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Black Lawmakers Slam Trump. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired September 16, 2016 - 14:00   ET

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


[14:00:00] REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS: Become president without going through what we're going through now. And so I conclude by saying, if you're teaching history in the lower grades or a scholar in the university, if you're a Catholic or a Protestant or a Hindu or a Muslim or Jewish, if you love this country, it's no telling where you are on this list. It's not a black question, it's an American question. And so let me thank those of us who are immediately affected because of our backgrounds to say that I do hope this is not reported as a black issue. It should be an American issue.

Thank you for the work that you're doing.

REP. GREGORY MEEKS (D), NEW YORK: From New Jersey, Bonnie Watson Coleman.

REP. BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN (D), CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS: Thank you, Greg.

I want to thank everyone who's here with us and I want to thank you all for covering this.

I want to just say something in response to what Representative Sheila Jackson Lee said, why Trump didn't answer that question when he was interviewed by "The Post" was because he needed people to come to the opening of his hotel because for Trump it's only about his business, only about what is good for him. So we know from what we've experienced that Trump has acted in a way that suggests he's a bigot. We know that he's acted in a way that suggests that he's an out and out liar, and we know that he has presented himself in a way with lack of knowledge and a really strong question as to whether or not he has either the temperament or the intellect to carry on as the president of the United States of America.

So to paraphrase Maya Angelou, the queen, when she says, "if someone presents himself to you the first time, believe it." He cannot continue to walk back from the mistakes that he's made the first time and that's treated as a legitimate action. It is not. He doesn't believe the things he's forced to say now in order to curry favor with people who are never, never going to support him. And so we stand here because we want our communities, not just our black community, women, gays and lesbians, and Latinos and Muslims, and everyone else to understand, there is an urgency associated with what we're going to do this November and we need to get about doing it because the worst thing that could happen to the future of the United States of America is to kill it in its tracks with this person as president.

Thank you.

MEEKS: From the U.S. Virgin Islands, Stacey Plaskett.

REP. STACEY PLASKETT (D), U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: Thank you very much, Congressman Meeks, and thank you for your leadership in bring us all together. Thank you all for being out here.

I stand here not only as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee, but I stand here as a citizen, I stand here as a black woman, I stand here as a mother of five children. And I want you all to know that his absence was noted, Donald Trump's absence was noted at the Black Women's Agenda where he was invited to speak along with Hillary Clinton this morning. He did not come. He was right here in Washington, D.C., not far away, and had the time to come but did not choose to come to speak with the largest voting block that comes out in percentage - black women. Hundreds of black women were gathered and invited him to come to speak and only Hillary Clinton showed up.

I want to all remind you, he was invited to speak at the NAACP. Did he come? Did he think that our vote was important enough?

CROWD: No.

PLASKETT: He did not think we were important enough then and he doesn't think we're important enough now. He's only addressing this because he was forced to address it. And did he address in the a manner that showed that he was mistaken and incorrect? No, he did not.

He has moved on. He is making his money. And he wants to do it off of the backs of all of us. We can't let that happen in November. We need to come out. We need to bring people, bring your children, bring your parents, brings your grandparents and stop this man from the madness that he has taken America through.

Thank you.

MEEKS: From the state of Michigan, Brenda Lawrence.

REP. BRENDA LAWRENCE (D), MICHIGAN: Hello, I'm Brenda Lawrence from the great city of Detroit.

You know, Donald Trump came to my city and the question was asked, what do you have to lose, African-Americans? I can tell you, today is another example of what I have to lose. The arrogance of this candidate to have the audacity to feel that he validates the citizenship of the president of the United States because he said so.

[14:05:02] What happens when my child or your child arises to levels of success and leadership in America? Is this going to be repeated until Donald Trump validates our rights and our ability to serve as the president of this country? It is not acceptable.

I'm wondering when this country is going to awaken from this reality show, the disrespect to me as a woman, to me as an African-American, to my children. You know, if you're discriminated against as a woman, you should find another job. A woman working is an inconvenience. To say if I'm Hispanic that I'm a killer and a rapist until I prove different. To say if I'm a Muslim, then I must be a terrorist until I prove to Donald Trump differently.

