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NFL Player Dies of Gunshot Wound; Palestinian-Israeli Leaders Vow to Continue Peace Talks
Aired November 27, 2007 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition. A tall order for the official start to the Israeli-Palestinian peace conference, underway in Annapolis, Maryland.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Surrounded by friends and neighbors, enemies and intermediaries. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders agree to try to settle their timeless disputes by the end of next year. And a sizable number of Palestinians back home vow to fight them every step of the way.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. We'll have extensive live coverage all afternoon here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: And happening right now, the violent death of a NFL star sparks a round-the-clock search for his killer. An autopsy is expected this afternoon on Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor, who died early this morning, a day after being shot in the leg at his suburban Miami home.
Reporter Rosh Lowe of our affiliate, WSVN, is outside the house right now.
Rosh, what do you have for us?
ROSH LOWE, WSVN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, first the emotion here. It was very emotional last night because Pedro Taylor, the father of Sean Taylor, after he was shot, outside the Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, gave a very hopeful news conference, saying that Sean was responding to doctors.
But as nighttime would turn into daytime, that hope would fade, and it would turn into sadness, as the news would come out that Sean Taylor has passed away.
Now we really have the criminal investigation. Detectives from Miami-Dade police, they have been out here all morning long, going into Sean Taylor's home here in Palmetto Bay. They are looking for any bit of evidence, any clue.
Here are the details as we know them. We know that Sean Taylor was sleeping in his bedroom with his girlfriend, his 1-year-old daughter. According to police, an intruder burst through the bedroom door. Two shots were fired. Taylor was hit, rushed to the Ryder Trauma Center, where he later died.
This morning, though, police are not releasing any suspect information. And we spoke to them this morning. And what they said was basically this: hey, it's difficult right now, because the girlfriend was actually hiding underneath the covers when she heard the loud noises. So, she may not have seen who the suspect was.
We do know and we have confirmed this with Sean Taylor's attorney, that when she went to call 911, the phone was dead. Perhaps the phone lines were cut. So she actually had to get in contact with 911, with Miami-Dade police, through her cell phone. And precious moments were lost.
But there was a massive effort to save Sean Taylor's life.
He was somebody who grew up here in the community in Miami, went to preparatory school not far from here, was a star at the University of Miami, was a star with the Washington Redskins. And now the big question in Miami this afternoon is who would want to kill Sean Taylor?
We bring it back out here live. I can give you a look at the house over my shoulder. Pedro Taylor, Sean's father, was seen going in and out of the house. He has experience in law enforcement, Florida City's police chief. He just left a few moments ago. We saw him leaving with some belongings of his son. We saw police taking out numerous items, numerous pieces of evidence, including a computer.
So, we are expecting Miami-Dade police to release a little more information this afternoon.
But as of this moment right now, we know that Sean Taylor was killed, but we do not know, we do not have any suspect information. Only the information from his girlfriend about the loud noises, the intruder in his bedroom and those two shots fired.
LEMON: WSVN's Rosh Lowe. Thank you so much for that, Rosh.
Miami-Dade police are urgently looking for more information as they search for Sean Taylor's killer. If you have any information, call this number. It's 305-471-TIPS.
PHILLIPS: Middle East peace efforts are now in the hands of negotiators in Annapolis, Maryland. The Middle East summit got underway this morning with a dramatic last-minute agreement on shared ideals.
The talks are hosted by President Bush, and their outcome could help determine how he's remembered by history.
To the White House now and CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.
Hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, Kyra. Really the name of the game here is set the expectations low and then exceed them.
There was a lot of doubt and confusion whether or not there would be any kind of agreement or anything would get done in this 48-hour conference before President Bush came out and said, in fact, they had some sort of declaration.
Now, what that declaration said is essentially both sides, the Israelis and the Palestinians, will work towards launching peace negotiations and try to have a deal on the table by the end of next year. There would be a steering committee that would get involved in about two weeks from now and that both of the leaders would catch up with each other on a bi-weekly basis.
