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Who Killed Sean Taylor?; Winter Storms; Chavez for Life?; New Hampshire Hostage Standoff; The Man to Lead America; New Craig Allegations

Aired December 02, 2007 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

HUGO CHAVEZ, PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA, (Through translator): If the government of the United States were to attempt against Venezuela again, if it were to try and destabilize the country, we would not send anymore oil to the U.S.
ROB MARCIANO, ANCHOR: Venezuelan President Chavez threatens the U.S. where it hurts, at the gas pump.

And winter has not officially started yet but you would never know by looking - wind, snow and ice spell trouble from coast-to-coast.

And today NFL stadiums go quiet for Sean Taylor and justice goes forward for one of the men arrested in his death.

Suspect number four in the shooting death of NFL star Sean Taylor, Jason Scott Mitchell, 19 years old. He appeared this morning by way of videophone before a Florida judge; the charge felony first-degree murder and burglary among others.

Mitchell was denied bond, same as the other three suspects. And according to court documents, Mitchell confessed to robbing Taylor's house last week, but there's no word on who pulled the gun and trigger on Sean Taylor.

Now, from Sean Taylor the victim, to Sean Taylor the man and the father. Today we heard for the first time publicly from the woman Taylor was to marry and the mother of his child. Taylor's fiancee spoke to reporters in Coral Gables, Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

JACKIE GARCIA, SEAN TAYLOR'S FIANCEE: I just wanted to thank everybody at UM. Thank you so much for letting me have so many special memories and giving him so many opportunities.

He was planning to come back and attend school in January. It was his dream to graduate. Just thank you for all your prayers. I really appreciate it.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

MARCIANO: Friends, family and fans of Sean Taylor are sharing their grief and loss with one another. Let's go to Christina Puig from our Miami affiliate WFOR. Christina, good evening. You were near the church where there was a memorial service happening today. What did you talk to the people about there today? What did they have to say?

CHRISTINA PUIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is right, Rob. I'm at the Second Baptist Church in Richmond Heights which is close to where Sean Taylor lived and some of his family members worshipped.

We weren't allowed inside the church but we did get a chance to some friends and family members outside of the church as they were leaving the church.

There was a private viewing for the closest members of the family that started at 3:30. I was told there was an open casket. That lasted about an hour and a half.

And then when that family emerged, Pedro Taylor, Sean's father, who is the Florida city police chief and the rest of the family was escorted by car. And then other family members were placed on large Greyhound buses to be transferred to another memorial that was taking place following.

Once the family was escorted out, the church was open for a public viewing of Sean Taylor's casket by the rest of the general public. Now, I must say there must have been more than 400 people here today because the church has a seating capacity of 400 alone and there were at least 300 lined up outside the church waiting to get inside the church.

Cristina Puig, from Coral Gables this evening. Thank you Christina.

MARCIANO: Nearly 92,000 football fans on their feet. You have never heard such a silence. Listen to this.

Red Skins fans at Fedex field paying quiet attention to a special memorial presentation before the kickoff of the Red Skins Bills game in Washington. Sean taylor's absence was noticeable. It was noticeable long before the game too. CNN's Gary Nurenberg reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fans wore Sean Taylor's number, 21, on shirts, on sleeves, on their faces, his name on their lips.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we pray for Sean. Grant him Your peace.

NURENBERG: Tailgating parties stopped for prayer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is not like coming to a football game today, it is like coming to a funeral.

NURENBERG: Fans passed a shrine in his honor, flowers, posters, tributes, heartfelt and handwritten.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is just very sad, but it means a lot to all of us.

NURENBERG: One mother helped her 8-year-old write "Rest in Peace." What she remembers most was Taylor's spirit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we always watched him in our binoculars as they were warming up. And he was always dancing and getting everybody into it and pumped up during the game and I think it hit us all hard.

NURENBERG: Every player in the NFL wore the number 21 on his helmet Sunday in tribute to Taylor. Every stadium had a moment like this before kickoff.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please join us in a moment of silence as we honor his memory.

NURENBERG: On the field, one of Taylor's closest friends on the team, Clinton Portis, scored the first touchdown of the game, a poetic start to the team's future without the player who is now part of its past.

Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Landover, Maryland.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

MARCIANO: A big winter storm has hit the northeast. Much of New York got a coating of snow today. So did parts of Pennsylvania. Major accumulations are expected tonight and tomorrow over parts of northern New England.

The storm now is being blamed for at least 10 deaths on its march across the Midwest. All were killed on snowy, icy roads along a path from Colorado to Michigan. The state's getting hit on the storm's back end.

Armies of snowplows were out in force today, you bet. And utility crews restored power to tens of thousands of people who lost it.

Let's get straight now to Jacqui Jeras in the Severe Weather Center with this monster storm and I guess there're others out there. We'll talk more about that in a sec.

First, this snowstorm across the northeast, Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The snow is still kind of getting started across the northeastern corridor. We have go two pieces of energy with this system. First one right here across the Mid-Atlantic states and then we've got the one that's moving across the Great Lakes.

The good news with all of this is that the area of the wintry precipitation, where the real icy stuff was that caused all the travel headaches yesterday is a much narrower band. So we are just dealing with some heavy rainfall here.

But we haven't seen a very narrow corridor have some freezing rain and sleet from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, extending through central parts of New Jersey. We got about an inch and a half of snow in Central Park in New York City. And we're likely going to see some more of that snow and then rain and sleet are beginning to push back into the picture. But we're going to make up for lost progress today by tomorrow. Look at the warnings which are in place. We are expecting very heavy snow, especially into the mountainous areas of northern New England. Ten to 18 inches can be expected in Burlington, Vermont.

Of course, the airport is troublesome because of the low clouds and the snow we have been having. There you can see the delays well over an hour at JFK as well as La Guardia and Philadelphia looking at delays of over two hours. That is trying to get into the city. We expect those problems to be out there as well tomorrow because behind this front, rob, winds could be gusting as much 50 miles an hour.

MARCIANO: That is enough to slow travel down for sure. We have been watching pictures come in from the West Coast in the CNN Newsroom all day long. What is going on with this Pacific Northwest storm?

JERAS: Yes, talk about some nasty wind. This is a picture you can see right there. This is Pacific City. And that is to the south and west of the Portland area, right on the coast.

We have been seeing some wind gusts on the Oregon coast as high as 100-plus miles per hour. So an incredible wind storm, a lot of rain and just an incredible amount of snow over the higher elevations too.

And look at some of the current winds; North Bend around 20, 21 miles per hour. Look at this at Hoquiam, 38 miles per hour that's sustained, not to mention some of those really wicked gusts.

Here you can some of the gusts 101 miles per hour at Cape Blanco, Oregon. That's like a category 2 hurricane; so very unbelievable.

We are going to continue to see the storm stick with you in the Pacific Northwest through the day tomorrow and likely even lingering into tomorrow night.

Rob, look at the all the warnings. A lot of them out there.

MARCIANO: Storms on both sides of the U.s. Thank you, Jacqui. We will check back with you a little bit later.

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez wants the today's constitution referendum to be a mandate for what he calls 21st century socialism. His opposition calls it another obvious power grab aimed at keeping him in office indefinitely.

Harris Whitback is live with the latest from the Venezuelan capital. Good evening Harris.

HARRIS WHITBACK: I'm at the opposition headquarters in Caracas. People here are obviously very anxiously awaiting results from the referendum which was celebrated today in the entire country.

Just a few minutes ago, representatives of the student movement, which for the several weeks have been out on the streets sometimes facing violence from members of the security forces here say that they are going to be very, very careful. They say that they have monitors at all of the polling stations.

They will be very closely watching how the votes today will be counted. Both sides in this issue say that it is absolutely crucial to the future of Venezuela.

President Chavez has said that he needs the constitutional amendment in order to steer Venezuela toward socialism. The opposition has reiterated that it feels that if these amendments go forward, Venezuela would be well on its way to the establishment of a totalitarian state.

President Chavez has called for a press conference which will be taking place he says as soon as the official results are in. Again, no official results yet but those should be coming in shortly.

MARCIANO: We will wait for word on those official referendum results. Thank you Harris Whitback, live for us in Caracas.

