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EARLY START

Obama Speech Reviewed; US Intelligence Officials Say Russians Hacked DNC; Trump Says Claims of Russian Involvement Merely a Distraction. Aired 3:30-4a ET

Aired July 28, 2016 - 03:30   ET

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


[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: This year in this election, I'm asking you to join me to reject cynicism and reject fear and to summon what is best in us to elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

ROMANS: A night of ringing endorsement, one after another for Hillary Clinton. And sweeping indictments for Donald Trump.

President Obama's legacy is on the line this election and he knows it.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to Early Start. We are at the democratic convention. We are in Philadelphia. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: And I'm John Berman. About 30 minutes past the hour right now. We are live inside the CNN Grill. We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and all around the world.

So, the question for the democrats this morning might be, what do they have left? Hillary Clinton, she called out a cast that felt like political super friend to make the case that she should be the next president of the United States. You can call Joe Biden Batman, you can argue whether Michael Bloomberg or Tim Kaine is Robin. But there is no question who was the democratic superman. President Obama making the case for Hillary Clinton like his legacy depends on it, which it might.

CNN's Phil Mattingly joins us now. The aqua man of CNN outside, threatening the humidity.

ROMANS: My God.

BERMAN: Phil, it was quite a night.

MATTINGLY: I just want you to let me inside, John. I don't understand why I'm out here.

No, look, if the first two nights of this convention were about unifying the party, the third was a very strong, not so subtle all pivot towards attacking and based on some of the speakers, systemically attempting to take apart Donald Trump.

None more so than President Obama. John, as you noted, this was about legacy, this was about the future. But this was also, according to barack Obama, about his belief in the American people and where he thinks they will go the opposite direction of what we've heard from Donald Trump.

Take listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: That's another bet that Donald Trump will lose.

(APPLAUSE)

And the reason he'll lose it is because he's selling the American people short. We're not a fragile people. We're not a frightful people. Our power doesn't come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can resort order as long as we do things his way. We don't look to be ruled.

(APPLAUSE)

Our power -- our power comes from those immortal declarations first put to pay for right here in Philadelphia all those years ago. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

(APPLAUSE)

That we, the people, can form a more perfect union.

(APPLAUSE)

[03:35:01] That's who we are. That's our birth right. The capacity to shape our own destiny.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: And, guys, in that, you hear echoes of Barack Obama in 2008. Echoes from his memoir, even the titles of his memoir, echoes from 2012. But also, echoes of what we often hear from republican speakers on nights like this. And I'm sure you guys have seen it on Twitter, my e-mail box inboxes has been full of comments from republican officials who basically said that's the type of speech we would want our candidate to make, but didn't.

And deliberate effort, according to democratic officials by not President Obama but also by Mike Bloomberg, also by Joe Biden, also by Tim Kaine tonight. To separate Donald Trump from the party, to try and kind of put him out on an island there, and it's something you're going to hear about again tonight.

Hillary Clinton, John, as you noted, it's been a big three nights from the Democratic Party. She's got a very high bar here, she will be introduce by her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, to really try and make that case follow up on what we've heard from three nights of speakers.

When you talk to Clinton officials about what their goal is going to be tonight, they're being a little bit coy, but there's no question about it. Singling out Donald Trump, trying to paint him as a dangerous individual that is not ready for the White House.

That will certainly be high on her list. So, definitely something to keep an eye on. The last day of two weeks of conventions, guys.

BERMAN: But it's counting.

ROMANS: yes.

BERMAN: Phil Mattingly, thanks so much for being with us.

ROMANS: The last day of two weeks of those clips for everyone covering politics and watching it. Phil, thank you.

OK. Let's discuss tonight three of the democratic convention, CNN politics executive editor, Mark Preston is here, also our political analyst Josh Rogin, he's a columnist from The Washington Post, and we have two CNN political commentators.

Angela Rye, she is the former executive director for the Congressional Black Caucus, and Amanda Carpenter, former communications director for Ted Cruz.

I want you guys to listen to another piece of sound from the president. There was just so much in there to analyst in and so many points that he was trying to make. But he really sort of contrasted what Hillary Clinton -- what he says Hillary Clinton can do for people who feel as though the economy is not working for them and Donald Trump. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Does anyone really believe that a guy who spent his seven years on this earth showing no regard for working people, is suddenly going to be your champion, your voice?