But President Bush also making it clear that tackling these tough issues, all of the parties saying they would agree to do that, but that essentially for today they punted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our purpose here in Annapolis is not to conclude an agreement. Rather, it's to launch negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. For the rest of us, our job is to encourage the parties in this effort and to give them the support they need to succeed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Kyra, it was interesting. After President Bush spoke, both of the leaders make it very clear about kind of the pain that's going to be involved in this process, some really tough issues that are up ahead.
Abbas, notably, talking about the importance of Jerusalem and whether or not that should be split, the Palestinians having part of Jerusalem. And also, of course, Ehud Olmert talking about his top priority and concern, which is security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EHUD OLMERT, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I had many good reasons not to come here to this meeting. Memory of failures, in the near and distant past, weighs heavy upon us. The dreadful terrorism perpetrated by Palestinian terrorist organizations has affected thousands of Israeli citizens.
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT (through translator): This might not be repeated, and if it were to be repeated, it might not enjoy the same unanimity and impetus. What we are facing today is not just a chance at peace, but we are facing a test of our credibility as a whole.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Kyra, of course President Bush trying and hoping that this will add to his legacy, not only the legacy of the Iraq war but also Middle East peace, also to buy some good will, perhaps, from the international community, and to try to make sure there is a coalition to counter what the Bush administration sees as an increasing threat from Iran -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And obviously, we're following all of that. But I want to ask you also. Yesterday it happened in our newscast. The vice president had to go into the hospital for a heart procedure.
How did that go? How's his heart condition now?
MALVEAUX: I spoke with his spokesperson, Lea Anne McBride, earlier today. She says that Cheney is fine. He resumed his normal schedule this morning, starting about 7:15, meeting with the president.
We understand that tomorrow he's going to be involved in the talks with this Middle East summit. And then next week he's actually going to hit the road for some Republican fund-raisers. So they're saying that he is back to normal and that he's OK -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Thanks, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Sure.
LEMON: Let's head straight to the news room for some developing news. Betty Nguyen working the details of a developing story.
Betty, Miami, Florida? Is it in Miami?
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: No, it's in Orlando, in fact.
LEMON: Orlando.
NGUYEN: And here's what we know. According to police, an East Indian man walked into this bank, and he was acting very suspiciously. And he said he wanted to go to India.
Well, the teller, after he was asked to leave -- the teller ran outside to find an officer. We're going to get you a live picture. It's kind of fuzzy right now, of the bank in question here. But a teller ran outside to talk to a trooper who was actually filling out some paperwork on a crash scene, and notified that trooper what had happened.
Well, the SWAT Team has been notified. The bomb squad, in fact, is on the scene. And what we understand at this hour is the man is actually sitting in a chair and has not moved an inch since he was asked to leave.
And as you can see, there's no one around this building. We saw some video just a little bit earlier, Don, of people being evacuated from the bank, and a nearby lane of traffic has been closed for emergency equipment.
This is all very odd. You don't hear about this every day, but again, here's what we know from authorities. An East Indian man walked into this Wachovia Bank in Orlando, Florida. He was acting suspiciously and was asked to leave. The man refused to leave the bank and said, quote, "that he wanted to go to India."
A bank teller then got a trooper -- a trooper who was outside working a crash scene. And then they eventually called the bomb squad. And a SWAT Team has been notified, as well.
The man at this hour, as far as we know, is still inside the bank that you see right there, sitting in a chair, has not moved an inch as authorities try to figure out some way to end this standoff.
It's not known if he has any kind of weapon on him, but obviously, they're taking every single precaution that they can -- Don.
LEMON: Very odd story, Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes.
LEMON: OK. If you get more, check back with us. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: After a month of knowing nothing about Baby Grace, we now know almost too much. Truly awful details from the little girl's mother.
According to a police affidavit, the mother told police that 2- year-old Riley Ann Sawyers was beaten with belts, held underwater and picked up by the hair and thrown across the room, all by her mother and stepfather.
Kimberly Trenor and Royce Zeigler were arrested Saturday in Texas. Police say that Trenor admitted faking a letter from authorities in Ohio, claiming Riley had been taken away from the couple.
The girl, dubbed Baby Grace, was found in a box that washed ashore in Galveston Bay last month.
Now, if you want to read it, the full affidavit from the Galveston County Sheriff's Office is available at CNN.com.