Well, let's get some perspective. Is the Chavez persona for real or is it, some suggests, just a tool for political gain at home and abroad? CNN En Espanol correspondent Juan Carlos Lopez joins us live from our Washington bureau.

Good evening, Juan. Let's get straight to this. I mean, we in the U.S. we see President Hugo Chavez he seems to constantly be barking at the U.S. Excuse the term there, at President Bush, even at CNN. What is his perspective from South America? Is this guy as crazy as he appears to be in the U.S.? Help us understand who Hugo Chavez is?

JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN EN ESPANOL CORRESPONDENT: It depends on who you ask, Rob. Some countries follow and are close to President Hugo Chavez. Other countries might not follow him but are not distant.

He is a very important influence in the region. Venezuela is one of the largest exporters of oil in the world; eighth I believe in the ranking. So he has a lot of money and that money is being seen in the region a lot of people believe.

And he has presented himself as an alternative to the U.S., an alternative to the empire as he calls the United States government. And that is what he has been doing and this referendum is obviously very controversial. It changes the constitution.

If he wins it would give him the possibility of being re-elected indefinitely. He would be the only public officer to be able to be elected indefinitely. And other changes that many believe will give him even more power than he already has.

MARCIANO: You know some would say that with all that power he would get from this new referendum that this referendum would be for him more than for the country. How accurate is that?

LOPEZ: He said on Friday, they had a closing speech for his campaign, saying that a vote for "Yes" and that is for the referendum to pass was a vote for Chavez, and a vote for "no" was a vote for the empire, referring to the U.S. So yes, that is the way he has presented it. He believes that he is the one who has to lead this socialist revolution. And that's why this referendum has come forward. But his supporters believe that it just makes a deeper version of Venezuelan democracy.

The opposition believes the contrary and they are not going to agree on anything any time soon.

MARCIANO: What do other countries in South America think of him, the governments of Brazil, of Argentina?

LOPEZ: Well Brazil has a socialist president but they have a certain distance, a good relationship, but they don't follow his lead. Countries like Colombia his next door neighbor, he is in a bitter fight with that country's president, a very strong U.S. ally.

They were on very good terms until a couple of weeks ago. Chavez was mediating in the freeing of hostages held by rebel group, three Americans included. And all of a sudden this ended up in a very bitter fight. And Chavez said he is freezing the relationship with the President Uribe and changes could come.

Some are close. Some aren't that close. He is looking for support. He is very close to the Cuban President Fidel Castro and to the Cuban government.

MARCIANO: Well, let's bring it home to the U.S. here. What would it mean for the folks living in the U.S. if this referendum passes?

LOPEZ: I don't think it would make a big change. He has threatened and he said that they discovered a plan that the U.S. Would be trying to disrupt the referendum and influence the results. That has been denied by State Department and by the White House.

And he said he would stop the sale of oil to the United States and it is not as simple.

MARCIANO: Can he do that? Can he afford to do that?

LOPEZ: Experts say it is not as simple as just turning a button on or off. He sells about 15 percent of the oil that the U.S. consumes. But that is 60 percent of the oil that Venezuela sales.

So yes, if he was to stop the sale of oil to the United States, he would blow himself a big blow. It is not that simple.

MARCIANO: Juan Carlos Lopez from our D.C. bureau, En Espanol correspondent. Thanks for your insight, Juan.

LOPEZ: My pleasure.

MARCIANO: Well, he caused quite a scare on Friday. What we've learned about Leeland Eisenberg, the hostage taker at the Clinton campaign office. You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Relatives of Leeland Eisenberg are trying to offer some insight into his five-hour hostage standoff at the Hillary Clinton campaign office. It comes on the eve of his first scheduled court appearance.

CNN's Jim Acosta reports from From Rochester, New Hampshire.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Benjamin Warren, stepson of the man accused of taking hostages at Hillary Clinton's campaign office told CNN a political ad drove suspect Leeland Eisenberg to seek help from the New York senator.

That ad a Clinton campaign commercial features a man who claims the former first lady helped his son get a bone marrow transplant. Warren says his stepfather who had suffered from mental illness thought he might be able to get treatment with Clinton's assistance.

