Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) on Deadly Mass Shootings and Trump's Visit
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: We now know this morning, because the White House tells us so, that President Trump will visit El Paso and Dayton this week in the wake of the deadly shootings there over the weekend. How will his visit be received there? Democratic presidential candidate, Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio, has stepped off the campaign trail to go back to his home state. He is in Dayton, and joins us this morning. Congressman Ryan, how do you feel about the president visiting Dayton later this week?</s>REP. TIM RYAN (D-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I'm not from Dayton, so I don't want to really get into that territory. I know how I would feel if he was trying to come to my hometown after this. I think he's a polarizing figure. I think especially in El Paso, that would -- at would not be a welcome visit given the environment that he's created over the past three, four years of creating an environment that is looking down on immigrants, you know, inciting people like this kid who drove ten hours to go do this mass shooting at the Walmart. He would not be welcome in my hometown. I just think he's a polarizing figure at this point, and these communities really need to heal.</s>BERMAN: So then is there anything he could do? You just think he should stay in the White House? What would you like to see from him?</s>RYAN: Well, he's not taking my advice, I'm sure, but, you know, he's got to ratchet down the rhetoric, he's got to move away from dividing the country. He finds a million different ways to divide us, who's black, who's white, who's brown, who's gay, who's straight, who's a man, who's a woman. I mean he just completely divides the country. He's the divider in chief. And he's got to get beyond that. And you see what happens here, these communities need a leader who's going to help the communities heal. And I hope he would tone down the rhetoric, pass some of this legislation, like the background check and the other things that are sitting at Mitch McConnell's doorstep. Get McConnell back there and pass this legislation and show some good faith.</s>BERMAN: So, along those lines, the president said yesterday, and I'm asking you this, because I know how seriously you take the issue of mental health. From people I know that you know, I know how seriously you take it. From your proposals on the campaign trail, you want to put mental health experts in every school in the country.</s>RYAN: Yes.</s>BERMAN: The president said yesterday that mental illness pulled the trigger. How do you feel about that?</s>RYAN: Look, if the president was so concerned with mental illness, he would not have lawsuits trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act for 20 million people in the United States when they are having -- when they have access to mental health treatment. That's why I'm saying, it is so disingenuous for him to step up to that podium yesterday and talk about mental illness like he cares because he has a lawsuit now to repeal coverage for 20 million people who need it. So don't give me this bologna that all of a sudden you're for mental health coverage and you're for treating mental health in the United States, I don't believe you, Donald Trump. I don't believe you. And every act as president, both of the bills that you were proposing from the House and the Senate on repealing health care, would get rid of mental health treatment for people in the United States. So don't give me this bologna that somehow you're -- you, all of a sudden, you're the biggest advocate in the United States for mental health treatment. It doesn't carry a lick of water. And, yes, I want a mental health counselor in every school. I want social and emotional learning in every school. I want art therapists, music therapist, play therapists, because there's so much trauma happening to our kids in the United States and -- especially in K through 12. And here we are, you know, dealing with these issues every single day, and really the political discussion hasn't lived up to how we deal with our kids in K through 12 and dealing with mental health is a big, big issue for me and I'm going to continue to promote it. Now, I don't want to hear any of this nonsense about the president all of a sudden caring.</s>BERMAN: Congressman, I don't know if you had a chance to read "The New York Times" this morning, but they have a new story out which highlights that the president's campaign has posted some 2,000 FaceBook ads since January that use the word "invasion." We can put one of them up on the screen here. And you can't see it in the type here, but one of the things it says is, it is critical that we stop the invasion. This has money behind it from the president's campaign. These are words being put out by the Trump campaign.</s>RYAN: Yes.</s>BERMAN: Now that you've -- I don't know if you've seen it before, but now that you've seen it, what do you think?</s>RYAN: Yes. Well, there's been a 25 percent increase in hate crimes against Hispanics and Latinos in 2016 to 2017. A 25 percent increase. And here you have the president of the United States, who's been campaigning on this issue, othering the people of color. And so, of course, his campaign has pushed this and put it out there and raised money off it. That's not a -- that's not a surprise. I mean a lot of us have been saying, like, look, he's dividing the country. He's creating an environment of intolerance. And he can't get away from that. And I'm going to tell you, I'm not going to let him get away from that, and I think the American people aren't going to let him, you know, whitewash this thing, like all of a sudden he's the one to pull everybody together. He's not. He's created a toxic environment. And, there you have it, he's putting his own campaign money behind creating an environment of division in the United States, in a -- in blatant attacks against people of color.</s>BERMAN: Congressman Ryan, we appreciate you being there on the ground in Dayton, Ohio. Thanks for being with us this morning.</s>RYAN: Thanks. If I could say, John, go to Dayton Foundation. There are -- that's -- you can raise -- we're trying to raise money for the families here. Go to the Dayton Foundation webpage and people can make donations to the victims' families. And we would appreciate anybody who could contribute a little bit to that fund.</s>BERMAN: All right, thanks, congressman, very much. One other Democratic candidate from president who we had not heard from is now speaking out directly. Former Vice President Joe Biden spoke exclusively with Anderson Cooper. His emotional advice to those experiencing unthinkable loss in El Paso and Dayton. That's coming up.