Riley's grandmother, meanwhile, called Texas police after seeing these sketches of Baby Grace on TV. And next hour, we're actually going to talk to the forensic artist who drew them, Lois Gibson. She's going to join me live and talk about this very emotional case.
LEMON: An armed and determined intruder, a star athlete cut down in his prime. Details, developments and reaction to the Sean Taylor killing.
PHILLIPS: The foreclosure forecast clouding the nation's economy and a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
LEMON: And ready to rumble? The verbal jabs are flying ahead of tomorrow's main event. We preview the CNN-YouTube Republican debate.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: One-thirteen Eastern Time. Right now here are some of the stories we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Now comes the real work. Opening today's Mideast summit in Annapolis, Maryland, Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed on a joint set of goals, chief among them, reaching a peace treaty before the end of next year.
A manhunt on right now for an escaped convicted murderer in Northwest Pennsylvania. Police say 53-year-old Malcolm Kysor hid in a garbage can which was driven away from a prison loading dock.
Miami area police searching for the killer of NFL star Sean Taylor. An autopsy is expected this afternoon on the Washington Redskins player, who was shot early yesterday by an intruder at his suburban Miami home.
LEMON: And Kyra, let's stick with that Sean Taylor story. The urgent search for the unknown killer of an NFL star. An autopsy is expected this afternoon on Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor, shot by an intruder in his suburban Miami home early yesterday.
Taylor had quite a record on the field and problems, you know, off the field, as well, as many folks do.
Let's find out more now from CNN's Larry Smith of CNN Sports.
Real quick, before we get to this, we talked to the reporter earlier. They're expecting a press conference. Do we know if this was a burglary or not?
LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there are a lot of questions there. I think, from a journalist and reporter, you really start kind of asking, "Hmm, this is interesting," or whatever.
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: But, you know, it's a burglary, and yet according to the attorney and the friend we heard earlier, his girlfriend said that the door, they locked the bedroom door and the intruder kicked in the door and then fired shots.
LEMON: OK.
SMITH: That's a question you kind of wonder. And also, two burglaries eight days apart at the same time. Was he being targeted? Was it someone that he knew?
You know, but you know, it seems strange that a random burglar would find this house twice in eight days.
LEMON: Right.
SMITH: But again, those are all questions that we're all asking.
LEMON: And maybe we'll find out some of that today at 2 p.m. when -- when they are expected to hold that press conference.
OK. Let's talk about he was one of the hardest -- him on the field. One of the hardest hitters, known as one of the hardest hitters.
SMITH: Yes, yes.
LEMON: But he did as we said in the intro to you, he had his weaknesses off the field.
SMITH: Well, he did. I mean, well, he did. On the field he was a pro bowler, even though he was very erratic in his play. Last season, his assistant defensive coordinator of the Redskins said he's one of the best athletes he's ever coached.
LEMON: Right.
SMITH: Off the field there's no question. I mean, he did some things, some stupid things, as a young man would do.
LEMON: Legal troubles.
SMITH: He was in some legal troubles. First, he skipped part of his rookie symposium. That's a mandatory thing in the NFL. That was a fine.
He had a DUI charge that was later overturned.
He had several incidents on the field in terms of his behavior, late hits, things like that.
And there was a thing in 2005 that he -- that also Lee (ph) talked about, that we had from him in August 2005, where he is alleged -- aggravated assault charges. He later, last summer -- it happened in 2005. Last summer he came, he pled no contest to it and said it was like a cloud lifted off him. And, in fact, we have a comment that he made about that back in 2005. Let's listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN TAYLOR, WASHINGTON REDSKINS PLAYER: You've seen a couple players in the last couple weeks, you know, be subjects to shootings. And it's just a life changing thing where one shot of a bullet or whatever the case is, you know, it changes lives. So it's just -- basically just staying away from those type of things and staying out of harm's danger -- harm's way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You said that family and football all of a sudden became a lot more important.
TAYLOR: Yes. Well, family's always been important but you see in tough times pull them more closer. And you know, that's what you need to support you. (END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Yes, Sean Taylor, 24 years old. And even his head coach, Joe Gibbs of the Redskins, his teammates, Clinton Portis and James Thrash, among others, all have said that he really -- they saw a maturation in him once his daughter was born. And she's now 18 months old.
