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GOP 2016ers Want Boots On The Ground In Iraq; Obama, Bush Offer Opposite Climate Change Views; China Issues Warnings To U.S. Surveillance Plane; McDonald's Workers Demand $15/Hour; Goodell Wants To Hear Directly From Brady. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired May 21, 2015 - 07:30   ET

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


JOHN KING, CNN HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Let me start with you, Elwood. It's an interesting divide here in the Republican Party. This program started obviously after 9/11 during the George W. Bush administration.

You have Cruz and Rand Paul voicing great skepticism. Marco Rubio is a supporter, maybe support some changes, but he supports the government. Lindsey Graham likely to join the Republican race so other Republican senators saying the government needs these authorities. It's an interesting debate we are going to see play out.

RON FOURNIER, "NATIONAL JOURNAL": A lot of good politics going on here. For Rand Paul, this makes a lot of sense because one it's distinctive. It sets him apart from most of the party. Two, it really plays to millenial voters. Young voters the Republican Party desperately has to have.

They really think that the administration has gone way too far, the Bush, Obama presidencies, they've gone way too far in civil liberties. Three, it takes on the establishment. No voter likes the establishment. It's a very populist move.

What's going on with Cruz is really interesting because he has got to put together a coalition in Iowa that has to include some of the Ron Paul/Rand Paul base. He's kind of saying, I agree with you on these issues. There was a part of Paul that I'm sure was saying would you please sit down and shut up. I need these voters.

KING: But not only did Ted Cruz complement Rand, he complemented Ron, which is something you don't hear much in presidential -- the senator's father was great on these issues.

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: I do think, yes, this is partly also appealing to the Ron Paul base that Rand has made some inroads with, but sometimes he's changed positions. I think he's lost some of that support.

I have to agree with Ron that I think he was probably working -- yes, I have to agree with you, but I think he was probably looking at Ted Cruz saying excuse me. This is my moment. That's what the cynical part of me believes Rand Paul was thinking.

KING: Right. Let Marco Rubio get up and call me an idiot, but please don't come out and hug me. Rand Paul likes this especially with younger votes. It's part of a new security conversation we see playing out.

Post 9/11 you showed knew where the Republicans were going to be on these issues. It was a more muscular foreign policy, the Dick Cheney wing of the party, the neocons as some people call them.

Marco Rubio clearly has put his feet in that camp. Ted Cruz goes back and forth on some of these issues. Lindsey Graham is in that camp. George Pataki on this program yesterday, former governor of New York, we think of him as moderate to more liberal Republican.

George Pataki saying look at the ISIS threat, look at the ISIS gains, maybe the president of the United States, the next commander in chief if this one won't do it, should think about ground troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE PATAKI (R), FORMER NEW YORK GOVERNOR: I don't want to see us put in a million soldiers, spend ten years, a trillion dollars trying to create a democracy where one hasn't existed. But send in troops, destroy their training centers, destroy their recruitment centers, destroy the area where they are looking to plan to attack us here and then get out, and leave a little note behind, you come back, so will we.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Again, a fascinating, interesting, and important substantive divide between and among the Republican candidates.

MURRAY: Right. I think this is really important because you are electing a commander-in-chief, and voters do deserve to hear where people stand on this issue of their line for sending troops in.

But it is really highlighting sort of the disarray in the Republican Party right now to hear some of these people, someone not moderate like George Pataki come out and say, we need to send troops on the ground there.

I think one of the interesting things is if you look at the polling right now, Americans are pretty evenly split about whether they want to put boots on the ground to fight ISIS. That's not necessarily true of Republicans though.

There's a lot more support among Republicans to put troops on the ground in this battle.

KING: Governor Pataki has said do it. Lindsey Graham has said do it or at least lean forward toward doing it. Santorum and Rick Perry also saying likely to have to do it, some of the others have tried to say, well, I don't want to rule it out but let's wait.