He needed help, Warren said. He couldn't get it. Eisenberg, who released his hostages and surrendered peacefully Friday, has a history of mental illness, substance abuse and run-ins with the law. The owner of this local restaurant says he refused to hire Eisenberg.

What was he like?

ANTHONY EJARQUE, RESTAURANT OWNER: He was angry. He was very angry. We didn't hire him. He had come in and interviewed and he had some businesses in town that had gone bankrupt and he was very angry and upset about that and blaming a lot of individuals and blaming society basically.

ACOSTA: As for the former hostages, friends say they are recovering from a terrifying ordeal. Dan Nagy says he was able to speak with one of the captives on the phone during the standoff.

DAN NAGY, CLINTON CAMPAIGN WORKER: You just can picture her face inside that building, talking on the phone, crying her eyes out, not knowing what is going to happen. That is the hardest part.

ACOSTA: The people of Rochester would like to put the standoff behind them so they held their annual winter parade as scheduled to try to get some their small town back to the way it was.

Jim Acosta, CNN Rochester, New Hampshire.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

MARCIANO: Well, it is a prize conservatives crave. And John McCain's got it. We'll tell you about the boost to his presidential campaign.

Plus, some new Iowa polls are out just a month before the states first of the nation caucus. You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Now to the campaign trail where Republican presidential candidate John McCain has picked up a plum endorsement. Today "The New Hampshire Union Leader" officially endorsed the Arizona Republican. The newspaper says McCain is most trustworthy, competent and conservative of all the candidates seeking nomination. Its conservative editorial page is influential among Republican and Republican-leaning voters.

And in Iowa a new poll shows the three leading Democratic presidential candidates in a real toss up. The poll for the Des Moines Register shows Barack Obama with 28 percent, Hillary Clinton with 25 percent and John Edwards with 23 percent. On the Republican side the poll shows Mike Huckabee leading the race in Iowa with 29 percent, Mitt Romney has 24 percent, Rudy Giuliani was third with 13 percent.

The rankings are changed from earlier polls. For months they have shown Romney leading in Iowa.

Well Iowa is a must-win caucus state. That is why candidates want to be there at all costs. But last night the democratic candidates braved the ice and snow to attend a forum on African-American and Latino concerns.

CNN's Jessica Yellin has more from Des Moines.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It got off to a rough start when the microphones failed which led to some comical moments.

Barack, I want to thank you for passing the baton in this race.

YELLIN: Senator Biden arrives late.

Senator if I can give you a chance to brush the sleet off your lapels.

YELLIN: He had driven from Chicago after the weather shuttered the Des Moines airport for hours. He managed this dig at Senator Clinton.

SENATOR JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I arrived from Chicago. I apologize. And I don't have a plane.

YELLIN: With those surprises over, the candidates had some for each other. The format allowed each to ask one question of any candidate. Which spawned this from New Mexico's governor.

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And my question to Senator Clinton is don't you think governors make good presidents?

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, Bill, I think they also make good vice presidents.

YELLIN: Congressman Kucinich, eternally complaining about being left out of the discussion, took advantage of the rare opening. REP. DENNIS KUCINICH, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The candidate that I have a question to is Congressman Kucinich. Congressman Kucinich -- yes I thought I'd get him in the question period here.

YELLIN: The latest Des Moines Register poll shows Barack Obama, Senator Clinton and John Edwards in a statistical dead heat with Obama coming out on top in this poll.

After the event I spoke with Senator Clinton's pollster Mark Penn. He emphasized that this race in Iowa is still incredibly fluid. And he reminded us that last time around no candidate pulled ahead until the week before the caucus.

The Des Moines Register shows that nearly half of those they polled say they could still change their minds and be wooed away by another candidate. So this race in Iowa looks to be tight down to the very end.

Jessica Yellin, CNN, Des Moines, Iowa.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

MARCIANO: Idaho Senator, Larry Craig is facing new allegations about his past sexual behavior. Today's "Idaho Statesman" newspaper identifies four gay men who claimed they either had sex with Craig or were the subject of sexual advances.