LEMON: Just looking at that sound bite. I mean, he was a baby, only 24 years old. Very young. Obviously, obviously, his family very devastated. We've been watching the pictures coming out of our affiliates in Miami from the team. What impact do you think this will have on the team?
SMITH: Well, I think from a playing standpoint, he was injured, and so he didn't play the last two weeks. So X's and O's, you know, they're going to know how to play without him.
But it's an emotional thing. You've lost a part of your family.
LEMON: Yes.
SMITH: You have to be close when you're on a team like that. And so there's no question that that's going to take a long time to heal. This is not someone facing a charge or just being suspended or whatever. This was a life that was taken. He's not there anymore.
LEMON: CNN Sports, Larry Smith here.
Larry, stick around, though. Listen to that press conference, and if you get anything out of it that you can share with us, come back and talk with us.
SMITH: OK.
LEMON: Thank you, sir.
SMITH: OK.
LEMON: A punctuated [sic] femoral artery was a death-blow for Sean Taylor. Our medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, will take a closer look at his lethal wound and tell you what you should do if it ever happens to you.
PHILLIPS: Let's talk politics. St. Petersburg, Florida, is lovely this time of year. But if recent events are any indication, it's not going to be pretty when the Republican candidates square off tomorrow night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Chad Myers from CNN weather center with some live scenes to just sum up the winter season for us.
Right, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, I got Big Bear Mountain here.
PHILLIPS: That's right.
MYERS: BearMountain.com. BearMountain.com. They're actually skiing.
PHILLIPS: Yes.
MYERS: Look at that.
PHILLIPS: Hey, this is where I grew up. Just outside of San Diego.
MYERS: Lifts five and seven are open. The rest, obviously, not quite enough snow. But there they go. They're off! They're basically all snowboarders.
LEMON: Look, there's Kyra's mom right there.
PHILLIPS: Chad -- yes, there's my momma coming down the slope.
No, you know what? We're talking about Big Bear Mountain. The coolest thing was they always, on the toughest slope which, of course, isn't really that tough, they would just blare rock music, '80s rock. And that was just the thing to do. Absolutely. Late afternoon, Big Bear Mountain.
MYERS: Well, I asked for KABC to give us a shot, and so they did. And here's the shot that they gave us live. And obviously, this run is not open. I'm not sure what lift number this is.
And I thought man, this place has to be open. So I logged on to Bear Mountain -- yes, BearMountain.com, and there you go. And they're actually moving.
PHILLIPS: That's great.
MYERS: This guy is...
PHILLIPS: This is off the computer.
MYERS: He's actually really just standing there. But yes. It's off the computer. It's a live streaming video off the computer.
PHILLIPS: Pretty cool.
MYERS: Very, very cool.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: This is not wind chill. This is the real temperature. And 3 in Duluth, 7 in Thunder Bay. That's why they are called snowbirds, and some of these people move to Florida for the winter to get away from 3 -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. To get away from the freezing temps. All right. We'll keep talking.
MYERS: All right.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
LEMON: All right. We're going to Wall Street now, because stocks are seeing a big bounce-back, a rally, so to speak. Susan Lisovicz on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange has all the latest for us.
Susan, a bounce-back rally? We like that.
(STOCK REPORT)
LEMON: OK, Susan. Thank you. We'll see you in a bit.
PHILLIPS: Sure. They're not very much fun, but they're a shot in the arm for your immune system. Why the CDC is pushing flu vaccinations this week, especially.
LEMON: And Redskins fans mourn the loss of Sean Taylor. This is new video from a memorial in Virginia. We expect to hear from officials at a news conference this afternoon. And we'll bring that to you live.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: You with us?
LEMON: Yes, I am. I'm sorry. I thought it was your thing.
PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone.
LEMON: I thought it was your thing.