This is one man in America, but we, as American citizens and as Africa-Americans, Latinos and women, independents, we have the opportunity to say, no, not in this America. We will not be discriminated against. We will not be treated as second class citizen. We, women, Latinos, we, African-Americans, we independents, people who choose to worship whichever way they choose, we're going to stand up in the best way as the president of the United Stars said, we're not going to boo, we're not going to cry. We're not going to stand here and say, I'm insulted. We're going to vote. And we're going to vote and send a message to not only the United States of America, but to the world that's looking at us and say, this is not the America that Donald Trump is trying to create. It's an America that embraces all of us.

Thank you so much.

MEEKS: From Wisconsin, Gwen Moore.

REP. GWEN MOORE (D), WISCONSIN: My name is Gwen Moore and I'm from Wisconsin.

Let's be clear, this is disrespectful. It's arrogant. It's an effort to delegitimize the most iconic African-American in the African- American history. Let's also recall that Donald Trump demanded to see Barack Obama's transcripts from Harvard. And it's not just a message to Barack Obama. Let's be clear about that. It's a dog whistle to all Americas, and especially African-Americans. If, indeed, Barack Obama is not intelligent, if, indeed, Barack Obama is not legitimate, then you striving up the corporate ladder or striving to achieve something in a stake (ph), how can you feel good about yourself as a sixth grader if you're an African-American?

This is a dog whistle to all other Americans who are not African- Americans to say, see, you're all right. You know, don't worry about hiring that black woman or that black man because, after all, the most iconic African-American in history is, indeed, not worthy of the American dream. Be clear, this is not just about degrading the reputation of Barack Obama. It's about degrading the American dream for all African-Americans. And as Martin Luther King Jr. said, when there's injustice done to one of us, there's injustice done to all of us.

Thank you.

MEEKS: From Georgia, Hank Johnson.

REP. HANK JOHNSON (D), GEORGIA: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

You know, Donald Trump created the birther issue long before he became a candidate for the Republican nomination. He knew exactly what he was doing and he stoked that issue and he parlayed that issue above the 16, 17 people running in the primary, Republican primary, and he won fair and square the majority of the Republican votes based on the birther issue. And so he became the Republican nominee for president of this country and he has continued to stoke the fires of polarization and divisiveness based on the birther issue and extended to other issues. And even to this day, 56 days before the election, he continues to parlay this birther issue to suck everything he can out of it for his own benefit, even coming to Washington, D.C., today while the Congressional Black Caucus is hosting its annual legislative conference with thousands of African-Americans in attendance. Just down the block, he's still dealing with the birther issue, playing with it, toying with people's sensitivities and blowing the dog whistle to his minions, to his supporters.

[14:10:27] And, America, are we going to let Donald Trump use this issue all the way through November the 8? Because I'm going to tell you, that's what he's going to do. If you don't think that he's finished with it today, then I've got some land for you in Florida. This man is going to parlay, he's going to continue to use this birther issue and all of the other innuendos that derive from it to defy Americans against each other and to keep from talking about the real issues of concern to Americans.

I mean, here we are today, in this policy conference, and we're having to deal with Donald Trump's birther issue. And the press, I know that you all were there at - he's a master entertainer. It's hard to resist what he has to offer. And so the press has been there. We appreciate you all coming here to hear our views about what's really important for America because what's good for one of us is good for all of us. And it's time for us not to be divided. It's time for us to come together, do what's in the best interest of this country, our great democracy. The freedom that we enjoy here is under assault by Donald Trump and the forces that would elect him if we let them.

So I want to thank everyone for being here today to get the message out that there's more to life than entertainment, than reality TV, reality campaigning, which is what Donald Trump is all about. We're here to take care of the nation's business, to deal with Zika, to deal with gun violence, to deal with Flint, Michigan, and lead in the pipes throughout this country, to deal with our infrastructure. Those are issues that are so important. Fundamental and comprehensive tax reform to get those big corporations paying their fair share of the tax dollars so that the burden doesn't fall on the backs of middle-class people. Those are the issues that we should be talking about. Those are the issues that Donald Trump needs to be held accountable to during this first debate and on into the remainder of the election.

So thank you all so much.

MEEKS: From Texas, Mark Veasey.

