>>
>> WCNC
>> WCNC TV, CHARLOTTE. THIS IS FLASHPOINT. WHERE POWER AND POLITICS
COLLIDE AND THE TOUGH QUESTIONS
GET ASKED AND ANSWERED.
>> GOOD SUNDAY MORNING, THANKS
FOR JOINING US ON FLASHPOINT.
JOINING ME TODAY, MAYFIELD AND
FORMER NORTH CAROLINA STATE
REPRESENTATIVE, CHARLES.
THANK YOU BOTH.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US!
>> LOTS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
LET'S START OFF WITH SUPER
TUESDAY NOW BEHIND US, FORMER
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, MAKING
THIS A TWO-MAN RACE AT THIS
POINT.
BIDEN WINNING 10 STATES,
SANDERS TOOK HOME HIS STATE OF
VERMONT ALONG WITH CALIFORNIA,
UTAH, COLORADO AS WELL, BIDEN
CELEBRATING WITH SUPPORTERS IN
LA THAT NIGHT.
>> JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THEY
DECLARED A CAMPAIGN DEAD!
AND THEN CAME SOUTH CAROLINA!
THEY HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT
IT!
WHEN IT GOT TO SUPER TUESDAY,
WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE OVER!
WELL, IT MAY BE OVER FOR THE
OTHER GUY.
TO THE REST OF THE FOLKS IN
VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA,
ALABAMA, TENNESSEE, OKLAHOMA,
ARKANSAS, MINNESOTA!
>> CANNOT BE TO TRUMP WITH THE
SAME OLD SAME OLD KIND OF
POLITICS!
>> THERE YOU GO, YOU HEARD FROM
BOTH MEN, THAT WAS FROM TUESDAY
NIGHT AND OF COURSE WE KNOW
THAT THE RACE HAS CHANGED EVEN
SINCE THEN, I WILL BEGIN WITH
THE DEMOCRAT HERE, SIZE UP THE
RACE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.
>> FIRST OF ALL, A LOT HAPPENED
THAT I MISSED OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF DAYS.
WE STILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE
FEMALE LEFT.
>> I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT HER.
ELIZABETH WARREN IS OUT THERE.
IT MAKES ME REGRET VOTING EARLY
THIS TIME AROUND BECAUSE PEOPLE
DROPPED OFF RIGHT BEFORE SUPER
TUESDAY, AND IF I HAD KNOWN I
DEFINITELY WOULDN'T HAVE,
BECAUSE IT I DID NOT SUPPORT
ELIZABETH WARREN ADDITIONALLY
FOR THE PRIMARY.
THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD CHOICES
FOR ME, BUT I THINK NOW THE TIME
AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO STAY
ENGAGED AND WE NEED TO GET OUT
THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT BOAT
IS HER AND WHOEVER THE NOMINEE
IS, WHOEVER THE DEMOCRATIC
NOMINEE IS, WE NEED TO GET
BEHIND THEM AND GET OUT THERE
AND SUPPORT THEM.
>> CHARLES?
>> I WILL SAY POOR MIKE
BLOOMBERG.
MAN SPENT, HE COULD'VE BOUGHT
AMERICA ...
FROM THE AMOUNT OF MONEY HE
SPENT.
YOU KNOW, IT IS, IT IS SOMEONE
WHO IS NOT A BIG TRUMP FAN,
WHICH I HAVE NEVER HIDDEN,
ALTHOUGH I AM A REPUBLICAN,
WHICH THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE
ON THEIR SOFA SAYING THAT CAN'T
BE TRUE.
IT IS!
I AM SOMEWHAT RELIEVED TO SEE
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TEAR IT
DOWN AND GET TO A SMALLER
DEBATE STAGE IF YOU WILL,
BECAUSE I THINK THIS COUNTRY
NEEDS TO HAVE A PRETTY HONEST
DEBATE AS WE GET INTO LATE
SUMMER AND EARLY FALL BETWEEN
WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS
WITH TRUMP AND WHERE THE
DEMOCRAT PARTY WILL BE,
DEPENDING UPON WHO YOU PUT AT
THE HOME.
LET'S BE CANDID, IF BERNIE IS
THE CAPTAIN OF THAT SHIP, THE
SHIP GOES ONE WAY INTO PORT.
IF IT IS BIDEN OR ELIZABETH ARE
THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP, ECHOES
ANOTHER WAY.
>> WE SAW THE SAME THING, WITH
THE ELECTION OF TRUMP.
NO ONE EXPECTED THE SHIFT TO GO
THE DIRECTION IT HAS GONE,
BECAUSE ALL OF US SAW THE MOVIE
OF THE TITANIC.
WE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN
IN REAL-TIME.
NOW WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE
WHOEVER IT IS AS A COMMUNITY,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE SUPPORT
THEM BUT I THINK THAT IS A
BIGGER CONVERSATION REGARDING
THE WHOLE DELEGATE PROCESS.