FOURNIER: And the policy has really shifted on this just in the last week. It's now OK in the Republican Party to say that the Iraq war invasion was a mistake. I think there's something bigger going on here. I think Americans are realizing we have to have a real debate about what we're going to do.

Are we really going to put troops back in and ask more of such a small percentage of us? If we really are going to double down in Iraq, we really are going to double down in the Middle East and have another ground war. Do we need to look at something like a draft?

I mean, we really over deploying these men and women six, seven, eight times over there. They're coming back physically and mentally incapacitated. It's incredible what they've done. Do we keep asking them to go back or do we ask more of all of us.

MURRAY: It's interesting you point that out because Jeb Bush was actually in Iowa and he was doing this private fundraiser, but you could hear it and he was asked during this fundraiser should we reconsider reinstating a draft.

And at that point, he said no, but it's interesting to see that this is something people are actually asking about and thinking about in places like Iowa.

FOURNIER: It's easy to call for ground troops when we don't have skin in the game and only a few so very small percentages have skin in the game.

KING: Whether you support it or post Iraq or support post Afghanistan think about the legacy issues, traumatic brain injuries, multiple deployments, strain on the families, if you are going to think about doing it again, think about everything not just the issue in front of you, the generational challenge.

One other quick issue, the president of the United States in a commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy wanted to talk about what he calls critical national security challenge, climate change. Listen to the president and Jeb Bush disagree.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[07:35:07] BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I know there are still some folks back in Washington, who refuse to admit that climate change is real. The science is indisputable. The planet is getting warmer.

JEB BUSH (R), FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: I don't think the science is clear of what percentage is manmade and what percentage is natural. It's convoluted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Again, another big important issue. If we can stick to the issues in this campaign that's now beginning -- I was going to call the next campaign, it is here. President Obama's not on the ballot but he's going to keep pushing climate change and we're going to see debate among the Republicans and Democrats over what to do.

MURRAY: Yes, I mean, surprise Republicans don't agree with President Obama over climate change. I don't think you're going to see a lot of Republican candidates for president coming out and saying they really want to talk about climate change and their efforts here. We've heard Jeb Bush talk a little bit about green energy. But the fact is this is not really a winning issue in the Republican Party.

FOURNIER: I'll give Jeb Bush it was interesting what he did there, he didn't deny the science. He didn't deny the fact and it is a fact that we have climate change manmade. He wanted to debate over what the percentage is.

He left himself space to have a real debate over how do we do this, do we draw down CO2s that might affect the economy or do we go after renewable energy. It was an interesting place he put himself.

KING: Interesting place and we'll watch how it plays out when we get to the wonderful things called the Republican debates and we'll move on from there.

Alisyn, substance, a lot of big issues in this campaign, war and peace, climate, environment, it's going to be fun.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Those are substantial. All right, John, thanks so much for watching it all for us. See you soon.

Well, a standoff in the sky as the U.S. refuses to back down from China's repeated warnings. In a CNN exclusive, we will explain why the U.S. is increasingly concerned about China's military buildup in the South China Sea.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:40:46]

CAMEROTA: Now to a CNN exclusive for you. A U.S. surveillance plane above contested waters in the South China Sea ordered to evacuate the area by the Chinese Navy. This comes above these manmade islands where the Chinese military buildup is causing alarm.

Now, one former CIA official says he's concerned about the risk of war. CNN's Jim Sciutto was on that surveillance flight where this all took place and joins us with more.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Guys, I'll tell you this is when an irresistible force meets an immovable object. The U.S. sees this as international waters, international air space.

China views these islands though they're brand new and just manufactured them as sovereign territory and Chinese protests are only getting bolder and U.S. military action getting bolder as well. It's hard to see how the tension here doesn't escalate even further.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO (voice-over): It's a standoff in the skies between China and the U.S. as Beijing makes a massive and unprecedented land grab 600 miles from its coast.

(on camera): So when is the last time you went up?