REP. MARK VEASEY (D), TEXAS: Look, I'm sick and tired of Donald Trump not being held accountable. He's been give a free pass this entire election and he needs to be held accountable. He hasn't talked anything about how he's going to bring jobs back into this country. He talks in very general terms. He has absolutely no working knowledge when it comes to foreign policy. And he did not apologize to the president for questioning his citizenship. Enough is enough. People need to hold this man accountable for what

he's doing. People need to tell him that this presidential election is serious when you talk about the real issues that are at hand. And it is absolutely disgusting the things that he is saying about Mexican- American, African-Americans, other people in this country, the handicapped. And he has offered absolutely no substance whatsoever to this race.

Think of one credible thing that Donald Trump has said since he has started running that has made any sense whatsoever. But he came to Washington, D.C., today, to brag on his hotel and talk about lining his pockets.

Enough is enough. Hold this man accountable for the terrible, nasty, mean spirited things that he's saying.

MEEKS: And last, the former chief of police in the city of Orlando and soon to be a colleague here in the United States congress, Val Demings from Florida.

VAL DEMINGS, FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE IN ORLANDO (ph): Thank you very much, Mr. chairman.

You know, I spent 27 years as a law enforcement officer. I had the honor of serving as the chief of police. I've seen the best that America has to offer and I've seen the worst that America has to offer. And what I can tell you today, based on everything that we've seen and we've heard, Donald Trump is not the best that America has to offer.

At a time when people are struggling, they're hurting, they're suffering, they're afraid. Instead of coming up with solutions that will make people's lives better and improve the quality of life for Americans, Donald Trump is doing everything that he can to divide. He's a hater. He's a bigot and he's a racist.

[14:15:25] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Amen.

DEMINGS: And I've learned as a law enforcement to call it like I see it. We can do better. Just like Americans don't get a pass, we should not allow Donald Trump to get a pass on this issue. I watched Orlando. I was the police chief when President Obama was elected. And I saw people who've represented places from around the world celebrating his election. And you know why? Because it was representative that America and all that the promises that it holds had gotten closer to really living the American dream. And for this man, who has never, at least that I've seen, proven or done anything to really help anybody else, to delegitimize the first African-American president, to criticize him, to demand - the audacity - to demand that he show his papers, we can do better than that. And we're going to hold Donald Trump accountable.

Thank you so much.

MEEKS: Let me just conclude. This is - as many speakers have said, this is not an African-American issue. This is an American issue. And every American should be speaking up about this. Dr. King once said that if you are silent - if you are silent in times of need, then you're as guilty as the guilty person. This is an American issue that all must come to the forefront.

Let's just look at what the candidates have indicated. One comes with, let's make our country great again. When is he talking about? What period is he talking about? What is he talking about? Or is that a hidden message?

Some say let's take our country back. Back from who? The other candidate says, "we are stronger together." "We are stronger together." And what makes the United States of America the greatest country is that we accept and bring everybody together. That's the example that we want to show. We want to show that you can be of different ethnic backgrounds, you can be of different religions, you can come from different parts of the world and we can then come in a democratic society and live a better life and not demonize individuals as Donald Trump is.

So let us be stronger together and make this country a more perfect union. We can do that collectively by not walking, but by running to the polls on November 8th. Let's make sure that an individual who's not speaking American values, who is really saying deplorable things throughout this campaign does not make America look deplorable.

Thank you.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York, other members of the Congressional Black Caucus condemning Donald Trump by saying he owes the president of the United States an apology, saying this man, Donald Trump, is not fit to be president of the United States. Very, very strong words from several, several members of the Congressional Black Caucus. They've been meeting here in Washington all day.

Let's discuss what we just heard. Joining us now, our chief political correspondent Dana Bash, our chief political analyst Gloria Borger, and our senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny.

Gloria, if - if Donald Trump thought by uttering the words "President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period," that that would end this uproar over the whole birther issue, he was obviously flatly wrong.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, he was - he was mistaken. I think that what the people we just heard from would have wanted to hear is at least an apology and at least an admission that it had been a mistake. As I said earlier, you know, you just can't put an end to history in a sentence. And I think that there's a long history here with Donald Trump and the birther question. And what we just were witnessing from the Congressional Black Caucus was a plea to African-American voters to get out there and vote. And so this has had the opposite effect that Donald Trump really would have wanted because in many ways - and I think that's what they're hoping and that's what Hillary Clinton is hoping, is that this will be a base motivator to come out there and support Hillary Clinton. [14:20:18] DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: And let me

just give you a specific example to back up what Gloria just said. I interviewed John Kasich, the governor of Ohio yesterday. No fan of Donald Trump, but knows his state very well, which elections turn on, particularly for Republican presidents. And I asked if Donald Trump can win. And his answer was, Hillary Clinton has a big problem with her base, particularly in urban areas where Democrats traditionally rely on the black vote. They're just not excited.

