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Murder in Miami, Winter Weather, Car Bomb Explodes in Beirut, Hunting Down Cpl. Laurean, New Facts on Global Warming; Republican Primary in Michigan, Secretary Rice Visits Iraq

Aired January 15, 2008 - 10:00   ET

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

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I actually don't recall them impounding the car at that time back in September. But we'll find out. I remember that he said at the time that this wasn't his car. That he had borrowed a car. And police for a long period of time could not locate it. So we need to nail down whether this is his car, the car belonged to somebody else.
But in any case, they found it and now say that they found evidence, strong evidence in that vehicle that links her to that car. But again, where is Stepha Henry's body? We don't know. Only the fact that he's now been charged with second degree murder.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. CNN Susan Candiotti on the phone with us from Miami today. Thanks, Susan.

Good morning once again, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. Stay informed all day right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. In fact, here's what's on the rundown now.

Republican primary day in Michigan. Presidential candidate wanted, must have experience fixing a broken economy.

The face of a fugitive marine on billboards today. This hour, investigators update us live on the search for Corporal Cesar Laurean.

Ice landing at the bottom of the world. A trip to Antarctica reveals cold facts about global warming, this Tuesday, January 15th, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Right off the top, we want to get you to Betty Nguyen who has been following this story for us, out of Beirut actually there has been an explosion.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, pretty big explosion at that. Let's show you some video coming to us from Lebanese media. This is a new video in to CNN. You see that car right there. According to Lebanese media that car was targeted and it belonged to the U.S. embassy in Beirut. Don't know exactly who was in the car.

But here's what we know according to media reports. That there was a total of three people killed, two were inside the car and one was on the street. We don't know who committed this crime or what. Again, the target was or who these people inside the car that was being targeted. But the explosion took place north of Beirut. And it has left a lot of damage, as you can see in this new video coming to CNN.

Again, no one has taken responsibility for this at this point. But it's still early on in the investigation. But an explosion has taken place in Lebanon today killing at least three people, two were inside the vehicle, one was outside. According to Lebanese media, Heidi, the car that was targeted belonged to the U.S. embassy in Beirut. So, we're going to continue to follow this story and bring you details just as soon as we get them.

COLLINS: OK. So it is very early on, Betty, but we do know that this car was targeted, just still not sure at this point who was inside.

NGUYEN: Exactly. And apparently their target, they hit him and we don't know who indeed was in that vehicle. And who carried out this explosion, this bombing in Beirut. So there's a lot to be learned in this investigation. Like I said, as soon as we get more information, we will bring it straight to you.

COLLINS: All right. Very good. CNN's Betty Nguyen in the NEWSROOM for us following this explosion in Beirut. Thank you, Betty.

Also unfolding this hour, the face of a fugitive marine plastered on billboards all across the country today. Just moments from now, we are expecting a live police update on the search for this accused killer. Meanwhile, CNN's Ed Lavandera is joining us now from Jacksonville, North Carolina, with the very latest on the investigation.

Good morning to you once again, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Officials here are expected to come out once again this morning to give us an update on what the latest is in the search for Cesar Laurean who, of course, we have been reporting for the last few days, has actually been on the run for the last five days. Authorities here believe he left the Jacksonville, North Carolina, area early Friday morning and hasn't been seen since.

There were some reports that an ATM card belonging to Maria Lauterbach, that they believe was used by Laurean in the Durham, North Carolina area, was found in the Durham area, and is also looking into possible sightings for his black pickup truck in that area as well.

So, those are the very few leads that they've gotten at this point as to where he might be. And as you mentioned, the FBI has put out a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture. They're also plastering his picture along highways across the country. Remember early on, there had also been talk of him possibly being sighted over the weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana. And authorities here are still digging into that.

They seem to be a little less confident that that was an actual sighting and they're really trying to urge people not to focus too much on the Louisiana and the Texas angle in the case, that he isn't in that area. They don't want people in other parts of the country to let their guard down. So, they're really urging people nationwide to be on the lookout for him. It really gives you a sense they're not getting much information as to where he might be.

