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CNN NEWSROOM

As Trump Wins GOP Establishment Scrambles; Video Surfaces of Officer Slapping Teen; American Tourist Who Found Debris Speaks Out. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired March 3, 2016 - 10:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:30:21] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

A debate tonight against the backdrop of a Mitt Romney anti-Trump tirade and this "TIME" magazine cover. Take a look. You can see the boxes checked off here, "bully, showman, party crasher, demagogue." But one box, "45th president of the United States" left open. That title still to be determined.

Still, voters have spoken up in 10 states. They want Trump as their nominee and I suspect they don't much care with Mitt Romney or other establishment Republicans will have to say about the billionaire candidate.

With me now, Tara Setmayer and former -- Tara Setmayer, she's a former Republican communications director on Capitol Hill, and Scottie Nell Hughes is a Trump supporter.

Welcome to both of you.

TARA SETMAYER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Thank you.

COSTELLO: All right. I was expecting Dana Bash to pop up. That's why I was a little discombobulated. Is Dana Bash here? Dana, are you thee? There you are.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I am. Hi, Carol.

COSTELLO: Hi, Dana. Hey --

BASH: Hi from Motor City.

COSTELLO: Yes. Yes. Hi from -- hi right back at you from New York City.

Let's talk about the debate before I get to Tara and Scottie. Right? So there's going to be a big debate tonight. Megyn Kelly is going to be one of the moderators. It should be quite interesting.

BASH: It should be extremely interesting, especially given the fact that what's going to be driving the discussion, the narrative, the whole news cycle leading up to tonight is the Republican nominee from last time around, as you were just talking about, Mitt Romney is in Salt Lake City getting ready to give a speech saying anybody but Donald Trump. So it will be fascinating to see how and if the remaining Trump opponents use that or at least try to do so on the stage.

My hunch is that if they are reading the electorate the way maybe they should be, they won't, because the argument that Donald Trump is making on Twitter, on TV this morning, and elsewhere is that Romney doesn't get it, that he's not understanding the anger out there and the way that Trump is harnessing the anger. But you know, I'm told by people who are familiar with Romney's thinking, Carol, that he feels like as the last nominee of the party, he feels a responsibility to get up and stand up and say, this is not the guy for us.

COSTELLO: Well, it should be this especially ruckus debate, too, because only four candidates will be on stage because Ben Carson has chosen not to participate.

BASH: That's right. That's right. There will only be four candidates which, you know, given where we started where we all had to have two debates because there were so many candidates on stage, it's hard to imagine that it has whittled down this far to just four candidates.

And, look, Donald Trump is -- has been already at center stage, but there is no avoiding the fact that both Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and to a lesser extent because he has a different style, John Kasich, know that the only path to the nomination for them is through Donald Trump, and so they're going to -- no question, try to come up with new ways to make that happen.

We saw at CNN's debate last week, Marco Rubio try a different tactic. It's hard to imagine him escalating it even more. But my understanding is that they're going to try to do more with substance. Not just the name calling we're hearing but substantive arguments about why they don't believe Donald Trump should be the nominee.

And let me just actually point out that on that subject, Donald Trump has understandably been saying and tweeting that Mitt Romney who, again, is going to come out against him today, endorsed him four years ago. And that isn't something that we should forget. He did so with a lot of fanfare in Las Vegas.

COSTELLO: Yes. He certainly did. They held a press conference and --

BASH: Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney, I should say. Yes.

COSTELLO: We got it. We got it. Dana Bash reporting live from Detroit. Thanks so much.

All right. Donald Trump is already on the attack because in just about an hour Mitt Romney will -- he will appear before many, many reporters and he will call Donald Trump a fraud and a phony. As I said, Donald Trump already on the attack, tweeting up a storm this morning and also explaining on the morning news shows why he has to be such an attack dog. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: If you take a look at what's going on, I can't act overly presidential because I'm going to have people attacking me from every side, a very good man, Ben Carson is not there any longer. So now we're going to have more time for, you know, the fighting. I can't stand there and act presidential when I have people throwing out lies.

MATT LAUER, MSNBC'S "TODAY" SHOW: Why not? Why can't you be presidential and say, I'm above this?

TRUMP: Let me tell you, because when people are hitting you from different angles, from all different angles.

[10:30:03] Unfortunately, Matt, you have to hit back. I would have a very, very presidential demeanor when I win. But until such time, you have to hit back. When you hit back, you're no longer presidential.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. Let's bring back in Tara Setmayer and Scottie Nell Hughes,

Welcome back, ladies.

Scottie, I'll start with you. So will tonight's debate be especially nasty because of Mitt Romney?

SCOTTIE NELL HUGHES, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, USA RADIO NETWORKS: Well, I hope not, but I don't think Mitt Romney really brings that much to the table. I mean, it's not shocking that he's out against Mr. Trump. What would be shocking is that he actually went for more Trump considering Mr. Trump's popularity is because of everything Mitt Romney has stood for and the reason why the GOP has lost a lot of election cycles. It's that establishment status quo, rusty Republicans that continue to sit there and say let's talk more to the beltway and not necessarily main street.

