CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Ro Khanna

Interview

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CABRERA: And that's not the only sign of a nation edge.

Less than two hours after the president walked off the stage in North Carolina, racism became the most searched word, according to Merriam- Webster's tweet. And look at what rounds out the top six there, socialism, fascism, concentration camp, xenophobia, and bigot, just more proof how much words matter.

Joining us now, Democratic from California Ro Khanna. He's endorsed Bernie Sanders for president in 2020. He is also a member of the Congressional Civility and Respect Caucus.

Congressman, good to have you with us.

For once, the president is not doubling down or tripling down on this matter. He now says he does not approve of these chants. Can you appreciate that? Does that help, I guess, put some of this behind all of us?

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Ana, yesterday was one of the most chilling scenes I have seen in politics. To have a crowd chanting about an elected member of Congress that they should be sent back to a country of their origin was just un-American.

The president should have condemned that right away, the way that John McCain, when someone had confronted that Obama was a terrorist, John McCain immediately said, that's uncalled for. That's not how we conduct things in America. The president should have done that. His statement today is a step,

but he needs to be far stronger. And he needs to make it clear that that has no place in American discourse.

CABRERA: What was your reaction when you heard those chants?

KHANNA: I was horrified, honestly.

I never thought I would hear something like that in the United States of America. I mean, I'm the son of immigrants. I was born in Philadelphia. My parents immigrated from India. I went to public school. I grew up in a community that was 99 percent white.

And I grew up in a place that was welcoming, where I had teachers that were supportive, where I had neighbors that were supportive. And I thought to myself, what is happening to our country?

And here we had progress with President Obama and thinking that we were making progress on race. And why are we going to such a dark place? And why do we have a president of the United States who's not standing up to that?

CABRERA: We have some reporting that members of your party have expressed some internal frustration with all the attention surrounding these four congresswoman.

Do you share that concern?

KHANNA: I don't.

Today, our caucus is unified in making it clear that xenophobia has no place in America. I think the frustration that the caucus has is that our positive agenda, where we're talking about health care for all, where we're talking about $15 minimum wage -- we actually just passed it today -- where we are taking steps for infrastructure, that none of that is getting out, and that we are mired in division and anger.

And we need to have an aspirational message and a message that actually talks about what we're doing for the American people. And that's the frustration.

CABRERA: As you know, only four GOP members of the House voted to condemn the president's racist tweets earlier this week, and then, of course, Justin Amash, who recently left the Republican Party.

But I'm curious what you might be hearing from Republican colleagues behind the scenes.

KHANNA: Well, many of them think that the president went too far. They are concerned about speaking out, because they know that one presidential tweet could cost them their primary.

This has been the case over and over again. But I hope that more people will develop the courage to speak out, because if a group of 20 or 30 speak out, then it will become easier.

[15:10:11]

CABRERA: Well, do you have any security concerns? Do you yourself have any fears, as a congressman of color?

KHANNA: I don't think, but there are many people in this country who have a much tougher life, who face much more daunting odds than being a member of Congress.

I have a great honor of being in Congress. And I still have a belief in the fundamental decency and goodness of this country. One of the sad things is that this president, with the division, has highlighted the worst. That's not the America that I grew up in. That's not the America I know.

And I wish the Democrats had someone like Mario Cuomo, like Barack Obama, who has the inspiration to help lead us to the America we all want. And I'm hopeful we will be able to find that voice in the 2020 election.

CABRERA: Do you have somebody in the 2020 election who you think represents that voice?

(CROSSTALK)

CABRERA: I know you're -- we talked about you endorsing Bernie Sanders.

But what you just said makes it sound like you're still waiting to hear the right words.

KHANNA: Well, I think that we need someone who can offer that hopeful vision for America.

I mean, I have tremendous admiration for Senator Sanders, and I think he can do that. But I also think that President Obama should come out and give a speech and Michelle Obama should give a speech. I know they have been on the sidelines.

But I don't think there's anyone who's been better at talking about race and our founding than President Obama. I -- frankly, I miss his voice. I think we need his voice.

And so if he or his people are watching, I hope he could give the same type of speech that he gave when he dealt with Reverend Wright in Philadelphia. We really need some of his wisdom.

CABRERA: All right, Congressman Ro Khanna, I really appreciate you taking the time. Thank you.

KHANNA: Thank you, Ana.

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