(APPLAUSE)

If so, you should vote for him. But if you are someone who is truly concern about paying your bills, if you're really concerned about pocketbook issues and seeing the economy grow and creating more opportunity for everybody, then the choice isn't even close.

(APPLAUSE)

If you want someone with a lifelong track record of fighting for higher wages and better benefits, and a fair tax code, and a bigger voice for workers and stronger regulations on Wall Street, then you should vote for Hillary Clinton.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Josh, effective?

ROGIN: I think so. Well, you know, this is the final effort by the Clinton team to get at that last and hardest group of Americans who are still not on board with Hillary Clinton.

ROMANS: Right.

ROGIN: And that sort of the lower income, lower educated, middle America, usually white voters, right? So, that's why they put it in the end. Remember, Monday we had them talk about people with disabilities carving off that demographic. Then we had the dreamers, the Latinos.

Then Tuesday we had the women, and then, you know, we went on in Wednesday we had Joe Biden talk about the middle American white voters. We had Tim Kaine carve off a different demographic.

So, this is the final one, right? We had the millennials, right? So, the polls have shown that Hillary Clinton is not doing well with the people who feel that the economy is working against them.

Barack Obama was the most effective person yet to speak to that issue. Overall, it's probably not going to move her poll numbers with those...

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: This is agree on point, not the final one. Hillary Clinton the final one tonight which is a whole separate issue. But Amanda Carpenter, I want to talk with what Phil Mattingly referred to you right there with what we're all hearing from some republicans.

Particularly republicans who may not be not much in line with Donald Trump, which was, hey, wait a second, the democrats are talking about American exceptionalism. The democrats who were living on the shining city on the hill right now. That's supposed to be our hill.

CARPENTER: I know.

BERMAN: So, the president -- the president talked about that directly again at the end. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: It's fair to say, this is not your typical election. It's not just a choice between parties or policies. The usual debates between left and right. This is a more fundamental choice. About who we are as a people. And whether we stay true to this great American experiment in self-government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So, Amanda, are you on board with those republicans who say this is a more optimistic convention? CARPENTER: Oh, absolutely, it's more optimistic. I mean, they are selling an uplifting message. America is still good. There's been good things that have happened, but also let's recognize that Obama has to sell his legacy in order for Hillary to be a successful candidate.

[03:40:03] But the other thing that struck me, really hard, is comparing the two conventions is that the democrats are talking much more about faith than the republicans are. And that's something that appeals to a lot of people.

I think we get caught up in the idea like republicans are only Evangelical. No. Voters want to know that their leaders hold themselves to a higher power. It doesn't matter if you're a Mormon, it doesn't matter if you're an Evangelical, it doesn't matter if you're Catholic.

That was a systematic theme throughout the three days of the convention. You see the -- you know, we heard gospel music, we heard mothers talk about how they had to lean on their faith to get through losing their children. That's really appealing and it was completely absent from the republican convention and that was a big change.

ROMANS: Interesting. Also, I was -- I noted last night there was a sort of shout out from the president to Bernie Sanders supporters.

BERMAN: Sure.

ROMANS: And, you know, and this is -- this is income inequality and like, hey, come over to team Hillary. Let's listen to the president sort of recognizing those Bernie Sanders supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Democracy works, America. But we've got to want it. Not just during an election year, but all the days in between.

(APPLAUSE)

So, if you agree that there's too much inequality in our economy and too much money in our politics, we all need to be as vocal and as organized and as persistent as Bernie Sanders supporters have been.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Angela Rye, a hat tip to the people who were kind of disruptive earlier in the week. Are they on board?

RYE: Absolutely. And when I was on the floor, and I mention this earlier, one of the things that really struck me is we heard even some of that booing happening during Michelle Obama's speech. Of course, they wish us.

But in this speech they have the anti-TPP signs. Five minutes into Barack Obama speech, there was a man sitting in front of me, he had this Bernie Sanders hat. The hat was off. The sign was folded up and back -- I don't know where he put it, maybe he's waiting to lift it up tomorrow. But it was gone.

And I thought that that was very compelling that the president was a very clear bridge builder as well as a closer for Hillary days. It's very effective.

BERMAN: So, Mark Preston, at the end of the day, as powerful as the president's speech may have been or the vice president's speech may have been -- there's still the president and there's still the vice president.

And if you don't feel good about the America that has been created during the eight years when they're in power, then this convention -- and they're talking about how great America is, it's not going to help.