AND THE FACT THAT THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA IS NO LONGER
A TWO-PARTY NATION, HOW DO WE
CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE
SUPPORT FOR OTHER PARTIES AND
VOICES TO BE AT THAT TABLE,
BESIDE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN
IN THE EXTREME ON EACH SIDE.
>> ON THE FLIPSIDE, WHAT I
FOUND INTERESTING WAS THE TRUMP
VOTE WHICH IS NOT VERY TALKED
TO.
>> TRUMP LOST ABOUT 6 1/2% OF
THE REPUBLICAN VOTE STATEWIDE.
BUT HE LOST ABOUT 11%, SO HE
ONLY GOT ABOUT 88 AND HALF
PERCENT, 11 1/2% OF THE VOTES
OF THE REPUBLICANS IN
MECKLENBURG COUNTY AND THAT WAS
TRUE IN MOST OF THE SUBURBAN
AREAS.
IF HE LOSES 6 1/2%, OF THE
REPUBLICAN VOTE, IN NOVEMBER,
HE CANNOT WIN NORTH CAROLINA.
JUST CAN'T DO IT.
>> THAT IS A VERY VALID POINT.
>> AT LEAST THERE WAS A PRIMARY
HERE FOR THE REPUBLICANS.
SOUTH CAROLINA DIDN'T EVEN HAVE
ONE WHICH I FEEL LIKE THE
CONSERVATIVES SHOULD WANT THE
OPTION TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
PRESIDENT TRUMP OR FORMER
GOVERNOR WELD WHO WAS ON THE
BALLOT HERE.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE BERNIE
BROSE?
>> I THINK IT IS AN INTERESTING
CONVERSATION BECAUSE WHAT YOU
HAVE IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SAYS
THEY ARE OUTSIDE THE
ESTABLISHMENT, WHO IS EMBEDDED
IN THE ESTABLISHMENT FOR AS
LONG AS YOU HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE
BUT PEOPLE LIKE THE IDEA OF
HAVING AN ALTERNATIVE.
LET'S BE HONEST THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY OR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH FOR NEARLY
ANYTHING FOR THE WORKING POOR
WORKING CLASS.
SO, PEOPLE ARE SAYING OKAY, IF
I WILL VOTE, I WILL VOTE FOR
SOMEONE THAT I BELIEVE WOULD
CHANGE, BUT WE ARE NOT HAVING A
REAL CONVERSATION THAT THE
PRESIDENT IS A BIGGER HIT.
IF WE DO NOT PUT THE RIGHT
PEOPLE IN CONGRESS, IF WE DO
NOT MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUT
AND VOTE DOWN THE BALLOT, WE
ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE CHANGE
THAT WE COLLECTIVELY WANT, AS A
PEOPLE AND THAT IS FOR THE 3 OF
US, TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY
QUALITY OF LIVES AND BE ABLE TO
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE WORK AND
LIVE.
>> WE TALK ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL
RACE BECAUSE IT IS THE SHINY
OBJECT IN THE SKY IF YOU WILL,
ARGUING THE MOST IMPORTANT
ELECTION, THIS IS A SEMI ALL
YEAR, THEY REDRAW THE MAPS FOR
2022, AND THE GOVERNOR IN NORTH
CAROLINA HAS NO SAY IN THAT,
THEY DON'T HAVE VETO APPROVAL
AUTHORITY OVER MAP DRAWING.
IT COMES DOWN TO WHO CONTROLLED
THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
IF THE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO
CONTROL BOTH CHAMBERS IT GOES
ONE WAY.
WHERE I THINK IT GETS
INTERESTING IN NORTH CAROLINA
IS THAT THEY LOSE ONE CHAMBER.
BECAUSE THEN I THINK YOU GET IN
THE SAME BUDGET STANDOFF WE GET
NOW, WHERE AND I THINK THEY
WILL LIKELY LOSE AND I AM NOT
SURE THEY WOULD IF THE HOUSE IS
MUCH MORE VULNERABLE FOR
REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE IS
FOR A LOT OF REASONS.
IF THE DEMOCRATS TAKE THE
HOUSE, OR BOTH CHAMBERS, THAT
CHANGES THE MAP, AND THE OTHER
THING YOU HAVE TO THINK OF IS
WE ARE GOING TO PICK UP A
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SO WE
WILL GO FROM 13 TO 14 SEATS AND
IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, WE
PROBABLY PICK UP 2 HOUSE SEATS
IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ONE
SENATE SEAT.
THERE IS A LOT OF CHANGE COMING
TO NORTH CAROLINA AND THE
SELECTION IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT.
>> WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE
PRIMARIES BECAUSE THE LINES
THAT YOU HAVE THAT WERE
CREATED, WHERE PEOPLE WERE
UNCONTESTED.
