Mornings on the Mall
Thursday July 21, 2016
Hosts: Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor
5am – A/B/C
Cruz booed after refusing to endorse Trump
Teddy SchleiferStephen Collinson Profile
By Theodore Schleifer and Stephen Collinson, CNN
Ted Cruz sensationally withheld an endorsement of Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention Wednesday, earning a chorus of boos from the floor before he was upstaged in a power play by the GOP nominee himself. In a dramatic development, as Cruz wrapped up his speech, Trump suddenly appeared in the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. He walked to join his family in a VIP area and flashed a thumbs-up — a gesture that transmitted clear anger at the Texas senator’s behavior.
Cruz, his party’s runner-up, uttered Trump’s name just once — to congratulate him — and instead pitched the ideological brand of conservatism that endears him to the GOP’s base.
“I congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night,” Cruz said. “And like each of you, I want to see the principles that our party believes prevail in November.”
But as it was clear Cruz was going to end his speech without endorsing Trump, delegates began to boo and some chanted “We want Trump!”
“Don’t stay home in November,” Cruz said toward the end of his otherwise very well-received speech. “Stand and speak and vote your conscience.”
As delegates began to protest, Sen. Cruz’s wife, Heidi Cruz, was heckled by Trump supporters shouting “Goldman Sachs!” and escorted out by security. Heidi Cruz, who is an employee of Goldman Sachs, declined to answer questions from reporters, saying, “I don’t talk to the media, thanks.”
The stunning political theater between the top two contenders in the Republican primary race blew open divisions in the party that the convention is designed to heal, and suggested Cruz believes Trump will lose in November.
Cruz’s appearance at the Cleveland convention had been the subject of intense anticipation over his attitude toward Trump, after their intensely personal exchanges in the late stages of the primary race.
He got a prolonged standing ovation as he walked on stage for a speech that appeared to be an attempt to establish himself as the guardian of conservative values that some activists doubt Trump shares.
5am – D INTERVIEW: AMANDA CARPENTER –Former Cruz communications director.
5am – E
Court Strikes Down Texas Voter ID Law — What’s Next?
JULY 20, 2016 / by SARAH CHILDRESS Senior Digital Reporter, FRONTLINE Enterprise Journalism Group
A sign lists voter ID requirements for the primary election in Arlington, Texas, in March 2016. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
A federal appeals court ruled against Texas’ voter ID law on Wednesday, knocking down what was considered the most restrictive law of its kind in the country.
It’s not yet clear what the rules will be for voters going to the polls in Texas this year. What is certain, however, is that the law in its current state cannot remain in effect for the 2016 presidential election.
The appeals court determined that in passing a discriminatory law, the state violated section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It also ordered a district court to consider whether lawmakers did so intentionally, which could force the state to once again submit to oversight of its voting laws.
The decision comes as voters in nine other states will face more restrictive ID requirements at the polls than in the last presidential election.
Voting rights advocates hailed the Texas decision, which upheld a previous federal district court ruling, as a major step forward. “This is an amazing outcome. It’s a justified outcome. It’s a deserved outcome,” said Myrna Perez, deputy director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s democracy program. “My hope is that this puts this issue to rest so the voters of Texas are able to vote without having to deal with a discriminatory and burdensome law.”
In a statement, Texas’ attorney general Ken Paxton said that it was “imperative” that the state ensures the integrity of elections. “Preventing voter fraud is essential to accurately reflecting the will of Texas voters during elections, and it is unfortunate that this common-sense law, providing protections against fraud, was not upheld in its entirety,” he said.
Texas’ law allowed seven forms of valid state or federal ID, and no exceptions for those who lacked an ID or the underlying documents, such as a birth certificate, to obtain one.
According to the federal district court, about 600,000 registered voters did not have an ID that would be acceptable under the new law — and a disproportionate number were black or Latino.
