[Camerota:] Sources tell CNN there is a messy debate behind the scenes over how to deal with controversial comments by freshman Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The in-fighting has kept a resolution to condemn anti- Semitism off the House floor. So joining us now to talk about this and more, we have Andrew Gillum. He was the 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor and is now a CNN political commentator. Mayor, great to have you here.
[Andrew Gillum, Cnn Political Commentator:] Good to be with you. Good morning.
[Camerota:] Where are you with Congresswoman Omar's comments? What do you think should happen?
[Gillum:] Well, I mean, obviously, all of us reject anti-Semitism; and she does, as well, and says so in her own words. What I really find really baffling is that it has this controversy over anti-Semitic or not, has really allowed to cover over and paper over, I think, some otherwise legitimate questions that are fair to be raised. She talked about the power of special lobbying interests in Washington,
[D.c. Camerota:] But she used, as you know, some tropes and "It's all about the Benjamins, baby." And she said, you know, "Why do people have" I mean, I'm paraphrasing "allegiance to a foreign nation?" And those things perked people's antenna up.
[Gillum:] That's true.
[Camerota:] Because those sounded like anti-Semitic comments.
[Gillum:] Well, rightfully so. And I will tell you, I have visited Israel three times. I had a sister-city relationship with Israel, a city called Ramat HaSharon, when I was mayor of Tallahassee. My support for Israel had nothing to do with money but deeply held beliefs and a relationship. That being said, I do believe that it is fair for to us engage in a real conversation and debate around special interests' influence on U.S. foreign policy. I think it is appropriate for the Congress and for a member of Congress to talk about foreign policy in the U.S. relationship with other countries. I think that's that's wholly appropriate. The problem, however, is I think we've got to do a better job of not allowing the name calling to distract from what are, I think, important public policy debates. She's got to make atonement and make sure I'm sure she has figured this out there are some supporters of hers that she's angered through this process and people who have been hurt by it. And if her intention was not to do so, you have to govern your language much more appropriately. But the response by Democrats, in my
[Camerota:] Has she for the second for the second comment, has she apologized adequately?
[Gillum:] Well, I think so one of the things she ought do is, I think, make very clear what was being said there. Now, what I heard was that U.S. members of Congress are, first and foremost, loyal to the United States of America and U.S. interests. I think you can say that and at the same time be supportive of Israel.
[Berman:] Let's play exactly what she said here.
[Gillum:] Sure.
[Rep. Ilhan Omar , Minnesota:] I want to talk about I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.
[Berman:] So the issue here is, and I think you're 100 percent right, no one would disagree with the fact that there needs to be a way to discuss the decisions that are made in Israel, and U.S. foreign policy toward Israel, and whether the Israeli government is enacting the best policies without questioning the motivations of Americans
[Gillum:] Yes.
[Berman:] who are giving their support or not support for those policies here. And what Representative Omar did for a third time, depending on how you count it here, was talk about the motivations of Americans here.
[Gillum:] Yes.
[Berman:] And there are American Jews, particularly in Congress, who have said, look, you know, "Don't tell me that I'm not loyal primarily to the United States of America." This sounds like people when they were saying John Kennedy would be loyal to the pope and not to the U.S. Constitution. And it's the fact that this has now happened again and again that I think people are drawing attention to it.
[Gillum:] Sure. Well, I think what she said is that she believes that these are conversations that should be had. And I think
[Berman:] Which conversation? The Israeli policy or what motivates Americans?
[Gillum:] Well, I will tell you what motivates me. I don't fit into a category that says I'm motivated by anybody's money when it comes to my support for Israel. That set to the side, it is important that we be able to have a full public policy debate around the U.S. role in those areas. And as I said before, the congresswoman, if her intention is not to be harmful, to a constituency that I think she cares about, and an issue she cares about, then she will have to govern her language appropriately. I find it, however, a quite different reaction from what is happening right now in Congress as it relates to this resolution and the continued sort of pushing by members of Democratic leadership on a resolution
[Camerota:] You do think they need a resolution or no?
