CNN Town Halls & Debates

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John Kasich - Republican Town Hall, Wisconsin Mar 30, 2016

Show notes

“Maybe I won’t answer it either," John Kasich joked of the question to all three candidates tonight about whether they stand behind everyone's previous pledges to support the eventual GOP nominee. He said he has "respect for people that are in the arena" but added that he's been "disturbed" by some of what he's seen on the campaign trail. “I don’t want to be political here: I’ve got to see what happens," he said, leaving unstated his feelings on Donald Trump.A voter asked John Kasich why he expanded Medicaid in his state under the Obamacare law and why he went along with the Washington solution. A visibily annoyed Kasich vigorously defended his decision, saying it helps get drug addicts off the streets among other benefits. “It’s not so simple what Gov. Walker did here,” Kasich said. He touted his Milwaukee Journal Sentinel endorsement today and said when he was in Congress as well as in Ohio, he helped pass a balanced budget. “We don’t put our budget together with scotch tape and baling wire," Kasich said. “I reject Obamacare. ... I actually have a solid health careplan to replace Obamacare.” As for that national surplus? “Guess who spent it? The Republicans," Kasich said. “Sir, you have to stand in the breach when you’re the leader."“Of course it’s not, that’s absurd," John Kasich said, saying NATO has an additional role of "policing and intelligence gathering" now.

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Donald Trump - Republican Town Hall, Wisconsin Mar 30, 2016

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Donald Trump was asked about a farming economy that relies on immigrants to fill jobs that there aren't enough Americans to fill. “People will be able to come in legally," Trump said, ignoring the part of the question about keeping the labor force that's already in place. “We’re going to let people come in, but they’re going to come in legally," Trump said. “It’s going to work beautifully, you’re not going to be affected.”Donald Trump sounded an oddly empathetic tone on explaining why he doesn't expect his former opponents to support him if he's the nominee. Starting with Ted Cruz. “I watched how tormented he was with that question," Trump said, referring to Cruz earlier in the town hall ducking whether he would back Trump if he were the nominee. "I don’t want him to be tormented. I don’t want his support, I don’t need his support, I want him to be comfortable.” Trump said the same goes for other candidates, like Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who endorsed Cruz. “I drove him out of the race, I drove Jeb Bush out of the race, I drove Rand Paul out of the race: I understand why they don’t like me," Trump said.And he said he doesn't care if Ted Cruz does either. “No, I won’t," Donald Trump said when asked if he would keep the promise to back the eventual nominee. "(Cruz) was essentially saying the same thing. He doesn’t have to support me.” Trump repeated that he doesn't believe he's being treated "fairly" by the GOP and the Republican establishment.CNN PoliticsMarch 29, 2016 9:31pm 0Share Trump dodges question about protecting minorities Donald Trump got a question from Brian James Murphy, a police officer who was shot responding to the shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. He asked about a backlash against minority religious groups, saying, “This in turn brings about things that cause damage all over.” He added that “99% of the men in the United States who wear turbans are actually Sikh and not Muslim. How would you suggest we educate the public" about minorities and protecting constitutional rights? he asked. “We have a tremendous problem with radical Islam," Trump responded, not directly answering the question. He stood behind his call for a temporary ban on all foreign Muslims entering the country and implied that President Barack Obama was not a Christian, as he is. “We have a president who won’t talk about (radical Islam), why he won’t talk about it, perhaps only he knows,” Trump said. “We have to be very tough," Trump reiterated. Responding to a follow-up from CNN's Anderson Cooper about protecting minorities, Trump simply said: “I want to do that, but we have to recognize we have a very serious problem” with terrorists.

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Ted Cruz - Republican Town Hall, Wisconsin Mar 30, 2016

Show notes

First question. on the criminal charge of battery on a member of trumps team Second. Do you see a path to getting the necessary delegates for the nomination Third. What does it mean to "patrol and secure" muslim neighborhoods? Fourth. What proof do you have that Trump and his people planted those allegation in the national enquirer Fifth. How and why does your religion play a part in your decision-making? Sixth. Would you send a large number of W.S. forces to Syria to obliterate ISIS and send a clear message? seventh. What do you see as your greatest personal failure and what dud you learn from it? eighth. Should you hold yourself to a higher standard and stop the name-calling between you and Trump? ninth. What are your short and long term solutions to keep our Latino work force? tenth. Do you still pledge yo support the GOP nominee, no matter who it is? Eleventh. How would you ensure America is not blindly attacked by terrorists, while maintaining our privacy? twelfth. What are you doing to convince women you are the right candidate to vote for? thirteenth. Do you support stronger opioid prescription guideline at V.A. hospitals and across the country? fourteenth. What will you do to ensure there are qualified manufactured workers in the U.S.

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Bernie Sanders One-On-One With Anderson Cooper Mar 22, 2016

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Bernie Sanders opened his appearance by satellite from Salt Lake City, Utah, by explaining that he didn't snub AIPAC by being the only current White House hopeful not to address the group Monday, saying it was merely a question of scheduling. He called for the United States to work with both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said Israel should have the right to defend itself but warned conditions in the Palestinian-ruled Gaza Strip need to be mitigated, and that people are contending with high unemployment and "horrific" poverty there. Still, Sanders said he was "not happy ... with some of the behavior" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the Israeli leader's decision to accept an invitation to address the U.S. Congress about the Iran nuclear deal without notifying the White House. Sanders backed Obama's Cuba diplomacy and hinted that it would be proper for Cuban leader Raul Castro to visit the White House.

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Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton One-On-One Mar 22, 2016

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Donald Trump said the U.S. should rethink its involvement in NATO because the defense alliance costs too much money. In remarks to CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Trump said the U.S. pays a disproportionate amount to NATO to ensure the security of allies. "Frankly, they have to put up more money," he said. "We are paying disproportionately. It's too much, and frankly it's a different world than it was when we originally conceived of the idea." For instance, Trump said Washington was "taking care" of Ukraine and that other European nations were not doing enough to support the Kiev government that has been locked in a long showdown with Moscow. Donald Trump unveils foreign policy advisers But Ukraine is not a member of NATO, and Washington is not providing arms to the government as it is fighting pro-Moscow rebels, though has provided nonlethal aid and has helped support international bailouts of the Ukrainian economy. Later in the interview, Trump qualified his remarks saying that the U.S. should not "decrease its role" in NATO but should decrease its spending. Still, the Republican presidential front-runner's NATO comments could spur anxiety among the Western foreign policy establishment. Hillary Clinton stepped up her attacks on Trump's character and behavior as she makes a case that he is not fit to be commander in chief -- an argument likely to form the centerpiece of the Democratic Party's assault if he becomes the Republican nominee. "He has been engaging in bigotry and bluster and bullying, and I think when it comes to understanding what he would do as president, there are serious questions that have been raised, and this campaign should he be the nominee will have to address them," Clinton told CNN's Anderson Cooper. The former secretary of state accused Trump of inciting violence and urging supporters to go after protesters in a way that she said "raises very serious questions." Asked whether Trump would behave differently as president, Clinton answered "Who knows?"

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Hillary Clinton - Democratic Town Hall, Ohio Mar 14, 2016

Show notes

Hillary Clinton accuses Donald Trump of 'political arson'. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both accused Donald Trump of inciting violence, with the former secretary of state calling him "bigoted" and alleging he had perpetrated "political arson," while the Vermont senator labeled him a "pathological liar" at a town hall on Sunday night. "It is clear that Donald Trump is running a very cynical campaign pitting groups of Americans against one another. He is trafficking in hate and fear," Cinton said during the event at Ohio State University hosted by CNN and TV One. "He actually incites violence in the way he urges his audience on, talking about punching people, offering to pay legal bills." Clinton charged that Trump was guilty of a case of "political arson" by throwing fuel on political divisions in the country. "He has been incredibly bigoted towards so many groups," she continued. "You don't make America great by tearing down everything that made America great." Clinton followed Sanders at the town hall moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper and TV One's Roland Martin. Sanders and Clinton are making closing arguments to voters in their increasingly contentious Democratic nominating marathon, two days before five states vote in crucial primaries that could set the tone for the rest of the contest.

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Bernie Sanders - Democratic Town Hall, Ohio Mar 14, 2016

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Bernie Sanders on Sunday slammed Donald Trump as a "pathological liar" who is "inciting violence" as Sanders kicked off a town hall duel with Hillary Clinton.

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Hour 1: GOP Republican Debate in Florida Mar 10, 2016

Show notes

Donald Trump to GOP establishment: 'Embrace what's happening'. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump opened the CNN debate here Thursday by calling on his party leadership to "accept" what is happening in the 2016 election. Trump, who is dominating the GOP primary season, said his campaign has spurred unprecedented enthusiasm and turnout. "The Republican establishment, or whatever you want to call it, should embrace what's happening," Trump said. A week after the last raucous Republican debate at which Trump boasted about the size of his manhood, Thursday's forum struck softer tones -- at least initially. Personal insults that dominated previous debates were largely absent, replaced instead by a policy-oriented discussion on issues including immigration and Social Security. "So far, I can't believe how civil it's been up here," Trump quipped. Trump addressed an issue that has tripped him up in the past: H-1B visas that encourage legal immigration for high-skilled workers. He called the program "very, very bad for workers," but in the same breath, acknowledged that he uses it in his hiring practices. "I know the H-1B very well. I use it. I shouldn't be allowed to use it," Trump said, adding that the program should simply not exist. Trump or Cruz? GOP leaders shake their heads, prepare to choose Trump and three other White House hopefuls at the debate are heading into a week that could alter the course of the 2016 election. Trump is at his usual spot at center stage. With a sizeable lead in the delegate race, the New York billionaire holds the best chance of clinching the Republican Party's nomination. To his left is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who -- bolstered by his recent primary victories -- is urgently pleading with the party to help him defeat Trump. Marco Rubio and John Kasich may have the most to gain or lose. Both have had a disappointing few months and badly trail in the delegate path. Next Tuesday, each man will face the voters of their respective home states of Florida and Ohio. For both candidates, losing those contests would likely be the death knell for their campaigns. The outcomes in Florida and Ohio will be critical in shaping the course of the GOP race. A Fox News poll released Wednesday showed Kasich with a narrow lead ahead of Trump in Ohio; in Florida, Trump was well ahead of Rubio. Ted Cruz's challenge: uniting Republicans against Trump If this poll bears out and Kasich is able to eke out a win in Ohio, that could suddenly make him the establishment favorite and earn him fresh support from party leaders and donors uncomfortable with the idea of Trump or Cruz becoming the nominee. If Trump, as he is predicting, wins both Florida and Ohio and picks up the 165 delegates that are at stake in the two winner-take-all states, his candidacy would turn into a runaway train.

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Hour 2: GOP Republican Debate in Florida Mar 10, 2016

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Hour 1: Democratic Debate in Flint, Michigan Mar 06, 2016

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Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders angrily clashed over auto industry bailouts, guns and ties to Wall Street on Sunday, as underlying tensions in the Democratic presidential race burst into the open at an impassioned CNN debate in Flint, Michigan.

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