The men described their encounters to the paper in detail. The paper offers no physical evidence to back up its report describing the claims as "he said-he said" allegations.

And in a statement to the Associated Press, Senator Craig calls the claims, "completely false. In his words, "it is unfortunate that the "Idaho Statesman" has chosen to continue to lower its standard to that of what could best be described as tabloid journalism.

Senator Craig you may remember was arrested last June in a sex sting at a Minneapolis airport bathroom. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. But he tried to withdraw the plea after his arrest became public.

Senator Craig has also backed away from plans to resign his senate seat, instead choosing to stay until his term expires in January 2009.

His party may have won big today, but Russian President Putin is not supposed to serve another term. Will he relinquish his power when his time is up and why should the U.S. care if he's in power or not?

Those questions answered next in the CNN "Newsroom."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROB MARCIANO, CNN, ANCHOR: Welcome back. Here's what happening. Fans and fellow players remember the NFL's Sean Taylor. The Washington Redskins' Fedex Field was a see of placards bearing the slain defender's number 21. A fourth man charged in Taylor's shooting death was denied bond in Florida today.

And a big winter storm now being blamed for at least 10 deaths. All were killed on snowy icy roads from Colorado, all the way to Michigan. The storm has moved eastward hitting New York and Pennsylvania, with heavy accumulations ahead for New England as well.

Well, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez dropped his vote in a ballot box hoping other Venezuelans back his bid to broaden his powers. Despite tensions ahead of the vote, the constitutional referendum was peaceful. No results have yet to be released.

And President Vladimir Putin looks to be the big winner today in Russia's parliamentary elections. With that story now, from Moscow, CNN's Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN, SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With votes now being counted, it's clear Russia's ruling party has won a major victory in these elections and will dominate the country's parliament. Early results suggest a landslide with United Russia Party, backed by President Putin winning the vast majority of the votes.

BORIS GRYZLOV, UNITED RUSSIA LEADER (through translator): The elections have vindicated the main idea that Vladimir Putin is the country's national leader and that the Russian voters support the political course he pursued in the last eight years.

CHANCE: Across Russia's 11 time zones, election officials say turnout was high, over 60% of voters taking part. Three other political parties, including the communists, also qualified for seats. They will be far too weak though to challenge the overwhelming winner. This election is more about Vladimir Putin's popularity than any real contest for political power. The extent of his party's victory and dominance of next year's parliament could help decide what role he plays in Russian politics for years to come.

Before election day President Putin hinted he had become prime minister. Kremlin officials say this huge majority will boost his bid to retain power after leaving the Kremlin. It is unclear what kind of national leader he intends to become. But the votes, however resounding, has been blighted by allegations of abuses. Independent election monitors say their work has been hampered and reports a band of state employees being ordered to support the government. Opposition figures like former chess champion Garry Kasparov who spoiled his ballot, accused the Kremlin of election fraud.

GARRY KASPARV, OPPOSTION LEADER: I don't know what they have planned how to use this referendum. I doubt whether they have this one yet. But the fact is that they are not just rigging the vote. They are, you know, they're raping the democratic system.

CHANCE: And as Russians await final results in this controversial election their future it seems is tied to one man. Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow. (END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: Well, as Putin's stature has risen, so has Russia's, helped mightily by the rise in oil prices and profits. At the same time, Moscow sees America stuck in Iraq and doesn't really mind that a bit. Joining us now from Washington is Mark Brzezinski. He served in Russian relations in the Clinton White House as a member of the National Security Council. Good evening, Mark.

MARK BRZEZINSKI, FMR. MEMBER, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: Good evening.

MARCIANO: Let's cut to the chase on this. These elections today, it looks like his party, United Russia may go out with an overwhelming, well, maybe a majority here in parliament. What is that going to mean for Russia and more importantly what does is it going to mean for the folks here in the U.S..

BRZEZINSKI: Well, what it means for Russia is that we will see, in the short term, a continuation of the policies of Vladimir Putin, more consolidation of state power internally and perhaps continued Russian meddling in its own or abroad. What it means for us is a more confident Russia that will play probably in the Middle East, a Russia whose dominant mindset is first of all, they are not unhappy that America is bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, and second they probably have exaggerated notions of how much they can do in Eurasia and the Middle East.