(voice-over): CNN got exclusive access to classified U.S. surveillance flights over the islands. First time journalists have been allowed on an operational mission by a state-of-the-art Poseidon.

(on camera): We just arrived on station now above the three islands that are the targets of today's mission. It's these three islands that have been the focus of China's building in the South China Sea over recent years.

(voice-over): In just two years, China has expanded these islands by 2,000 acres, the equivalent of 1,500 football fields and counting.

(on camera): You're a military man. You look at this. Is there any doubt that that is a future military installation?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It appears to be a buildup of military infrastructure.

SCIUTTO (voice-over): For China this new territory is nonnegotiable. China's foreign minister calls his country's commitment unshakable. And China defends the new islands closely, patrolling with coast guard and navy warships and ordering the P-8 out of the air space eight times on this one mission alone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm United States military aircraft. I am operating with due regard as required under international law.

SCIUTTO: Chinese military sometimes shows its frustration.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Foreign military aircraft, this is Chinese Navy. You are approaching our military alert zone. Leave immediately.

SCIUTTO: The standoff is military to military, but civilian aircraft can be caught in the middle.

(on camera): You heard over the intercom Chinese Navy, this is the Chinese Navy. What was interesting is that there are also civilian aircraft, there was a Delta flight on that same frequency when it heard that challenge it piped into the frequency to say what's going on.

The Chinese Navy then reassuring them, but as the flight crew tells me that can be a very nerve racking experience for civilian aircraft in the area.

(voice-over): Five Southeast Asian nations claim parts of this area as their own. China says this territory is part of their history claiming ownership back 2,000 years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't recognize that as anything to do with in accordance with international law.

SCIUTTO: But many see economic and military motives as well. The islands are rich in oil and gas deposits, and they extend China's naval and air presence challenging U.S. naval supremacy in the region.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: You know, when you look at these islands from the air and through those surveillance cameras, you see the airstrips, you see military barracks, you see roads, you see China making deep water harbors there to accommodate its navy ships.

They look very much like permanent military installations and as you see that it's hard to see even with greater U.S. military action there, bolder U.S. military action, how China backs down. Back to you in New York.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Fascinating.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good on Jimmy for getting out there. Not an easy, not a safe situation. But it really brought home the story of what's developing there, how the Chinese feel about it and what it could mean.

CAMEROTA: We wouldn't know this story had he not discovered that.

PEREIRA: Taking risks.

CUOMO: So we'll follow-up on that as well this morning.

[07:45:01] We want to tell you about this when we come back. A major showdown at McDonald's headquarters, thousands of workers are demanding higher pay. The question, will they get what they are mcafter?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: All right, time for CNN money now. Chief business correspondent, Christine Romans looking at the battle over higher wages.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: McDonald's shareholders wants stronger sales, but McDonald's workers want higher wages. They are demanding $15 an hour. They mass near headquarters just in time for the Annual Shareholders meeting.

Now McDonald's is raising wages at the small number of company owned restaurants, but protesters say that's not enough, and McDonald's pushing back this morning saying this is a union pushed assault on McDonald's.

All right, get ready for higher egg prices because of the recent bird flu outbreak, flu distributors are urging restaurants to change their menus, change the menu, try to use fewer eggs because wholesale prices are spiking, about 10 percent of the total egg supply has been wiped out as farmers kill their flocks to prevent further spread of the bird flu, some 30 million chickens killed.

It's not all bad news at breakfast, however. Attention bacon lovers everyone, a one pound package of bacon, 25 percent cheaper today than a year ago. Apparently there is a pork baby boom, this as America is seeing a bacon craze. Bacon sales at restaurants are up 13 percent this year.

PEREIRA: Women are using it as colognes and put it behind their ears.

CAMEROTA: Men are running to them in droves.

ROMANS: We want organic food, fresh greens and bacons.

CAMEROTA: I like when you say, listen up, bacon lovers, as though that's not just Americans like all of you out there.