COSTELLO: So, Tara, I've been saying all morning, you know, the voters have spoken. They seem to like Mr. Trump. He's won in 10 states so far. So, first of all, should Mitt Romney be speaking out against him, and secondly, is it too late?

SETMAYER: Well, only some of the voters have spoken. Like one-third of the third of voters have spoken. I mean, we have 70 percent of the process still to go as far as delegates. So I don't think that the Republican Party and real conservatives and real Republicans should be held hostage to an imposter, and an insurgent like Donald Trump in trying a hostile takeover of the Republican Party. So we still have a long way to go.

Now as far as Mitt Romney is concerned, you know, I think -- I don't know how helpful it will be because it's true. Mitt Romney is the epitome of the Republican establishment. He represents everything that everybody is upset about, the folks who are upset. He represents everything that's wrong with the establishment in Washington and the status quo. That doesn't mean that what he says is invalid. That doesn't mean what he has to say isn't true. But I don't know if he's the best messenger to do it.

And if he was so upset about Donald Trump, and felt as though he needs to come out and say something, why wasn't this done months ago? All of these accusations against Donald Trump and they're valid, you know, pointing out his actual failed business record, his political chameleon changing positions on everything all the time. Those things have been in play, on the record way before now or the last week. It was there when he first declared. So why people have waited so long to come out now troubles me. I think they were afraid that they didn't want to alienate Trump voters, a lot of us, including myself were incorrect that thought he would implode.

But I don't know necessarily that it's too late two weeks until the winner-take-all states of Florida and Ohio, et cetera, that's a very long time. We've got debates. We have two weeks, and that's a long time to finally expose Donald Trump's record in a way that has not been done yet until now.

COSTELLO: Right. Right. And Scottie, it's not just Mitt Romney speaking out, in fact. Dozens of top Republican national security officials have penned this open letter, saying Trump could make the U.S. less safe, and that includes the former Homeland Security secretary, Michael Chertoff. So they're trying, too, and I mean, there are more than 50 of them who penned this open letter saying Donald Trump would make the country less safe.

HUGHES: Well, talk about a hostile takeover. I mean, they're saying that -- the other guest said Mr. Trump is going to do a hostile takeover of the Republican Party. It's those people like those 50, those -- unfortunately who I do respect, Michael Chertoff, who have held this party hostage away from the people. And what the people's wishes are. So I think I would rather take somebody a Sheriff Joe Arpaio who endorsed Mr. Trump and since he's on the ground in Arizona dealing with security issues every day over someone who might have actually advised a few years ago and hasn't necessarily served on the board or been boots on the ground sitting there advising people how to handle their lives and their votes.

COSTELLO: So, Tara, would you take Sheriff Joe Arpaio over Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff?

SETMAYER: Listen, Sheriff Joe Arpaio has a tough job down there in Arizona. He is on the ground. I get it. But he's also a local sheriff. Being president of the United States is a much larger job where -- if people who are familiar with the ins and outs of national security, what it takes to keep this country safe, all of those things, we're discounting them all of a sudden now? If they are concerned, and we're not talking one or two. Like you said it's 50 plus. And I'm glad to see folks like that who have gravitas, who have credibility that you can't say are just some career politicians.

No, these are people who have spent their livelihood, their lives protecting this country. For them to come out and say hey, we're concerned. This guy's foreign policy is dangerous. It will not keep America safe, it's unworkable. And people need to pay attention to that. I think that's very valid. And like I've said before, we have not really seen a thorough vetting of Donald Trump's record, of his positions, of things that he's actually said, how many times he's changed his mind, the consequences of some of the crazy things that he has said like using the libel laws to sue newspapers who write critical stories, which is, you know, I guess the First Amendment.

[10:40:11] Things are very concerning for those of us who are real Republicans, lifelong Republicans.

COSTELLO: All right.

SETMAYER: These are concerning and valid for someone who want to get the keys to the kingdom, too.

COSTELLO: I got to -- Scottie, last one. It's got to be short.

HUGHES: And also -- OK. Look at who these 50 we actually used to support. Are we dealing with sour lemons right here because their guy got knocked out? And if he didn't have enough strategy to push against Mr. Trump, why would we put these kind of folks back in control of our government and keep it unsafe? How can we trust them?

SETMAYER: It's not always about a tit-for-tat or playground things, I'm winning, you're losing. This name calling and immaturity is ridiculous.

HUGHES: But -- no, but then why didn't do this before?

SETMAYER: It's an integrity issue.

HUGHES: Why did they not --

(CROSSTALK)

SETMAYER: There's a threat. Donald Trump presents a threat to the national security of this country moving forward.

HUGHES: His record is out there.

SETMAYER: So the fact -- maybe it's a little later than it should have been, but at least they're speaking about it now and we shouldn't discredit people who are professionals in this area because you want to play a tit-for-tat childish game.

COSTELLO: I got to -- I got to end it there.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: I got to end it there. Tara Setmayer, Scott Nell Hughes, thanks so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, this disturbing video at the center of a criminal investigation, an officer caught on camera repeatedly slapping a student. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:45:37] COSTELLO: Three Baltimore school police officers now on administrative leave after a video shows one of them slapping a teenage boy repeatedly and then kicking him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED). (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. This happened right outside of a high school.