PRESTON: It's not going to help. And look, there's a lot of work for ahead for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and Joe Biden and Michelle Obama to do in order to help get her elected.

You know, we were talking a little bit off camera about the economy, and Christine makes the point that the economy has gotten so much better and we know it's gotten better.

However, the perception of those who feel disaffected, it hasn't gotten better, right, at this point. So, I think what you're going to see over the next couple of months is you are going to see Joe Biden in states like Pennsylvania. He was born in Scranton. I think...

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: Never heard that before.

PRESTON: Never heard that before, right. But you'll also see him in Ohio. You'll see Tim Kaine, who tried to be the likable guy today, maybe too much likable guy today. You know, reaching out -- and he can go to much different states. I know he can speak Spanish but he's a white guy and he can try to help send the message.

The fact is, democrats aren't going win the white male vote. That's over. But can they chip away? Can they take some of it back? And that is very, very important.

ROMANS: Interesting. All right, Mark Preston. We're going to sit tight. Lots to talk about.

Donald Trump urging Russia to hack the U.S. government to find wrongdoing by Hillary Clinton. Was it treason or was it a genius political move? It certainly caused an awful lot of controversy yesterday. We're breaking it down, next.

[03:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: U.S. intelligence officials tell CNN there is little doubt the Russians hacked the Democratic National Committee e-mail system. Donald Trump insists those claims are a democratic distraction, a distraction by democrats. But he sure ignited a firestorm when he stood before reporters on

Wednesday, stood before reporters and he challenged Russian hackers to find dirt on Hillary Clinton. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press. Let's see if that happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: If the Putin regime is behind the DNC breach, the White House says it can respond with, quote, "a full range of options."

We want to go live to Moscow and bring in CNN senior international correspondent Matthew Chance. Good morning, Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine. That's right.

Donald Trump really fueling that up roaring United States about the alleged involvement of Russian linked hackers to the hacking of those DNC files, calling, as we just heard from him for Russians to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing, linked to Hillary Clinton.

You know, it's something that the Russians have react very coolly to -- reacted very coolly to. They've denied categorically, first of all, that they are linked at all with this hacking scandal.

I spoke to the presidential spokesman last night, he said, look, Russia is a country we don't hack. And basically it's been dismissed as the usual fun of get fun and games in a U.S. election campaign.

In other words, you often get it in U.S. election campaigns, lots of criticism, lots of bashing the Russia. And that's how the Russians are categorizing this at the moment. But of course, U.S. officials, as you mentioned, are saying there's plenty of evidence now pointing the finger of blame at Russian-linked hackers.

ROMANS: Just remarkable. All right. Matthew Chance, thank you so much for that, Matthew. Really, just remarkable when you think about it. Then you got a presidential candidate standing up there inviting -- inviting a foreign government to hack.

BERMAN: Well, that's exactly right. Matthew Chance says the Russians are saying it's the usual fun and games in politics. There are people here on both sides of the aisle saying anything, but the usually fun and games you see in politics.

[03:50:03] Let's bring our -- back our panel to discuss this. You know, we heard the word treason thrown around, calling on another intelligence service to come, spy and break into the U.S. government.

You know, Leon Panetta said as much from the stage last night. Let's listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: Donald Trump, who wants to be president of the United States, is asking one of our adversaries to engage in hacking or intelligence efforts against the United States of America to effect an election.

(CROWD BOOING)

As someone who was responsible for protecting our nation from cyber- attacks, it is inconceivable to me that any presidential candidate would be that irresponsible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: John Philips, Donald Trump supporter, you hear the criticism from Leon Panetta. You've heard it over the last 20 hours or so. How do you respond?

PHILLIPS: Well, Wolf Blitzer asked me what should Donald Trump do during the Democratic Party week. And I said he needs one of those callers like you put on a dog when they bark its absence so they stop barking. Anytime he wants to have a press conference, anytime he wants to tweet, he needs to call or to zap him because...

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: And you still want him to be your president, right?

RYE: Trump supporter.

ROGIN: He had endorsements up right there.

PHILLIPS: Lots of presidents haven't had self-control. You see them with Mr. President Taft did around the carbs. But look, this is something he shouldn't be doing. He was trying to take the story line which, let's be honest. The story line at this both conventions have been hijacked by unforeseen events that happened at the beginning of this convention with Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

That's what he was trying to do was take the focus off of what was going on the convention hall and put the focus back on the e-mails. Now, he successfully did that, but you shouldn't joke around about espionage.