PHILLIPS: We are here. We're alive. We are tuned in at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
LEMON: She's Kyra Phillips. I'm Don Lemon. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: Miami police working round the clock to find the unknown killer of an NFL star. An autopsy is expected this afternoon on Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor who died early today at the age of 24. Taylor was shot in the leg early yesterday at his suburban Miami home where flowers have been left at the gate where friends and family are gathered to mourn, and where the locks are being changed. Police say an intruder broke in as Taylor, his girlfriend and their baby slept. Here's what Taylor's former lawyer told CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RICHARD SHARPSTEIN, TAYLOR'S FMR. ATTY.: Apparently there was noise in the living room. Sean and she were sleeping in the bedroom with their 18-month-old daughter. They heard noise, a thump. They went up. Sean locked the bedroom door. Before he could do anything the door was kicked in. It's unknown how many assailants were there. Jackie hid under the covers. Two shots rang out. One hit him in the leg, piercing his thigh and femoral artery. He bled out profusely. By the time Jackie waited for people to clear, she got down and he was breathing heavily and chest heaving, eyes back in his head. He was pretty much unconscious and non-responsive from that point on, never really recovered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now another break-in was reported at Taylor's home November 18th. Now one was there at the time. And we are waiting for a news conference actually right now. We're going to bring it to you live as soon as this happens. We expect the head coach to step up to the mike, possibly other friends, the team owner, and we'll take that live as soon as they begin.
LEMON: A new push for lasting peace in the Middle East. Israelis and Palestinians are sitting down this hour in Annapolis, Maryland in the company of more than 40 other delegations from the region and the world. The meetings began with a joint declaration to try to achieve a permanent two-state solution by the end of 2008. President Bush is hosting the talks. He says peacemaking is an opportunity that cannot be missed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRES. OF THE UNITED STATES: Achieving this goal is not going to be -- if it were easy, it would have happened a long time ago. To achieve freedom and peace both Israelis and Palestinians will have to make tough choices. Both sides are sober about the work ahead. Having spent time with their leaders they are ready to take on the tough issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And events in Annapolis have set off angry protests in Hamas-controlled Gaza, and even in the West Bank stronghold of President Abbas.
CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us now by phone from Ramallah.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don, we saw some angry protests here in Ramallah and other cities of the West Bank as hundreds of Palestinian, some of them, in fact, members of Mahmoud Abbas' own Fatah faction, came out to protest against the Annapolis agreement. In one incident, a man was killed in the city of Hebron by Palestinian security forces, who is as we saw firsthand dealt with a fairly heavy hand as these protesters -- the one Jizada (ph) reporter had his arm broken by the police.
So, there's a good deal of skepticism on the ground toward the Annapolis meeting. Many people feel that this is just one in a long string of such conferences that have really resulted in very little, so there is a good deal of skepticism. Even though opinion polls have been conducted, which found that a majority of Palestinians support the Annapolis meeting; they just, the same majority, simply doubt anything will come out of it -- Don.
LEMON: And, Ben, I understand that there's been one death in connection to these protests.
WEDEMAN: That is correct. In the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, one man was killed by Palestinian security forces who were using live ammunition to disperse a group of protesters. Obviously, that sort of fatality at the hands of Palestinian security is going to be something of a problem tomorrow when this man is buried, so trouble is expected as a result of that incident.
LEMON: And, Ben, I understand Pakistan has banned all protests. What's behind this decision?
WEDEMAN: The Palestinian Authority has banned all protests. Well, largely because of what we saw today. There is a good deal of resentment toward the government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The feeling is that he's gone too far in giving too many concessions already to the Israelis, and therefore they -- this is really where a lot of the opposition to the Annapolis Conference comes from -- Don.
LEMON: Ben Wedeman in Ramallah. Ben, thank you very much. And of course Ben has been talking about the protests there. I want to take you now to Annapolis, Maryland, where Jewish protesters there are lined up around the summit, is this meeting here of course you know that it's happening, 40 delegations from the region and the world meeting today, Israelis and Palestinians there as well, sitting down in Annapolis this hour, trying to figure out some sort of agreement, a joint declaration to try to achieve a permanent two-state solution by the end of 2008. But, again, these are live pictures coming in from Annapolis, Maryland, protesters surrounding the perimeter of the meeting. We'll keep you updated on this situation.