That included people like Floyd Carrier, an 83-year-old African-American man who was turned away at the polls despite having a veteran’s card, voter registration card and an expired driver’s license. Carrier was born in a rural area and didn’t have a birth certificate to obtain a new state-issued voter ID. In his small town of 1,160, the poll workers knew Carrier, but had to deny him a ballot. Carrier’s son, Calvin, testified in court that he has tried to obtain a birth certificate for his father, picking up the cost, but the old records have clerical errors that render the document unusable.
The Brennan Center further estimated that up to 1.2 million eligible residents — those who are not currently registered but might vote in the future — lacked a proper ID.
The federal appeals court considered whether the district court was right to rule that the law had a discriminatory effect, and whether it was passed with discriminatory intent.
The court determined that the law did have a discriminatory effect, and it ordered the district court to fix it. That means deciding on a new voter ID process that doesn’t put an undue burden on blacks and Latinos and educating the public on how they’ll vote from now on — and in time for elections this year.
But it left it to the district court to weigh whether lawmakers had a discriminatory intent in passing the law. That might not be decided until after the election. It’s a serious question. If the district court finds this is the case, Texas could be forced to submit any voting-law changes to the federal government for approval — as it previously did under a provision of the Voting Rights Act.
Texas has been fighting to implement its voter ID law for the past five years. It first passed the law in 2011, but it was blocked by the Justice Department on the grounds that it was discriminatory, in violation of the Voting Rights Act. Texas appealed, and in 2012 the law was struck down by a federal court in Washington, D.C. The court found that it would have a disproportionate, discriminatory effect on black and Latino voters.
One year later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the provision of the Voting Rights Act that forced states to submit their laws for pre-clearance to the Justice Department. Texas’ then-attorney general and now governor, Greg Abbott, said its voter ID law would take effect “immediately.”
In 2014, a coalition of civil-rights groups, including the Texas NAACP and the state’s Mexican-American Legislative Caucus, as well as the Brennan Center, challenged the law in court. A federal judge ruled that the law was discriminatory, akin to a poll tax.
But Texas appealed, and an appeals court panel allowed the law to remain in effect for the 2014 midterm elections while the decision was considered.
On Wednesday, the full federal appeals court ruled that the district court’s findings that the law is discriminatory were correct, and in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
While it found no “direct” evidence that the law was passed with an intent to discriminate, those who drafted and supported the law were “aware of the likely disproportionate effect of the law on minorities” — but tabled resolutions that would have mitigated those effects, the court said in its decision.
The court also scrutinized the way the law was defended and passed. Texas’ main reason for introducing the voter ID law has been to prevent in-person voter fraud, for which there have been only two convictions in the decade leading up to the bill’s passage. The appeals court noted that in the past, Texas lawmakers had defended racially discriminatory voting policies, such as all-white primaries and poll taxes, as a way to prevent voter fraud.
The court said there was evidence to suggest lawmakers were taking a similar approach here, noting that they took special steps to move the bill forward. Among them: then-Gov. Rick Perry designed the bill as emergency legislation so that it would move to the top of the legislative session. The bill was also allowed to bypass the ordinary committee process. Debate was cut, and the rule requiring two-thirds of votes was suspended. The bill was also passed without verifying the costs despite a $27 million budget shortfall.
“Such treatment was virtually unprecedented,” the court said. It added, “There remains evidence to support a finding that the cloak of ballot integrity could be hiding a more invidious purpose.”
6am – A/B/C
Cruz booed after refusing to endorse Trump
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — a former presidential candidate and now a Trump backer — blasted Cruz’s speech in an interview with Bash.
“I think it was awful,” Christie said. “And quite frankly, I think it was something selfish. And he signed a pledge. And it’s his job to keep his word.”
Trump lawyer Michael Cohen said on CNN that “the only way to describe it is political suicide.”
A source close to Cruz said the senator wasn’t shocked by the mood after the speech.
“He expected people to not approve,” the source said. “Not surprised at the reaction.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who accepted the nomination as Trump’s vice presidential nominee at the end of Wednesday’s session, sidestepped when asked about Cruz’s speech.
“I am just grateful for all the support we are receiving and I am excited about the future,” Pence said.
Eric Trump’s reaction: “The audience didn’t seem to like it right?”
Asked about the impact of the non-endorsement, Eric Trump responded, “I don’t think it makes any difference in the world.”
Hillary Clinton’s campaign seized on Cruz’s speech as well, tweeting: “Vote your conscience” with a link to her website.
6am – D INTERVIEW: Florida Governor Rick Scott
6am – E
Cleveland Police: Protester Lights Himself On Fire While Trying To Burn American Flag
July 20, 2016 8:30 PM
CLEVELAND (CBSNewYork/AP) — Police arrested 17 people Wednesday after a melee broke out during a flag-burning in the streets outside the Republican National Convention.
It was the most turbulent protest since the four-day convention began on Monday. The chaos briefly prevented delegates and members of the media from getting into the Quicken Loans Arena for the night’s proceedings.
“Right now, I think so far, so good,” Police Chief Calvin Williams said Wednesday night. “We’re still out there, we’re still vigilant, to make sure we finish this day and the last day tomorrow on a positive note.”
Among those arrested was Gregory “Joey” Johnson, whose torching of the flag at a GOP convention three decades ago led to the landmark 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said flag-burning is speech protected by the First Amendment.
Moments after the flag was set on fire, officers charged in to put it out with an extinguishing spray that some in the crowd thought was pepper spray because of similarities in the design of the canisters and the eye irritation caused by the fire-suppression substance.
Firefighters extinguished and took the flag that protesters attempted to destroy
“You’re on fire! You’re on fire, stupid!” a Cleveland officer shouted at a protester while firing the extinguishing spray.
Protestor lit flag on fire, then lit himself on fire, catching others on fire. Flames extinguished by firefighters. No serious injuries.
“Burn that rag! Burn that rag!” supporters of the group yelled.
Police also said two officers were assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
Two officers assaulted. Minor injuries.
Officers, some wearing riot helmets, yelled at the crowd to move back as the flag-burning group locked arms. Williams was one of several officers in the middle of the crowd, trying to keep order.
Police used their horses to create a path to a van for people being detained.
Carl Dix, a representative of Revolutionary Communist Party, said the group organized the burning of the American flag as a “political statement about the crimes of the American empire. There’s nothing great about America.”
The skirmish erupted just outside an entrance to the arena and near a row of popular restaurants where cable news networks had set up for the week.
Some in the crowd jeered the officers, yelling, “Blue lives murder!”
About 10 more minutes passed before the crowd was under control.
One man who was in handcuffs stood in the street with his shirt pulled above his shoulders. A woman in a torn shirt also was led away in handcuffs.
Earlier, blocks away from the arena, a right-wing religious group lifted a banner reading “Jesus is angry with you sinners,” while kissing lesbians mocked their message, helping turn Cleveland’s Public Square into part-carnival, part-debate floor.
The expansive square was a free-flowing mix of ideas and beliefs along with colorful characters pounding on bongos and wailing on a sousaphone.
The day’s demonstrations started with a few dozen people holding banners printed with a red-brick design and forming a human wall to mock Donald Trump’s plan to seal off the Mexican border.
“We want to wall off the hate of Trump,” said Tim Chavez, of Columbus.
A half-dozen Trump supporters defended the GOP nominee from attacks by immigration activists.
Police officers used bicycles and their bodies to separate those with opposing views.
Jesse Gonzalez, of Lakewood, a Cleveland suburb, carried a rifle on Public Square while wearing a camouflage-style “Make America Great Again” hat.
“I’m out here to illustrate that not all gun owners, if any or very few, are irresponsible or uneducated,” he said.
The city’s police chief said he spent three hours Tuesday evening riding with bicycle officers on patrol and that he waded into one confrontation because he’s “still a police officer.”
Williams said he plans to show up wherever there are “issues” during the convention.
As of Tuesday evening, police said five people had been arrested since the start of the convention.
That includes one person accused of trying to steal a state trooper’s gas mask and three people charged with climbing flagpoles at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and hanging an anti-Trump banner.