Guess what? This particular issue that happened last night and this morning was supposed to help with that for Donald Trump. And I think it seems to have done the opposite. At least it looks like that's the goal of these black leaders, to say, never mind not being excited for Hillary Clinton, put that aside, have intensity against the Republican because you don't want this guy in the White House.

BLITZER: Because if Hillary Clinton's going to be elected, she really has to recreate that base, that coalition that Barack Obama put together in 2008 and 2012.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: She does, indeed. And Dana's absolutely right, in Ohio, the three c's, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, that is the key to a Democratic victory there. And I can tell you, Wolf, just talking to Democrats already in the last couple of hours, Donald Trump has been able to do something that the Clinton campaign has struggled to do, really, A, focus Democrats' attention on this race.

One of the reasons President Obama's approval rating has climbed to a 58 percent and, at least in "The Washington Post" poll probably a little high, is because that voters aren't thrilled with their choices now. This is going to be about, A, President Obama's legacy, but also keep Donald Trump out of the White House. So I think that he unwittingly has fired up Democrats. And it's also happening on an interesting weekend in Washington.

We see all the - the black leaders meeting there. It's the Congressional Black Caucus weekend, which is a major event where African-American leaders from across the country, members of community, churches and others, are here in town watching all this happening. They'll be taking that message back. The president and Secretary Clinton will be speaking there tomorrow night. They will have the opportunity to address this, frame this, and there are only, what, seven weeks left. So I think this is an inopportune time for Donald Trump to finally make this statement here. His campaign has sort of exploded something that they didn't realize today I think by awakening this as times of voter registration is coming up right now.

BASH: Early voting.

ZELENY: Early voting. This is - if he was going to do this, I'm not sure on September 16th was the best time to do it.

BORGER: You know, I wouldn't necessarily honestly blame this on the campaign people. I would have to say this is Donald Trump. There's not a campaign advisor I know who would say, go out there and just say one sentence and that will be it. I mean I do believe that they released a statement last night. Clearly, that wasn't enough. It wasn't satisfactory. Donald Trump knew he had to say something, but a sentence on this -

ZELENY: The point is that it wasn't cleared up by this point.

BORGER: No, but it was made worse.

ZELENY: And had he not said this to "The Washington Post" on Wednesday night, a very good reporter Bob Costa -

BORGER: Right.

ZELENY: This, you know, you know, enlightened it all again.

BASH: (INAUDIBLE).

BORGER: Exactly. Exactly.

BLITZER: Yes, it certainly did.

All right, guys, everyone stand by because we're going to continue our special coverage.

But that's it for me at least this hour. I'll be back 5:00 p.m. Eastern in "The Situation Room." Right after the break, Hillary Clinton's campaign press secretary is about to join Brooke Baldwin live. He has a lot to say about what Donald Trump said today. That and much more right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:28:13] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, I'm Brooke Baldwin and this is CNN.

Let's talk about today, a day that will go down in campaign history for all the wrong reasons. We begin with Donald Trump's concession speech, all 61 words of it. The Republican nominee finally admitting, after years of pushing a deceptive conspiracy theory, that President Obama, indeed, was born in the U.S. But did Trump apologize? Nope. Did he explain why he changed his mind? No. Did he falsely blame Hillary Clinton for starting the rumor in the first place? Yes, he did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. I finished it. You know what I mean. President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period. Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again. Thank you. Thank you very much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: All right, let's do some fact checking. Fact check number one, Hillary Clinton did not start this birther lie, nor did anyone in her campaign. Fact check number two, Donald Trump did not, as he claim, quote, "finish it." In fact, Donald Trump has been called the birther in chief and had it not been for his wholehearted embrace here of this fallacy, it might have stayed where it belonged, in the land of the fringe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: You are not allowed to be a president if you're not born in this country. He may not have been born in this country.

Why doesn't he show his birth certificate? And you know what, I wish he would.

A lot of facts are emerging and I'm starting to wonder myself whether or not he was born in this country.

[14:30:00] So perhaps it's going say Hawaii. Perhaps it's going to say Kenya.

Last week somebody came out with a very strong statement saying that he stated himself that he was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia.