On Wednesday, CNN's New Day touted Donald Trump becoming the apparent Republican presidential nominee, but quickly spotlighted many of the most controversial components of his campaign. David Gregory trumpeted the "incredible accomplishment for Donald Trump," but soon added that the billionaire is "an incredibly divisive figure — huge negatives, toxic policy proposals." The Daily Beast's Jackie Kucinich later asserted, "I don't think Donald Trump ditches the ridiculous. I don't think it's in him to cast aside conspiracy theories, because...it plays well to the people that like him." [video below]
Alisyn Camerota and fill-in anchor John Berman turned to Kucinich, CNN political analyst Gregory, and correspondent Maeve Reston for their reaction to Trump's victory in Indiana and Ted Cruz suspending his campaign. Camerota first underlined that "this wild ride started when Donald Trump came onto the national stage with this crazy — some people thought in the media — announcement; and here we are." She continued that "what started out as a vanity project is now a reality. So what a remarkable day, David."
Gregory replied with his "incredible accomplishment" phrase, and pointed out that "it was a very accomplished Republican field that he simply blew away; and capping it off in Indiana. And he now controls the Republican Party, as the presumptive nominee, as an incredibly divisive figure — huge negatives, toxic policy proposals." The former NBC journalist listed what he meant by "toxic:"
DAVID GREGORY: Let's remember: this is still a candidate who believes that Barack Obama, the President of the United States, was not born in America. He is a birther. He says that President Bush, a Republican president, lied to the country about Iraq. He wants to ban Muslims from the country. He wants to mass deport 12 million illegal immigrants. It's quite a mix in our Republican nominee for the country.
Berman then interjected, "But it's history, right? The first non-politician since Dwight Eisenhower; the first business person since Wendell Willkie."
Later in the segment, Camerota again turned to Gregory, and noted that "it was just a week ago that Ted Cruz named his running mate, Carly Fiorina...what happened? I mean, he was saying that even if he didn't win Indiana, he was going to go on and he was going to deny Trump the 1237 [delegates]. Then, this precipitous suspension or dropping out last night." The analyst returned to his mixed analysis about Trump: "Donald Trump has been pitch perfect about a very clear message — about economic malaise, people being left out of even economic recovery....The question is, where does he get the rest of the party to unite around him — on what issues?...Hard to see where he brings people together."
Berman acknowledged how "people worried about the economy...voted for Donald Trump" and wondered, "Jackie...can he keep it focused there and not on...Ted Cruz's father...being in a picture with Lee Harvey Oswald? I mean, there's the ridiculous; and then, there's...the focus that voters want to see." Kucinich responded, in part, with her "I don't think it's in him to cast aside conspiracy theories" line.
The transcript of the relevant portions of the panel discussion segment from CNN's New Day on May 4, 2016:
ALISYN CAMEROTA: Guys, 11 months ago, this wild ride started when Donald Trump came onto the national stage with this crazy — some people thought in the media — announcement; and here we are.
DAVID GREGORY, HOST, "THE DAVID GREGORY SHOW" PODCAST: Who predicted this? (panelists laugh)
CAMEROTA: The media did not predict this. I mean, they thought that — what started out as a vanity project is now a reality. So what a remarkable day, David.
GREGORY: It's an incredible day; an incredible accomplishment for Donald Trump, who is the ultimate outsider in an outsider year, an anti-establishment year. What he's done is remarkable. It was a very accomplished Republican field that he simply blew away; and capping it off in Indiana. And he now controls the Republican Party, as the presumptive nominee, as an incredibly divisive figure — huge negatives, toxic policy proposals.
Let's remember: this is still a candidate who believes that Barack Obama, the President of the United States, was not born in America. He is a birther. He says that President Bush, a Republican president, lied to the country about Iraq. He wants to ban Muslims from the country. He wants to mass deport 12 million illegal immigrants. It's quite a mix in our Republican nominee for the country.
BERMAN: But it's history, right? The first non-politician since Dwight Eisenhower; the first business person since Wendell Willkie.
(...)
CAMEROTA: David, it was just a week ago that Ted Cruz named his running mate, Carly Fiorina. What was the precipitous — what happened? I mean, he was saying that even if he didn't win Indiana, he was going to go on and he was going to deny Trump the 1237 [delegates]. Then, this precipitous suspension or dropping out last night.
GREGORY: You know, I go back to what I think is the — the bold stroke here in analysis of this race — which is Donald Trump is the ultimate anti-establishment figure in an anti-establishment year. Ted Cruz had support that was way too narrow. If you look at all of these states, beyond the evangelical Christians — his, kind of, core base within the Republican Party — he really didn't have much traction. I think he was arguing a lot of social issues in Indiana. when we see from the exit polls that the economy was the huge issue.
Donald Trump has been pitch perfect about a very clear message — about economic malaise, people being left out of even economic recovery. That's where he's been — he's been so strong; and he was in Indiana again. The question is, where does he get the rest of the party to unite around him — on what issues — right? Whether it's the economy — he's anti-trade. He bucks the Republican Party — on foreign affairs. He certainly does on immigration — he does. Hard to see where he brings people together.
JOHN BERMAN: We actually have a new poll out. We haven't talked about it yet this morning, but I'm pretty sure I'm not breaking the embargo — which actually says there's one issue right now where Donald Trump is leading Hillary Clinton on — and it is the economy—
DAVID GREGORY: Yeah—
BERMAN: Donald Trump is leading Hillary Clinton on the issue of the economy. The trade issue is one that played big in Indiana. It's one that Bernie Sanders is using against Hillary Clinton—
GREGORY: Sure—
BERMAN: Is that something you see in the exit polls — you know, people worried about the economy — they voted for Donald Trump. I mean, Jackie, is this — you know, can he keep it focused there and not on — you know, Ted Cruz's father — you know, being in a picture with Lee Harvey Oswald? I mean, there's the ridiculous; and then, there's — you know, the focus that voters want to see.
[CNN Graphic: "Indiana: Very Worried About U.S. Economy (R): Trump, 54%; Cruz, 37%; Kasich, 6%; Indiana: Trade With Other Countries (D): Creates U.S. Jobs, 39%; Takes Away U.S. Jobs, 47%; Does Not Affect Jobs, 10%; CNN Exit Poll"]
JACKIE KUCINICH, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THE DAILY BEAST: Yeah. I don't think Donald Trump ditches the ridiculous. I don't think it's in him to cast aside conspiracy theories, because that is — it plays well to the people that like him. So, I don't see that going away — particularly the people that he's surrounded himself with are — sort of, indulge in that sort of thing. He met with Ed Klein the other day who writes — you know, Hillary Clinton fan fiction.
BERMAN: Conspiracy theories—
KUCINICH: Conspiracy theories — yeah. So, you know, there's that. But the focus on the economy will be — that's why you see him co-opting Bernie Sanders's message in some ways. He actually cites Bernie Sanders, and that will likely continue as well.