PHILLIPS: St. Petersburg, Florida is lovely this time of year. But if recent events are an indication, it's not going to be pretty when the Republican candidates square off tomorrow night in another CNN/YouTube debate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Sunny skies, Gulf breezes. Tomorrow night's CNN/YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida couldn't have been a prettier setting. But this zip code doesn't mean zip to Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney who've increased their attacks as the debate has approached.
CNN's Dana Bash reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Day three for Rudy Giuliani in New Hampshire and his new rhetorical rumble with rival Mitt Romney.
RUDY GIULIANI, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Do a mandate? What happens? People don't buy more health insurance, they end up getting tax.
BASH: Giuliani did he not name Romney or his Massachusetts health care plan there, but he didn't have to. The campaign trail is crackling with the two trading barbs over everything from health care, to crime, to the economic record.
MITT ROMNEY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He came in, there was a budget gap. But when he left, he left a budget gap twice as big as the one he inherited.
BASH: Giuliani is ahead in the national polls, but still behind Romney in key, early contest states like New Hampshire, which votes in just six weeks. Running out of time means the jabs are now more personal. Giuliani lit into Romney for appointing a judge who later release add convicted killer.
GIULIANI: I think that this whole appointment of a judge goes to a much bigger point that Governor Romney had a very poor record of dealing with murder and violent crimes as governor.
BASH: Romney responded by going after Giuliani's judgment, support for long-time friend Bernard Kerik, indicted on corruption charges.
ROMNEY: He put somebody in place as commissioner who had a very questionable past and then recommended to the president of the United States this person be made the secretary of Homeland Security despite the fact that he, at this point, was under investigation.
BASH: But this is nowhere near a two-man GOP race. In Iowa, Mike Huckabee is neck and neck with Romney and he's trying to seal the deal.
MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When Mitt was saying that he was OK with same sex relationships and would do more for same sex couples than Teddy Kennedy, I was taking the completely different position.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, Dana joins us now live from St. Petersburg. Dana, as we just saw in your report, the competition getting pretty heated out there. Will this make for some fireworks at tomorrow night's debate, do you think?
BASH: Oh, there's no doubt about that, Kyra. You know, I was actually asked Republican debate in Florida was last month. And that was noteworthy for how aggressive the candidates were in going after each other. But as you just saw, as you just talked about, it is even heated up even more, a lot more in the last, even several days, and there's a reason for that.
Thirty-seven days, Kyra, 37 days until the first votes, first voters go to the polls in Iowa. And that is why it is really becoming so intense. And you know, it certainly will be interesting to see how that translates into tomorrow night's debate. Especially since the dynamic, of course, will be quite different since it is the YouTube debate. 4,926 questions have actually been posted on YouTube. They're going to get probably between 40 or 50. That will make the dynamic different, of course, because these are questions that they're getting from voters, in addition to people like you and me, Kyra.
But it's not going to take a lot of prompting for these guys to really continue to have some pointed remarks and pointed comments towards one another on their records, on everything from immigration to the economy, to who's going to be the best person from their perspective to beat someone like Hillary Clinton -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Oh, and the name is coming up a lot among Republicans. Dana Bash, thanks so much.
BASH: Oh yes.
PHILLIPS: And also coming up, we're going to talk with the head of Florida's Republican party about tomorrow night's debate and how the Sunshine State should play a defining role again in '08.
LEMON: Well, we asked for questions and boy, did you deliver. We got nearly 5,000 submissions for tomorrow night's CNN/YouTube debate. And you don't know yet which questions will actually make it on the air and to the Republican candidates.
But here, just a sample of them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where do you stand on the terminally ill patient's right to die? If a national position assisted suicide law were passed, would you sign it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: George W. Bush and his administration are suffering from all time lows in approval ratings. How will you, as a Republican candidate, distance yourself from the president and his administration in order to appeal to the mainstream voter?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you be willing to extend all the health care coverage that you get in the United States Senate, the House of Representatives and the president, would you be willing to extend that coverage to all Americans?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This question is for Fred Thompson. You've made it clear you don't believe in human-caused global warming. Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for fighting against global warming. Does this mean you don't believe in peace?