7am – A Recap Day 3 of RNC
7am –B/C INTERVIEW: Ken Klukowski- Breitbart Legal Editor / Indiana Native
7am – D/E INTERVIEW : Byron York
8am – A INTERVIEW: Diamond and Silk – Youtube Vloggers
8am-B/C INTERVIEW: Mary Katherine Ham- CNN Contributor
8am – D INTERVIEW: Jake Tapper – CNN Correspondent
8am – E
Cleveland Police: Protester Lights Himself On Fire While Trying To Burn American Flag
July 20, 2016 8:30 PM
CLEVELAND (CBSNewYork/AP) — Police arrested 17 people Wednesday after a melee broke out during a flag-burning in the streets outside the Republican National Convention.
It was the most turbulent protest since the four-day convention began on Monday. The chaos briefly prevented delegates and members of the media from getting into the Quicken Loans Arena for the night’s proceedings.
“Right now, I think so far, so good,” Police Chief Calvin Williams said Wednesday night. “We’re still out there, we’re still vigilant, to make sure we finish this day and the last day tomorrow on a positive note.”
Among those arrested was Gregory “Joey” Johnson, whose torching of the flag at a GOP convention three decades ago led to the landmark 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said flag-burning is speech protected by the First Amendment.
Moments after the flag was set on fire, officers charged in to put it out with an extinguishing spray that some in the crowd thought was pepper spray because of similarities in the design of the canisters and the eye irritation caused by the fire-suppression substance.
Firefighters extinguished and took the flag that protesters attempted to destroy
“You’re on fire! You’re on fire, stupid!” a Cleveland officer shouted at a protester while firing the extinguishing spray.
Protestor lit flag on fire, then lit himself on fire, catching others on fire. Flames extinguished by firefighters. No serious injuries.
“Burn that rag! Burn that rag!” supporters of the group yelled.
Police also said two officers were assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
Two officers assaulted. Minor injuries.
Officers, some wearing riot helmets, yelled at the crowd to move back as the flag-burning group locked arms. Williams was one of several officers in the middle of the crowd, trying to keep order.
Police used their horses to create a path to a van for people being detained.
Carl Dix, a representative of Revolutionary Communist Party, said the group organized the burning of the American flag as a “political statement about the crimes of the American empire. There’s nothing great about America.”
The skirmish erupted just outside an entrance to the arena and near a row of popular restaurants where cable news networks had set up for the week.
Some in the crowd jeered the officers, yelling, “Blue lives murder!”
About 10 more minutes passed before the crowd was under control.
One man who was in handcuffs stood in the street with his shirt pulled above his shoulders. A woman in a torn shirt also was led away in handcuffs.
Earlier, blocks away from the arena, a right-wing religious group lifted a banner reading “Jesus is angry with you sinners,” while kissing lesbians mocked their message, helping turn Cleveland’s Public Square into part-carnival, part-debate floor.
The expansive square was a free-flowing mix of ideas and beliefs along with colorful characters pounding on bongos and wailing on a sousaphone.
The day’s demonstrations started with a few dozen people holding banners printed with a red-brick design and forming a human wall to mock Donald Trump’s plan to seal off the Mexican border.
“We want to wall off the hate of Trump,” said Tim Chavez, of Columbus.
A half-dozen Trump supporters defended the GOP nominee from attacks by immigration activists.
Police officers used bicycles and their bodies to separate those with opposing views.
Jesse Gonzalez, of Lakewood, a Cleveland suburb, carried a rifle on Public Square while wearing a camouflage-style “Make America Great Again” hat.
“I’m out here to illustrate that not all gun owners, if any or very few, are irresponsible or uneducated,” he said.
The city’s police chief said he spent three hours Tuesday evening riding with bicycle officers on patrol and that he waded into one confrontation because he’s “still a police officer.”
Williams said he plans to show up wherever there are “issues” during the convention.
As of Tuesday evening, police said five people had been arrested since the start of the convention.
That includes one person accused of trying to steal a state trooper’s gas mask and three people charged with climbing flagpoles at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and hanging an anti-Trump banner.