And, of course, he's been on the run for five days now. As you mentioned, the sheriff and other officials expected to come out here this morning in a short while and hold a briefing to see if there's been any other developments overnight or any other leads that they can talk about at this point. Heidi.

COLLINS: It's interesting because you know as much as we have been talking about this case and what has happened here, Ed, it seems in the past anyway when cases like this, missing people in particular, they really get a lot of help from the community. It's strange that it's going this way. I hope that we're going to learn more about why that may be when this news conference happens. Any indication there? Any talk there as to why they seem to be having a tough time?

LAVANDERA: You know, I think - I don't know how much time they're spending analyzing that. We did ask the sheriff yesterday if maybe the fact this is taking so long, given the amount of publicity that this has been generating, that he has been able to stay on the run for so long. I asked the sheriff yesterday if he thought that perhaps Laurean had some help out there, anywhere who might be helping him stay underground. And he said, you know, that's not something that they're discounting. That even though in the sheriff's words he's done something, you know, a terrible crime, he still has friends and perhaps people who want to help him.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Ed Lavandera following the story for us in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Thank you, Ed.

And again that news conference from Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown is scheduled to get under way any minute now. We are going to bring it to you live when it happens.

The presidential campaign heats up and even as the snow comes down, voters today trudge through a blanket of snow for the Michigan primary. The Republican race too close to call between John McCain and native son Mitt Romney. Democrats have no delegates at stake in Michigan so they are focusing instead on Saturday's caucuses in Nevada. They will have a televised debate this evening from Las Vegas.

Michigan, a Republican battleground today. The state's primary is under way. And John McCain and Mitt Romney are in a critical showdown. CNN's Dana Bash has been at a Romney event this morning. She's joining us now from Grand Rapids.

Good morning to you, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. Today is the day that Michigan votes. Michigan is a state that it is just essentially a Republican primary here. Democrats essentially forfeited the idea of having a primary because of the fact that they moved it up much, much earlier than it was supposed to be and, therefore, most of the Democrats, all actually except for Hillary Clinton, have taken their name off the ballot because they've gotten penalized by the national committee, the Democrats in Washington. So this is really the focus here is on the Republican race.

It is really hard to overstate how critical this is. Especially look at a pair of Republican candidates, Mitt Romney and John McCain. And how their viability is going to play in the contest in the weeks ahead. Mitt Romney is a native son. He was born here. And he has been making that pitch over and over again, particularly because of the fact that this state, the topic here, topic A, B, and C is the failing economy, the fact that the automotive industry is in dire, dire straits.

What he's trying to say is that he is somebody who understands the automotive industry because his father was governor and an auto executive and he's trying to make a pitch at somebody who is outside Washington, CEO, who understands how to fix an ailing economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Stand by with an attitude of pessimism and watch jobs leave Michigan. I'm not willing to sit by with an attitude of pessimism and see home values go down and down and down as homes are being foreclosed on as people move away. I can't promise that I can solve every problem but I promise I'll fight to try and solve every problem. I said I'm going to increase our funding for research and technologies that relates to energy and fuel and material science and automotive technology. I'm going to fight to help Michigan, and I will not rest until it's come back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: There Mitt Romney giving his outside Washington pitch. Not to subtle. He is trying to place himself at odds in contrast to his chief rival here John McCain. John McCain, if he wins this state of Michigan today, it puts him in the lead in a way that no other candidate in the Republican side has because he has a win in New Hampshire, and he would have a win in Michigan. It would put him essentially in the command of a very, very jumbled Republican race. As for John McCain I was aboard his bus and I asked him, how do you compete with that pitch you just heard from Mitt Romney, the outside Washington, I can fix it pitch.

Listen to what he said.

What is your argument to voters about why they should vote for you and not Mitt Romney?

JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: For many years I've been on the commerce committee. I was the chairman of the committee. I had very close working relationships with the automotive industry. I worked for R&D tax credits to make them permanent. I've worked for innovation and advances in technology for the automotive industry. I'm totally optimistic about their ability to lead the world. I will continue my efforts that have been to help the automotive industry and make sure that they have a level playing field. I am optimistic about the ability to create jobs and I know they can do it and I can the long record of supporting that.

BASH: So it is now in the voters' hands here in Michigan. One dynamic that we're looking for today is the Democrats and Independents, because it isn't a real race on the Democrat side. The Democrats and the Independents could vote for a Republican could really change the dynamics particularly, Heidi, when it comes to John McCain. John McCain tends to attract more independent voters. His campaign is hoping that puts him over the edge here. Romney is hoping his native sons status puts him over the edge. It's anybody's guess who's going to win at the end.

COLLINS: You mean, you're not going to call it, Dana? Come on.

BASH: Nope.

COLLINS: How about you?

BASH: No. I'm not either.

COLLINS: I'll push it over to you.

BASH: No.

COLLINS: CNN's Dana Bash from Grand Rapids there. Thank you, Dana.

Fixing the economy, it is a big campaign promise this season, but do the presidential pledges really add up? Let's take a look at the Democrat's plans now.

CNN's Jessica Yellin crunches the numbers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Senators Clinton and Obama want you to know they feel your pain, and they know you're worried about your wallet.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I represent a lot of hard-working people across the country and New York and they began to say, wait a minute, it's like nobody even sees us anymore.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We also have to have a tax code and a set of laws that are responsible and make sure the people who are working and not making huge amounts of money, that they are able to make ends meet and live out the American dream. And that increasingly is fading away for a lot of people.

YELLIN: Now both campaigns have released plans to show just how they jump start the economy. Here is how they get money directly to working Americans. Senator Clinton wants to add $10 billion to extend unemployment insurance, and she'd consider $40 billion in tax refunds to some Americans. Senator Obama would also add $10 billion to unemployment insurance. He would also give up to $500 tax credit to 150 million workers, and a one-time $250 payment to people on social security who would not be eligible for that tax credit.

On the home mortgage crisis, Senator Clinton would place a three- month freeze on some subprime mortgages and she would create a $30 billion relief fund for states whose coffers have run dry because of plummeting real estate prices. Senator Obama would give states $10 million to deal with the housing crisis and set aside another $10 billion to counsel homeowners who need to refinance their homes. Clinton's plan also would help reduce energy bills for 37 million Americans.

Now, John Edwards was the first to propose a program to jump start the economy. It would raise the minimum wage and create a jobs plan. Officials with the Republican party quickly jumped on all the major Democratic plans, pointing out none of them is paid for and, saying, they're more tax and spend liberal policies.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Jessica Yellin is on the campaign trail with the Democrats. Next hour she'll be joining us from Las Vegas.

It's dig out day for areas of New England socked by the storm that blew in yesterday morning. It was gone by the afternoon, but it left this. More than a foot of snow in some places. It meant the day off for thousands of school kids. Unfortunately it also meant power off for thousands of customers.

Travel was tricky as well. Interstate was shut down for a while in Portland, Maine, when two trucks collided at a separate accident site in Maine a woman was killed and her child injured. To get the very latest on that and the rest of the weather across the country. In fact, I hear there's weather in the Midwest, is that right, Jacqui?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: There is. That nor'easter, the storm system nothing is out there but the cold air is really filling in across much of the eastern half of the country today. We've got a few snow showers out there. I think they're looking good in Detroit at this hour. But you are seeing some occasional light snow throughout the morning hours.

Temperature is 28 degrees. And you can see that sun shining on the Renaissance Center Building. That's the tall one right there in the background, the tallest building in the state of Michigan. Of course, big primary day today. Shouldn't have any trouble getting on out to the polls. There is some snow also in the western parts of Michigan. There you can see some snow showers moving into Grand Rapids an Kalamazoo but not too much in terms of accumulation. Temperatures are going to stay chilly today. Now, you can see 28 degrees and looking at temperatures below freezing all day long -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Jacqui. Thanks so much.