MARCIANO: When he steps down, let me ask you, by law here in spring, what if he becomes prime minister. That's the word right now. How much power will Vladimir Putin have if he becomes prime minister?

BRZEZINSKI: Well, you know, formerly, it will be important if he steps down because it will be the first time in Russian history that a Russian leader voluntarily gave up power according to a process set in stone by the constitution. And so if he does do that, that will be an important landmark. And if he becomes prime minister, then he will continue to have a dominant voice in the Russian policy and political scene.

MARCIANO: Well, you know, he kind of came up with the cold war. KGB operative and all. I suppose Americans, when they think about Russia, that is what they think of. Will we be heading towards down that road again with this new power that his party has?

BRZEZINSKI: Well, you'll see that, you know, the people who Putin has put forward as names as possible successors for him are also products of the former KGB, the former Soviet Secret Police. And that is relevant in terms of the way Russian political elites will make the decisions and how they operate in Europe and elsewhere. But in the long term I'm actually more optimistic. I think that what we see with Putin and perhaps his successor is the last gasp of the old Soviet elite, namely products of the KGB. And there will be a new line, a new generation of young Russian leaders that come after the next Russian president that is more worldly, more internationally educated and perhaps a better partner for America abroad. MARCIANO: You know, we've been running this special about President Putin. And we've been calling him Czar Putin. He is old school, but is it fair to even use that term when describing him?

BRZEZINSKI: Well, czar suggests a kind of continued holding on to power by a person over their entire lifetime. And I think it is important that Putin is relinquishing power if he does so in the next month or so. But czar is appropriate in terms of total control over the society and over the policy making process which is what Vladimir Putin established through his vote today.

MARCIANO: Excellent insights, Mark Brzezinski, a former member of the National Security Council in the Clinton White House. We appreciate your help today, Mark.

BRZEZINSKI: Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: Have a good evening. Well, President Putin is riding a wave of popularity in Russia, especially among the young. And a chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour reports, many young Russians have a new and surprisingly strong sense of Russian nationalism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAXIM MISHCHENKO, YOUNG RUSSIA (through translator): You will never succeed in making a revolution in this country. You will never succeed in imposing America's government here.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: America's government, what is Maxim Mishchenko talking about?

MISHCHENKO: We came here to show the U.S. embassy that this how things look to us. This is how America screams and squeals.

AMANPOUR: He is the leader of one of the youth groups called (foreign words) or Young Russia.

We saw you outside the American embassy at a demonstration carrying a pig. Why so bitter?

MISHCHENKO (through translator): These piglets symbolize Russians who look for directions from the United States. These people don't understand that their political positions will pollute their own back yard.

AMANPOUR: So you think any opposition here like Garry Kasparov has to be an American agent?

MISHCHENKO (through translator): Garry Kasparov is an honorary U.S. citizen. He loves their country, not this country. Such people should take no part in Russian politics.

AMANPOUR: Where does Maxim get these ideas? From President Putin himself. At a pre-election rally he called the opposition jackals. PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIA (through translator): Unfortunately, there are some in this country who scourge outside the gates of foreign embassies.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: And you can see more of Christiane Amanpour's special report, CNN's "Special Investigative Unit: Czar Putin." That's tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

Well, do prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have the same basic rights as American citizens? The Supreme Court will hear that argument tomorrow. You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Well, a big case comes before the Supreme Court this week. That issue, whether detainees at Guantanamo Bay have the right to challenge their detentions in court. CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN, SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For one hour, the justices will hear arguments whether foreign prisoners held in Guantanamo, some for as long as five years are entitled to a fundamental right guaranteed to every American. Habeas corpus - the right to petition for relief against unlawful detention. Charles Swift is a former military attorney who vigorously defended a Yemeni man accused of being Osama Bin Laden's body guard and driver.

CHARLES SWIFT, FORMER MILITARY DEFENSE ATTORNEY: They want to look their accusers in the face. They want to be able to say this is what I did. They want to have an opportunity to exonerate themselves.