[Gillum:] I don't. And I will tell you, I think this ought to be a conversation that is happening within our party without a doubt. I just have to say, when you consider the comments that have been made by members of Congress, some of the anti-Semitic, some of the anti the Islamophobic, the LGBT, antiblackness comments that you've seen from my own member of Congress in my own state, Matt Gaetz, where has been the resolution on that? Where's been the kind of, I think, sanctioning that we're seeing in this conversation happening there? And I don't mean to say that by any means to excuse comments that have come off as hurtful to a particular part of our constituency but also our country. And we have to be respectful and responsive to that. But we cannot allow our critique of that to dissolve of what is a much more important and deeper public policy debate around how it is U.S. policy affects the world.
[Berman:] All right. Let's talk about Joe Biden, because Joe Biden is talking about Joe Biden, perhaps getting in the 2020 political case. And Steve Ricchetti, who's his main political guy, calling people, telling them he's at 95 percent. You are part of the young new guard in the Democratic Party. How would you feel about Joe Biden, who is decidedly not part of the new guard of the Democratic Party, getting in the 2020 race?
[Gillum:] Well, we should ask him whether he thinks he's part of the new guard, as well. But in all seriousness, I think Vice President Biden will offer something very interesting in this race. He is, I think, in a lane largely that, if he gets in it, he could potentially own.
[Berman:] Which is what exactly?
[Gillum:] Well, I mean, I think he's probably one of the candidates that we would consider on our side on the more moderate end of the Democratic spectrum. He's someone who, I think, appeals across a range of voters who I think some in our party feel we must more actively go after. But the question will be, I think, is is the vice president prepared to offer a vision about the future of the country that people can wrap themselves around? Elections are always about the future, and if we fall into sort of just a throwback situation where we're not talking about big, bold ideas, I think it will be problematic.
[Camerota:] But what if his critics, or even just people who are scrutinizing him, insist on looking at his long past and his record through a 2019 lens? Is that fair?
[Gillum:] Well, I think it's fair. Obviously, if you've served in public office, there is a reckoning of your record; and you've got to be able to say where you were at the time on those issues. And I think this completely fair play. And I have confidence that the vice president will be able to defend or say, "You know what? I've evolved on this issue." And he should be allowed to do that in the context
[Berman:] We don't have time for this, but I want to give you credit where credit is due for this voter panel we had the other day.
[Camerota:] Thank you very much.
[Berman:] When you talked to Democratic activist voters about the possibility of Joe Biden getting in the race. Let's just listen to that.
[Camerota:] How many of you would like to see Joe Biden get in? Show of hands. What's happening, people?
[Unidentified Female:] His time is done.
[Unidentified Male:] I'll be honest. I used to think, like, you know, because obviously, he was riding kind of the Obama wave. And I thought he was the I thought he was the person that would unite the party. But to be honest, you know, Senator Biden really comes from the kind of the good old boy politics of the past.
[Berman:] All right. We're just about out of time, but that response surprises you.
[Gillum:] Well, I missed that. I'm sorry, Alisyn, but
[Camerota:] You need to watch every minute of NEW DAY every day.
[Gillum:] I you're right. I've got to do that homework. But I will tell you, as I've said, elections are about the future. And that group of individuals, I think, spoke to that in their own way, that they really want someone to be able to speak about where it is that we're going. Again, I don't think it's beyond Vice President Biden to be able to do that. But he will have some shortcomings to overcome, largely a record, a very long public record, that will be scrutinized to the hilt in the court of this primary election.
[Berman:] Andrew Gillum, former mayor of Tallahassee. Great to have you here with us.
[Gillum:] Good to be with you all.
[Berman:] Thank you very much. Greater scrutiny about what Michael Cohen said under oath about pardons and new documents that he gave lawmakers about his false statement involving the Moscow tower Trump Tower project. We're joined by Senator Tim Kaine next.