(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: OK, again, the CNN/YouTube Republican debate is set for 8:00 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night. The best political team on television is choosing your questions for the candidates from thousands of submissions on YouTube. Your voice will be heard only on CNN, your home for politics.
PHILLIPS: Doctors refusing to give treatment because of their religious values. Rape victims denied emergency contraception, women lectured on the pill. Are doctors acting within their rights or are they out of line?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Sure, Thanksgiving was nice, but this week is the big one. Yes, it's National Flu Vaccination week. If you haven't gotten your shot yet, the CDC wants you to know you're not doomed to get sick and there are no signs of those vaccine shortages of years past.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. JULIE GERBERDING, DIR., CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL: I'm always respectful of something can go wrong in flu season, but this year, we have the most doses ever. We have even more than we did last year and we're very confident that anyone who wants a shot or vaccine is going to be able to get it this year. So, it's not too late. Please do it now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Separately, a FDA panel is meeting today to debate a stronger warning label for some prescription flu drugs, including the popular Tamiflu. They're concerned about reports of odd psychiatric behavior in children who've taken them.
PHILLIPS: A booster shot today for the fight against polio. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is giving $100 million challenge grant to the nonprofit Arm of Rotary International for its effort to wipe out polio for good. Rotary plans to match the grant dollar-for- dollar. And thanks to immunizations, polio is endemic to just four countries: Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
LEMON: Well, medical doctors treat medical problems based on the best known principles of medicine -- medical science. That should happen, right? Well, but some doctors are declining to treat some patients for some issues because of the doctor's religious beliefs.
CNN's Randi Kaye takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In June, this 24- year-old from Texas asked her doctor for birth control pills and got an earful.
"MELISSA," WAS REFUSED CONTRACEPTION: He told me that he didn't believe in prescribing birth control. He thought it was morally wrong, that I shouldn't be having sex and he launched into a lecture about you know, ethically you know, how I need to rethink things.
KAYE: She doesn't want to share her doctor's name or her own, so we'll call her Melissa. She told us her doctor was Catholic.
MELISSA: I have no problem with the doctor being a practicing religious person, but they do not have a right to impose that on their patients.
KAYE (on camera): Yet more and more patients are getting a dose of religion in the exam room. Doctors are rejecting patients whose care throws their moral compass off course. In a study published this year in the "New England Journal of Medicine," 63 percent of the doctors surveyed said it was OK to voice their moral objections to patients.
DR. SCOTT ROSS, FAMILY PHYSICIAN: The struggle is always there.
KAYE (voice-over): Dr. Scott Ross, a Catholic family physician in Virginia, believes contraception interferes with God's plan to breathe life into us, so he doesn't prescribe birth control.
KAYE (on camera): So, if someone came to you today and said they would like contraception or the morning after pill, what do you tell them?
ROSS: I'm very frank with them, and say that's something that I don't do. It's not part of my practice.
KAYE (voice-over): Dr. Ross says he has denied contraception to at least a dozen patients.
(on camera): Do you ever feel as though you're playing a role of judge, too?
ROSS: No.
KAYE: But when you're denying someone something that they're requesting, aren't you making a judgment on whether or not they should have that care?
ROSS: I don't know that I'm making a judgment on whether or not they should have the care. It's just the judgment of I can't provide that care.
KAYE (voice-over): Melissa didn't see it that way with her doctor.
(on camera): Did you feel as if he was judging you?
MELISSA: Yes, yes, I really did. I felt as though he was accusing me of being immoral, and trying to impose his values on me.
KAYE: What should they do? Should they not practice?
MELISSA: If their religious beliefs are in unreasonable conflict with their obligations to a patient, then yes, I think they shouldn't practice.
KAYE (voice-over): Today, Melissa has a new doctor and the prescription she wanted. Yet, women are still being left in the lurch.
(on camera): Eight states have laws giving doctors the legal right to reject treatment if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Refusal clauses are quietly becoming law and allow health care providers more leeway to refuse a larger variety of treatments. Four states are considering legislation that would let doctors refuse absolutely any treatment if it conflicts with their faith.
(voice-over): And we've learned doctors are saying no in the name of God, even to women who have been raped.