MCINTYRE: But the Bush administration argues that the more than 300 detainees held in Guantanamo are enemy combatants whose rights are adequately protected by the Military Commissions Act passed by Congress last year.

DAVID RIVKIN, FORMER DEPT. OF JUSTICE LAWYER: Frankly, the detainees under MC have more due process than any enemy combatant, lawful or unlawful, in any war in human history including any war in which the United States was a party.

MCINTYRE: But attorneys bringing the case before the Supreme Court argue military officials not independent judges are deciding the fate of detainees, in a process that does not allow prisoners to have lawyers or present their own evidence. The defendants in the case are an Algerian arrested in Bosnia in 2001 and a Kuwaiti citizen captured in Pakistan in 2002.

ED LAZARUS, AUTHOR, "CLOSED CHAMBERS": Do you think that's going to trouble a number of justices, particularly with respect to the ones from Bosnia, where the Bosnian government conducted an investigation and decided these people were not implicated in the alleged attempt to bomb the U.S. embassy over there.

MCINTYRE: The constitution says a writ of habeas corpus may be suspended only in cases of rebellion or invasion. It's a high standard.

SWIFT: But it is a greater threat than the Nazis. This is a greater threat than the civil war to our union and our freedom. That's difficult for me to swallow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: There is an unusual wrinkle in the case. Back in April, the high court declined to hear it but then in June reversed itself and said it would decide if Guantanamo prisoners enjoy the same basic rights as Americans. One legal expert thinks that means the Supreme Court wants to set some guidelines but it's unlikely to overturn the military commission's process. Jamie McIntyre, CNN, Washington.

MARCIANO: When we come back, an inspirational story about a big man on campus and he's only five feet tall. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Well, he's a big man on campus even though he's not even five feet tall. But when it comes to the hearts of U.S.C.'s players and coach, he's a grid iron, great for sure. Kara Finnstrom introduces us to Ricky Rosas, the Trojans inspirational secret weapon.

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: At a school known for football legends, a story of triumph is no surprise. But this isn't about the NFL stars in the making. In their shadows, we found a 4'8" giant.

STAFON JOHNSON, USC TAILBACK: He is a small guy with a big heart. He brings happiness to the field.

FINNSTROM: 18-year-old Ricky Rosas is a cancer survivor with a learning disability. Two years ago at a public practice, he met Coach Pete Carroll.

PETE CARROLL, COACH, USC: He hung around for a little bit afterward. I told him to come on back and sure he came back.

FINNSTROM: And kept coming. Before long, Ricky was on the field alongside the coaches five days a week.

RICKY ROSAS, TEAM VOLUNTEER: I go get the coaches' food and then I shred the papers. And then (inaudible)

FINNSTROM: The team began saving him a chair at their training table, suiting him up in S.C. garb.

ROSAS: The shoes were given to me by Jared Blank and the shoes were given to me by (inaudible).

FINNSTROM: Even taking him on the SC jet to an away game and bestowing an unofficial title. PETE CARROLL: Well, Ricky is special assistant to the head coach. He is very close to me.

JARED BLANK, ASST. DIR. FOOTBALL OPERATIONS: Whenever he is asked to do something he goes to his maximum level to get it done. No one can ask more of the kid. It is cool to see.

FINNSTROM: But it's not the odd jobs that make unassuming Ricky such an asset. It is the smile, the hugs, the pure joy Ricky takes in being here. It spreads.

ROSAS: You know we got you covered. I want to give them a big thanks for letting me be around them for so long.

CARROLL: He is a wonderful kid that brings a spirit and energy about this program that is unique and once we sense it, we just needed him around us.

FINNSTROM: Ricky's family always knew he would make his mark.

NICKY ROSAS, RICKY'S SISTER: I'm really proud of him because he is really recognized.

FINNSTROM: He lives in east L.A. with his sister who suffers from a disability that destroyed his leg and his mother. They say, the boy who overcame cancer at age 1 has been undaunted by hardship ever since.

NICKY ROSAS: It shows us that we could do things, you know. Just because we may have disabilities in a way, we can still do good.

FINNSTROM: Ricky, who doesn't have a driver's license, spends an hour and a half on two buses to get to practice every day and games every weekend. All this not to be paid in dollars. What does it feel like being out here?