CUOMO: Bacon especially thick cut bacon is so good that when we do our little boozy brunch on Fridays, it has become something that I will eat with absolutely anything. I will have it with a cocktail or coffee.

CAMEROTA: I have seen you do that.

CUOMO: It's better than a napkin in most cases. I have used bacon as a napkin.

CAMEROTA: He really does.

CUOMO: All right, a little NFL news, Commissioner Roger Goodell says he wants to hear directly from Touchdown Tommy in the appeal of his deflategate suspension. Andy Scholes, has this morning's "Bleacher Report," what do you think, will he talk to Goodell?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he will have to, Chris. You know, we heard from Patriots owner, Robert Kraft early this week, he said the Patriots would reluctantly accept their punishment.

And now we are hearing from Goodell for the first time since the deflategate penalty were dish out. He said, if Tom Brady's four-game suspension is going to change, then Brady is going to have to provide him with more information.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: I look forward to hearing directly from Tom and if there is information that would be helpful to us to get this right, and I want to hear from Tom on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now Goodell also said he has not had time to study, and he added he will likely hear Tom Brady's case unless there is a factor that he is not aware of.

Cavs and Hawks opening up the eastern conference finals last night in Atlanta and this was the JR Smith show. He took control of this game. Cavs franchise playoff record, eight 3-pointers. The guy who supposed to guard Lebron in this series, he goes down with a hyperextended knee. He had to be carried off the court. He is going to have an MRI later today. Closing seconds Lebron put an exclamation mark on this over the tomahawk slam. He had 31 points in the game and the Cavs won 97- 89.

More playoff action coming your way tonight, Warriors and Rockets at 9:00 Eastern, and big question in this game tonight, guys, will Dwight Howard be able to play with his sprained knee, and the Rockets really need him on the court if they hope to even the series.

PEREIRA: I respect that. I play here every day with a questionable knees here.

CUOMO: Is this the best playoffs we've seen in sometime in the NBA?

SCHOLES: I tell you what, I've really enjoyed it from that first round series, from the Clippers and Spurs, and to all the heated playoff contest we had in the second round. It has been great from start to finish so far.

CUOMO: You know what's made it even better for have to check out his sites online, and I usually see Andy online, but he does cute things with his son. I like the one where you had him dunk on you.

PEREIRA: When mama is away.

CAMEROTA: All right, Andy, thank you so much. See you soon.

Back to our top story, ISIS taking over a key city in Syria, and what does it mean for the U.S. strategy. We are live on the ground with the latest.

CUOMO: That's a rocket.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:58:13]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ISIS now fully in control of the ancient city of Palmyra.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's hope that this wonderful monument will not be destroyed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now it's at the mercy of ISIS.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The U.S. government released what it calls Bin Laden's book shelf.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His online library contained nearly 40 books in English.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was a loving father and husband and at the same time he was a mass murderer. DAVID LETTERMAN: The last time on this television program, thank you and good night.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome to your NEW DAY. It's Thursday, May 21st, 8:00 in the east.

We have breaking news to tell you about, overnight ISIS taking full control of the ancient city of Palmyra. This is in Syria. It's putting lives and pieces of history at risk.

It is also the second strategically important city seized this week by the terrorists.

CAMEROTA: So now growing calls to send U.S. combat troops to the region. We have complete coverage for you. CNN senior international correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh, has just returned from inside Syria. He joins us live from Beirut. Nick, what did you see?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, talking about Palmyra specifically where we went yesterday, the issue really comes down to the historical ruins there and the fate that they face on ISIS, who were known to destroy what they can of the world's heritage, have done so in Iraq in the past.

But there are suggestions local residents they are trying to be friendly may not be happy with that level of destruction, but it would bring staggering PR propaganda value for ISIS, who were known to rebel in that sort of thing.

These ruins date back to the first century A.D., it was known as an oasis, where dates palms -- hence the name -- grew, a place where the Roman Empire met signs of Persian culture, staggeringly important for many archaeologists here as a UNESCO protected site.