RYE: I don't know that it was a joke either. I know you're a foreign policy genius. Just give me one second.

BERMAN: Yes, genius.

RYE: The one thing that is fascinating to me is he has condemnation from really reputable people. One is Leon Panetta on that stage last night where there were millions of viewers, and the other two came from in through party both Speaker Ryan and you have his running mate as saying something very different. So, I don't know if it was a joke, but I really believe that he thinks...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Paul Manafort said it was a joke.

ROGIN: Yes.

RYE: Look, I don't believe Paul Manafort. He got on here and lied to Chris Cuomo and thought him just nailed.

ROGIN: Well, Paul Manafort who was a lobbyist for both forces (Ph) for a decade, but putting that to one side. Listen, Donald Trump is...

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: Do this.

ROGIN: Donald Trump is right. If the Russians released 30,000 e- mails, we would love it in the media, OK. Well, that's the journalistic term for that is smorgasbord, OK? So, let's -- so first of all, let's not pretend that we're anti-Russian leaks here, OK?

(CROSSTALK)

RYE: I am. I don't like them.

ROGIN: I'm pro-leak personally, all right

RYE: Watch out.

PHILLIPS: We just want tips for yoga because that's all important tips.

ROGIN: Well, that's the other thing. The 30,000 e-mails are deleted so we couldn't really be serious because they're gone so they can't be hack. Second of all, there were supposed to be all personal so there is not really national security issue here.

What I'm getting at here is I think the Clinton campaign actually overplayed its hand, right? They have the upper hand on the foreign policy, they have imminently qualified former secretary of state versus someone who has no foreign policy experience. So, what do they do?

They actually raised the alarm, they escalated and they put themselves in a position now where a lot of people who I talk to in both republicans and democrats are asking, OK, if you really believe that this is treason and the Russians are influencing the election, what are you going to do about it? What's the Obama administration going to do something about it?

They're painting themselves to a corner. The truth is we are not going to do anything. There are no real responses plan. This kind of thing does happen all the time. It is what the Russians have been doing for 20 years. So, I think, you know, we have this weird situation where all of a

sudden the democrats are the tough on Russian party and the Trump people are the -- oh, well, we should really engage the Putin party. That's a switch.

ROMANS: Yes.

ROGIN: But on the other hand...

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: It's Donald Trump.

ROGIN: Yes. But to John's point, you know, this is what Trump believes, all right? He's not out of line. He's telling you what he's going to do. He's being very clear about it.

PHILLIPS: And I think there's also an element. When FDR was president, he thought he could swoon, he thought he could charm Stalin and it didn't work out that way. I think a certain portion of Trump believes that he can swoon and he can bring Putin over.

(CROSSTALK)

ROGIN: But every president thinks they can do that. George W. Bush looked into Putin's eyes and saw the soul of the man and said, we can do business.

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: Mark, open an eyes to get in here.

PRESTON: Listen, here is the issue. OK. I mean, this is fun and interesting and bizarre that we're having this conversation that the Russians are now engaging and trying to score around, you know, with our presidential race here in the United States.

The issue is - is it reckless, OK? And what Donald Trump did today is reckless. I mean, the bottom line is he's going to start getting security breaches.

ROGIN: Next week.

PRESTON: Right. So, the concern is, as certainly wants republicans is, will he take this information and mistakenly release some of it? Now I don't know if that -- you would know better than I do if this information is so top secret which I don't it is. I think it's more broad spectrum.

[03:55:00] But the fact is, Donald Trump did succeed in taking the day away from Hillary Clinton. She -- they won it back tonight or last night on the convention night. But Donald Trump is now going to have to own this going forward.

ROMANS: All right. Guys, stick with us. Early Start continues next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MAX FOSTER, CNN NEWSROOM SHOW HOST: Germany under attack. Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to address both the fears and policy scrutiny following recent terror attacks there.

We'll have a live report from Berlin.

The Obama boost, the U.S. president gives his voice and support to fellow democrat and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. And it took just one line sum it up.

And from Russia with relief. Athletes try to put the doping scandals behind them as they set their sights on the Olympic in Rio.

Thanks for joining us. I'm Max Foster in London. This is CNN Newsroom.

[04:00:07] All right. We'd be in France. The spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor tells CNN the DNA test have revealed the identity of the second --