CNN "Erin Burnett Out Front" - Transcript: "Interview with Sen. Cory Booker"

Interview

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BURNETT: OUTFRONT now, 2020 presidential candidate, Senator Cory Booker.

So, Senator, look, this is a -- you represent New Jersey. A lot of tax revenue in that state obviously comes from people who work on Wall Street, people like Leon Cooperman. Are Warren and Sanders making boogie men vilifying the wealthy as he describes it and is that wrong?

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Look, I ran a city that was -- during the recession, it was in a massive crisis and we had to figure out a way to solve our budget woes but also grow out of the problem.

So, we had to do things very business minded. How do I start more entrepreneurs here? How do I attract businesses to my city? But also how do I meet urgent needs?

I was finding that balance. There's no --

BURNETT: And you've worked with people like Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey --

BOOKER: I worked with people --

BURNETT: You've worked with -- they're both billionaires.

BOOKER: I worked with Leon Cooperman.

BURNETT: Right, right.

BOOKER: So, this is my point. We are in a nation that has a tax system that does not reflect our values.

[19:50:03]

Things like carried interest are just wrong. And I have different ways of going about it than Elizabeth Warren which I think are much better and proven. But I will find a way to make sure that we have just taxes.

But this is something I also believe -- if you and I were in my neighborhood doing this interview, and I walked around and took you to black entrepreneurs, mostly women that we got started in business, they'll tell you, I want to be a millionaire. And so, we need to be the party that has just taxation, but also grows the pie and has a vision for people who want to be entrepreneurs because this is the scary thing. New business starts in our country are going down. We're seeing these massive corporations create environments where we can't start entrepreneurialism.

I want the Democratic Party -- if I'm the leader, we're going to be the leader of entrepreneurialism, the party of small business growth. We're going to give pathways especially to the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs, Black and Latino women.

BURNETT: So, it's like when Joe Biden had at one point just because you're really rich, you're not unpatriotic. You would agree with that, right?

BOOKER: Yes.

BURNETT: You're not a bad person. Leon Cooperman or somebody else, it's not about your money. It's about your person (ph).

BOOKER: Right, I will never vilify entire categories of people. That's wrong. I'm not going to do it. But will I look you in the face and say your carried interest, your top tax rate, the facts that your capital gains is taxed at a lower rate than people who go out and sweat for your work every day, that's -- those things are wrong. Social Security tax is regressive.

There are things we have to do to create a fair taxation system to begin to invest in infrastructure, education, research, all the things that grow the economy for everybody.

BURNETT: All right. So --

BOOKER: But I also want more millionaires in America.

BURNETT: So, your message, right, is obviously very different than Warren or Sanders and what we hear. We look at Iowa right now -- Warren, Sanders and Biden, which is obviously a very different political world view --

BOOKER: Yes.

BURNETT: -- are polling at the top, double digits. You're at 2 percent. But a recent poll shows two-thirds of people who say they're going to vote in the Iowa caucuses, that two-thirds of them could be persuaded to switch their vote.

BOOKER: Right.

BURNETT: OK? So, what are you doing to get them --

BOOKER: Well, number one, I lead this like three or four of us that are at the top in terms of most liked candidates. I'm in that category.

BURNETT: Uh-huh.

BOOKER: I'm -- me and Elizabeth Warren are the most endorsed candidates from local leaders.

BURNETT: Yes.

BOOKER: Every local media there says the two best political organizations on the ground are me and Elizabeth Warren. And you and I both know the polls that they put up had been wrong. Kerry polled at 4 percent, won Iowa. Barack Obama on this day in 2007 was 21 points behind Hillary Clinton.

This is still a wide open race. My team, we're determined to win on the ground.

BURNETT: Yes.

BOOKER: We have to hire more organizers because Elizabeth is hiring up faster than we are now. That's why we're pleading with people these days, go -- if you believe in me, go to corybooker.com. Help us qualify for the December debates and hire more organizers.

This is a wide open race, and now is the time. I hear people saying all the time, this is the most important election of our lifetime. Well, act on it, act like it, give -- invest in the candidate you believe in.

BURNETT: So, you know, obviously there is this immense focus on the African-American vote, right? And there is this belief that the last time around, if you had had better turnout and a few important places in this country, this election, that election would have turned out very differently than it did.

One of your rivals is South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina this weekend talked about Buttigieg's sexual orientation and whether it is hurting him with older black voters, right? He's really been trying to court the black vote.

I want to play the full exchange for you, Senator.

BOOKER: Yes, I've not heard t.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLYBURN: Well, that's a generational issue. I know of a lot of people my age who feel that way.

BASH: Are you saying for older African Americans, it is an issue?

CLYBURN: Yes, it is. There's no question about that. I'm not going to sit here and tell you otherwise because I think everybody knows that's an issue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: What's your response?

BOOKER: Well, my parents told me when I was young, I'm here because of James Baldwin. I'm here because of Bayard Rustin. These are great black men, gay activist -- gay leaders, and they fought for my rights.

And I just believe very strongly that I celebrate the fact that we have an openly gay man in this race and it's something that's exciting to me.

But I will tell you this. I don't care if it's Pete or other people in this race. We all have to understand that we lost Wisconsin by 7,000 votes, 70,000 less African Americans came out to vote in Wisconsin in '16 that voted in '12.

And of all the people, whose record is best, when Chris Christie put my election, you remember this for Senate, he put it on a Wednesday in October as opposed to on the same day, black vote was 13 plus percent.

On the normal New Jersey elections, when there's campaigns up and down the ticket, around 9 percent. My ability to motivate and excite and ignite the outpouring of African-American voters, which is critical for us winning, I know I can do that the best in this field.

BURNETT: So -- and, look, I knew in a sense that's how you'd answer the question, right, because it's about you. But I am curious. Do you think that older African-American voters have the issue that Mr. Clyburn said they have that they're not comfortable voting for someone who is gay?

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BOOKER: My mom is turning 80 this year. And she's already told me that she celebrates the fact that there is a gay person in this race, openly who he is, confident and strong. So, again, this broad brush as we paint with any demographic in our country is just wrong.

Pete is an extraordinary leader. I'm thrilled that he's in this race. When it comes to black voters and other constituencies, I think I'm going to be the better person to get folks out, but God bless America. It's wonderful we have so many wonderful people in this race, diversity.

BURNETT: All right. Senator Booker, thank you so much. I appreciate your time. And good to see you in person. It's usually out in the trail.

BOOKER: I always appreciate (ph) you. Thank you.

BURNETT: All right. And next, Jeanne Moos on how covfefe turned into someone's million dollar lucky charm.

BOOKER: Oh my gosh.

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