Miguel Marquez is here to tell us more. Good morning.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. It is short, the video. It is disturbing. And it is causing shockwaves in Baltimore. But this is a profanity laced video. Three times this officer slaps this young man and then kicks him. The incident was at the reach partnership school. The young man is said to be 16 years old according to his attorney. His attorney also says the young man went to the school. That's something the school says he did not.

The school said he did not go to the school and they are responding to a report of an intruder in the school when this incident occurred. The video is clearly driving the investigation into all of this. Here is how Baltimore's mayor responded to seeing that video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE, BALTIMORE CITY: As a parent of a Baltimore City school student, I was appalled. The video is certainly something you never want to see anyone treated like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Now Baltimore City Police and the state's attorneys office are now investigating this matter. And to be very clear, Baltimore City Police and the Baltimore School Police, two separate entities here. But it is worth noting how quickly Baltimore City has jumped on this. Clearly a city still grappling with the concerns over Freddie Gray almost a year now.

COSTELLO: So what do we know about this young man? Why was he in the -- and what happened afterwards? Did the police -- the school police officer call Baltimore City Police to have him arrested? What happened?

MARQUEZ: It is very -- the details of all of this are very unclear. The young man now has a lawyer. They are -- Baltimore has a long history of being sued and paying out. That is probably underway at this time. It is not clear whether or not Baltimore Police ever got involved in this incident. The video, according to the lawyer, was shot by his friend then released. Now you have this reaction and the investigation. COSTELLO: Interesting. Miguel Marquez, thank you so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, an up close look at debris that could be from that missing Malaysian airliner.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:51:51] COSTELLO: Debris that could be from the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is on its way to Australia. This is new images giving us a close-up view of the wreckage found by an American tourist off the coast of Mozambique, Africa.

CNN's David McKenzie is in Mozambique. He has more for us.

Good morning, David.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Yes, we spoke to Blaine Gibson, the American tourist who is an enthusiast, a hobby of his in fact is look for MH-370. He said he was here in Mozambique off the coast of Africa when he found a piece of the plane, he thinks, which was on the sand bank.

We got to look at that piece up close with an official from the Mozambique and Civil Aviation Authority. He questioned a lot of what you see, whether it looks like it's been in the sea long enough, whether it's a large enough piece that should fit with the 777. So it's important to be skeptical. And I put it to Blaine Gibson that, you know, just a few days before the second anniversary of the missing plane, it seems highly unlikely that someone would find this.

Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLAINE GIBSON, U.S. TOURIST WHO FOUND PLANE DEBRIS: Nature works in mysterious ways. Why does the ocean do what it does? I don't know. Maybe this is part of that plane. Maybe this is part of another. It's small and it's very light, so maybe it's just from some light aircraft. It would just be so unbelievable if it actually is from 370.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: Well, certainly he's also saying it's important that it's investigated properly. And it's being taken seriously enough that the Australian officials searching for the plane in the Southern Indian Ocean will take it to Australia. They've also had U.S. officials saying it possibly is a 777. We don't know for sure at this point. But I think that skepticism is important in this case -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. David McKenzie, reporting live from Mozambique.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, hugs and a hero's welcome. Astronaut Scott Kelley back home with a record in hand. Hear what he missed most during his entire year in outer space.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:58:12] COSTELLO: NASA astronaut Scott Kelly comes home to a hero's welcome.

Plenty of cheers and hugs in Houston this morning. Kelly was also treated with beer and apple pie. Gifts from Jill Biden, the wife of the vice president. He spent 340 days in space. That would be a record for a U.S. astronaut. And Kelly's return it's bittersweet.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT KELLY, RECORD-SETTING ASTRONAUT: The cold air was amazing. The fresh air is -- you know, the air is -- I don't mean to say it's not fresh on the space station, but it's -- there's nothing like, you know, new cold air coming into the capsule.

And leaving the space station was bittersweet. You know, been there a long time so I look forward to leaving, but at the same time, you know, it's a magnificent place and I'm going to miss it. So, you know, mixed emotions, I guess.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The weightlessness of space allowed Kelly to grow two inches. But gravity will soon return him to his pre-mission height. So changes will be measured alongside his twin brother, Mark Kelly, also a former astronaut to see how space affects people's bodies and it's perfect because they're twins. Right?

Checking some other top stories, for you at 59 minutes past, major U.S. airlines are signing up to offer flights to Cuba. JetBlue, American, Alaska, Delta, Southwest and United have all submitted applications to fly commercial flights to Cuba. The government will allow 20 daily round trips flights between the U.S. and Havana and 10 daily round trips to nine other Cuban cities with international airports.

Deflate-gate is back to federal court today. The NFL Players Association and the NFL will argue whether commissioner Roger Goodell had the right to suspend Patriot superstar Tom Brady last year. Goodell suspended Brady for four games after he was accused of using deflated footballs in a 2015 playoff game but Brady did not miss a game because a judge overturned his suspension.

Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello. "AT THIS HOUR WITH BERMAN AND BOLDUAN" starts now.