(on camera): Is it right, do you think, to deny a woman who's been raped emergency contraception when time is so limited to actually treat that?
ROSS: You know, our goal is to provide excellent medical care for all of the patients that we encounter.
KAYE: But does that sit OK with you?
ROSS: That sits OK with me.
KAYE: How is it OK to deny her that care?
ROSS: I think we as physicians have right to uphold our own moral grounds and we don't have to do everything that's asked of us.
KAYE (voice-over): The American Medical Association agrees.
DR. EDWARD LANGSTON, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: They have the right to refuse to provide those services. But they also have an obligation to help that patient seek the care from another physician.
KAYE: These eight states already require ER doctors to provide emergency contraception to sexual assault victims, and Pennsylvania may soon join them. Loyalty to a higher power, or loyalty to medicine, can doctors really have both?
Randi Kaye, CNN, Manassas, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: He took risks on the field. But the greatest threat came inside his own home. New details on the death of an NFL star, including a statement from Taylor's father just in to CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Flowers, teddy bears, tears. Fans are remembering Sean Taylor at a park at Ashburn, Virginia near the Washington Redskins training camp. They have set up a makeshift memorial to honor the 24- year-old who was shot in his Florida home and died this morning at a hospital. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder calls Taylor's killing "the worst imaginable tragedy."
And just moments ago, CNN got a statement from Taylor's father, from Pedro Taylor. And it reads in part, I'll just read a couple of remarks from it. It says, "first and foremost, we'd like to thank all of the support received by our family during this time. We appreciate the love, support and prayers received."
Then it goes on to say, "It was in deep regret that a young man had to come to his end so soon. I can only hope and pray that Sean's life was not in vain and that it might touch others in a special way. Our family would like to send a shout out to extend our deepest appreciation to each and everyone, also the media and how they have honored Sean for the man that he was. Again, thank you. Funeral arrangements will be announced."
That's Pedro Taylor and family. Again, the father of Sean Taylor.
PHILLIPS: Something else that we came across today. It was Taylor's last known interview. It was given during training camp in August of this year. He actually talks about getting picked for the pro bowl game in Hawaii and he also appears very humble, even down playing his talents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN TAYLOR, NFL STAR: There's too many people out in the NFL that make hard hits every week. I thank them for voting me that, but that means nothing, and that buys me nothing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you take pride though in being an intimidating factor out there?
TAYLOR: I don't think I'm an intimidating factor. People ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't?
TAYLOR: ...aren't scared of Sean.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I think -- I beg to differ.
TAYLOR: I'm a good person.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The receivers don't want to run into you out there in the middle.
TAYLOR: No, I'm a good person.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're a good person, but you're hard- hitting safety on the field, right?
TAYLOR: Not at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: His teammates say that Taylor really matured after the birth of his daughter.
And once again, we want to remind you that we're waiting for a news conference on behalf of the Redskins, we should hear from the team's owner and the head coach. We're going to bring that to you live as soon as it happens.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Betty Nguyen working details on a developing story for us -- Betty?
NGUYEN: Yes, a convicted killer has escaped prison in northwestern Pennsylvania. But here's how he did it. Apparently, he hid in a trash can. That trash can was loaded onto a storage dock and then onto a pickup truck. The person that you're seeing right there, well, you did see, was John -- I'm sorry, Malcolm Kysor. He's 53- years-old. He was -- been in prison since 1998 for an early 1980s murder. That prison is in lockdown.
Again, let me tell you a little bit about Kysor. He, obviously, is a white male, he's 5'8" tall, 160 pounds, has brown hair and eyes. Several tattoos -- I'm giving a description because obviously, they're looking for him right now. Citizens in the area are warned not to approach Kysor if they spot him, but just to call police. And the FBI has announced an unspecified reward for information leading to his capture.
So again, Kyra, convicted murderer escaped from a medium-security prison in northwestern Pennsylvania, and he did so by hiding in a trash can, which was pushed onto a loading dock and then hauled away in a pickup truck.
Sounds like something out of a movie.
PHILLIPS: Well, we'll definitely follow it.
NGUYEN: Yes.
PHILLIPS: It's something we've been talking about all morning.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Betty.
Next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
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