>> IF ONE SIDE WAS REPUBLICAN
AND ONE SIDE WAS DEMOCRAT, THE
DOCTOR WOULD BE A LOT MORE
REFLECTIVE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
>> I AM A FAN.
I AM NOT A FAN OF ONE PARTY
OWNING BOTH HOUSES BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND THAT
IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN
ACROSS THE NATION.
>> YOU BROUGHT IT UP A FEW
MINUTES AGO AND I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT IT.
ELIZABETH WARREN.
WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU CAN MAKE A CASE.
I THINK THE REPUBLICANS CAN
MAKE THE CASE THAT SHE WAS THE
MOST EFFECTIVE PERSON UP THERE
ON THE DEBATE STAGE, MAKING HER
CASE, TALK ABOUT I MEAN'S I AM
A DETAILS GUY.
YOU KNOW WHAT, SHE WOULD GIVE
THEM, WHOEVER WOULD LISTEN TO
HER, SHE WOULD GIVE THEM ...
J SAID ON CNN, I THINK IT WAS
JAKE, HE SAID AT SOME POINT,
WHEN YOU WRITE THE HISTORY
BOOKS, YOU WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS
SEXISM.
>> YES!
MISOGYNY IS VERY REAL.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF SHE
WERE AND WE CAN THROW THAT BIG
IF, IF SHE WERE A MALE, THAN
ALL OF THOSE POINTS PEOPLE
WOULD BE RALLYING AROUND WHAT
IS EVEN MORE SADDENING, IS FOR
ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE
ABOUT WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, WE ARE
IN MARCH, WOMEN'S HISTORY
MONTH.
WE HAVE A RALLY HAPPENING LATER
TODAY, REGARDING WOMEN'S
HISTORY AND THE SUPPORT OF
WOMEN WHO HAVE NOT GONE OUT TO
SUPPORT ELIZABETH WARREN,
OVERWHELMINGLY.
NOW, FOR ME SHE WAS NOT MY
CHORES -- CHOICE IN THE PRIMARY
BECAUSE WE HAD MULTIPLE
CHOICES.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, GIVE HER
THE SAME OPPORTUNITY, THAT WE
ARE GIVING THE MEN, GIVE HER
THE SAME BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT,
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO
ACTUALLY LOOK FOR FACTS AND
INFORMATION, SHE IS THE
STRONGEST CANDIDATE THAT IS OUT
THERE, THAT ACTUALLY HAS A
PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF WORKING
ACROSS THE AISLE, DOING
BIPARTISAN WORK, AND MOVING NOT
ONLY HER DISTRICT, BUT OUR
COUNTRY FORWARD, WE ARE JUST
NOT GIVING HER A FAIR CHANCE IN
THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION.
>> I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT
HARRIS DID NOT GET MORE
TRACTION EITHER.
>> SHE DROPPED OUT AND WHAT,
OCTOBER?
>> SHE COMES FROM ONE OF THE
WEALTHIEST STATES IN THE
NATION, SHE HAS A GOOD PEDIGREE
AS FAR AS BEING ATTORNEY
GENERAL, U.S. SENATOR, KNOWS
HER STUFF.
IT IS ALMOST TO ME KINDA A
REVERSE IT IS LIKE THE WOMEN
DEMOCRATS ARE JUST TRYING TO
GET ON THE BOARD AND ROSE, THE
MEN WON'T LET THE WOMEN
DEMOCRATS ON THE DOOR AND THEY
LET THEM JUMP.
>> WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION THAT AS A BLACK
FEMALE, AND WHAT WE DON'T TALK
ABOUT, ESPECIALLY WITHIN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES OR
IN PUBLIC, THE FACT THAT YOU
HAVE A BLACK FEMALE WHO WAS
MARRIED TO A WHITE MALE, WHO AS
IN HER ROLE INCARCERATED A
NUMBER OF BLACK AND BROWN MEN,
AND EVERY TIME THE QUESTION WAS
ASKED OPPOSED TO ADDRESSING IT,
AND IDENTIFYING, I DID THE BEST
I COULD AT THE TIME THAT I WAS
THERE, BUT WHEN I WAS ELECTED,
THE STATE REP, THIS IS WHAT I
DID AND ONCE I GOT INTO
CONGRESS, THIS IS WHAT I DID TO
HELP FIX THE LANGUAGE.
BECAUSE IT WASN'T A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD.
HERE IS WHAT I DID TO TRY TO
LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.
YOU COULD NOT DO THAT, SO YOU
LOST PEOPLE.
I THINK ULTIMATELY THE
COMMUNITY WANTS YOU TO BE
HONEST AND TO ADDRESS THINGS
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS
PLACATE, AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT WE ARE NOW GETTING DOWN
TO, IS A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES
THAT IS PLACATING IN THE ONE
THAT IS ADDRESSING IT HEAD ON,