guy can comb his hair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: First of all, I've arrived. James Corden has used our clip. That is the pinnacle.

CUOMO: Why did he say "news shows"? Why didn't he say the name of the show?

CAMEROTA: Why didn't he say "NEW DAY."

CUOMO: We always say the name of his show.

CAMEROTA: That's right.

CUOMO: We always say it when we do him.

CAMEROTA: Next up, car pool karaoke. That's what I'm pulling for.

CUOMO: Five days later and I still can't do that. Not the best answer.

CAMEROTA: Because he said he was tripped up on the "favorite" part.

CUOMO: OK.

CAMEROTA: Not the "foreign leader" part, the "favorite" part is what tripped him up he said.

CUOMO: He needs to put more emphasis on that part of the answer.

[09:00:01] CAMEROTA: And more hair gel.

All right, thanks so much for joining us for this special edition of NEW DAY.

Time now for "Newsroom" with Carol Costello.

Take it away, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: If you get to do carpool karaoke, I want to do it with you, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: That's a deal.

COSTELLO: Thank you so much.