ROSAS: It is so good, all the fans.

FINNSTROM: But to simply live a dream.

CARROLL: He's got a bit of a heartthrob about him that keeps us all going.

FINNSTROM: And to remind all those around him that is exactly what they are doing, too. Kara Finnstrom for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: You can hear more of Ricky Rosas' story. He will be a guest on CNN's NEWSROOM with Keira Phillips and Don Lemon. That show begins tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.

I can't believe we have been reporting on this, Josh Levs here. We're going to talk about the ultimate daredevil is now gone, Evel Knievel.

JOSH LEVS, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: You know what, before he died he said he is not a hero, right? But we here, at CNN, are hearing from millions of people all over the world who are saying why to them he is a hero. It gives you so much insight into why that man became an icon. And I'm going to tell you about that. Coming up. Stay with us. CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: In his last interview with "Vanity Fair" magazine Evel Knievel said he wanted to live until he was 70. Well, he almost got there. He died Friday at age 69. And if you grew up in the 1970s, how could you forget those stunts, those suits and the thrills and the spills. CNN.com readers are remembering the daredevil tonight and our own Josh Levs is here with more on that side of the story.

LEVS: Amazing guy. Yes, we all remember him for what he did. You know, we remember these amazing stunts in the pieces of video. But what is really interesting is to learn a little bit about the man and also why he is spoke to so many people. As Rob was just saying, he lived to be 69 years old. And when you look back at his life growing up in Butte, Montana, getting involved early in all these stunts. He was pole vaulting in high school. He was doing crazy things on skis. You can see how he got to where he did. What I want to do though is tell you about what people who were writing into cnn.com are telling us about this man. What it is that moved them? Let's start with this one from a man named Stewart Pittman. Here's what he say, he's from Greensboro, North Carolina. And he said, "unlike the legions of extreme stunt riders he inspired, Robert Craig Knievel wasn't the least bit bohemian. Sure, he possessed Elvis' wardrobe but he had the demeanor of a traffic cop. He toughened up a generation of kids made soft by too much Brady bunch."

I like that, speaking of the 70s, growing up in the 70s.

MARCIANO: Yes. I think that's pretty accurate. I was soft because of the Brady bunch. He inspired me to get the little jumps out of my street and break my bike.

LEVS: See. They didn't do these stuff on the Brady bunch. All right. Let's do another one. Scott Stephenson from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Let's take a look at this one.

"As a child, I was not into comic book heroes or fake superstars (Superman, Batman) but Evel was larger than life to me. He inspired me to be amazed at what a human could do if he would at least try, including facing failure and trying again until you could do it."

See, to me that is the quote right there.

MARCIANO: Yes, that so and especially when you see that video of him flying off that bike. I think that was a crash, he broke multiple bones, including, I think his back.

LEVS: About 40 bones in his body. Yes. And its' amazing. I want to end with this.

MARCIANO: You got more. LEVS: Yes. I want to tell you what he himself said. OK because he said he is not a hero. This is something he said before his death. He said "a soldier fighting without question and dying for a cause, a scientist, an astronaut, people who stand in the way of harm and conflict and give their life without question for the good of others, they are the real heroes. I was good at riding motorcycles and a pretty good businessman. Not a hero. "

You know, what's cool is he was this megastar, known to love the riches, love the wealth, love the fame, but the truth is in the end, modest at heart.

MARCIANO: Yes, that is nice to see, especially as big a personality he was. He was really (inaudible).

LEVS: You got it. Send in your you I-reports at cnn.com. And you'll see exactly what to do.

MARCIANO: Yes. Thanks, Josh.

LEVS: Thank you.

MARCIANO: Well, Evel Knievel, he dared and defied death many times, always in front of a huge audience. And as you could tell from those e-mails, he was a real inspiration. He taught us that when you fall, you've got to get back up on that bike. And Evel Knievel always made it look cool.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EVEL KNIEVEL: My name is Evel Knievel. I'm a professional daredevil.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: We will always remember him.

Well, "Where have all the parents gone?" Christiane Amanpour's special look at AIDS' orphans. That starts right now.

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