Sorry to cut you off there quickly but we want to get to North Carolina, Sheriff Ed Brown with the very latest.

SHERIFF ED BROWN, ONSLOW COUNTY: Before I go into facts I would like for you if you don't mind, let me read this, it's important. I don't want it to get taken out of context by myself, not by you all that much.

First shot has already been addressed. Mr. Hudson will address that question concerning the autopsy. From the bottom of my heart at this time I wish to thank each media outlet who has assisted in this investigation. I personally know that for fact that your involvement has helped us bring this case to the point of finding the body of Maria Lauterbach and her unborn child. I believe that the media's involvement will also be a factor in capturing Laurean.

We are still working very hard to locate and arrest Laurean. Mr. Laurean, if you're watching, I urge you to surrender yourself to local law enforcement officers. We have teamed up with the FBI and "America's Most Wanted" and anyone can go to their web page for more information on the murder of Maria Lauterbach. From the bottom of my heart, not for any other reason but to tell you from me, it has been a pleasure working with each of you and I hope our time together has caused us to become friends.

I wish to announce at this time I have no plans to do any more news releases, public appearances except the ones obligated tonight for public comments related to this case. When Cesar Laurean is arrested, and he will be, there will be a news release from this office; however, that release will be handled by Captain Sutherland and all of you know him. Come up here and show your face. Where are you at?

And in the future Captain Sutherland will handle that. In the future Captain Sutherland will be the public affairs person for the Onslow county sheriff's office. The stress of this case has been overwhelming to me since I become aware of it on the 5th of January of '08. Though all of you have been great to work with and are beautiful people, and I mean that, I have never in 41 years of law enforcement reached the level of stress, reached the level of fatigue that I have reached this past Thursday evening.

Should you ever -- should there ever be a time that I can help you, you only need to call me or my office. God bless each of you and god bless your families. Thank you.

OK. Let me do the facts. I'm trying to back out of the stirrups too quick. I want to also deal with the facts here so that we get things in perspective. I don't know who in the past you're used to dealing with, but in my life, honesty is of the utmost importance to me, of all parts of my life. I have not at any time lied to anyone concerning this case or knowingly misled you in this week at all.

By the best evidence that we possess in this investigation, it has been determined that Maria Lauterbach was murdered on or about December 15th, four days prior to her having been reported missing to this office. It appears that time did not prove to be a factor in the investigation of her death. Regardless of what anyone says or believes about the handling of this missing person investigation by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office and the military, the best evidence in this case suggests that Maria Lauterbach was already dead before she was reported missing on December the 19th. After December 19th, 2007, the only thing that any investigation could have accomplished was to bring to light sooner what had already occurred.

I thank god and I am perfectly comfortable with the knowledge that nothing my office could have done would have prevented the death of Maria Lauterbach. And with that, again, I would like to say it has been wonderful working with you. I have one obligation, I believe, tonight at 7:30. I will meet that. I would hope Rick would be available to assist you in every way you again. I hope you understand where I'm at. Thank you. God bless you.

COLLINS: All right. We have just heard another press conference from Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown there talking quite a bit about at least in the latter part of that discussion, talking about his honesty and telling the facts as he knew them at the time. That is to say that Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach was, "dead," before she was reported missing. Something he felt apparently important to say. Once again, that manhunt continues for Cesar Laurean, $25,000 reward now being offered. We will, of course, stay on top of that story for you.

Also, a developing story out of Lebanon. Terrorists target a car owned by the American embassy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Lots of news coming in today in the CNN NEWSROOM. In fact, we are following a story out of Beirut and an explosion there. Betty Nguyen has been watching that story for us and has more information now.

Hi there, Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, hi there. We are getting new information. Again, that explosion in northern Beirut, targeting a U.S. embassy vehicle. Here's new video of that vehicle. At least one of them involved in this explosion. It caused a lots of damage around the explosion site. Here's what Lebanese media are reporting. There are three deaths in this, according to them. And it appears to be the latest in a series of attacks against pro-western anti-Syrian targets in a Lebanese capital.

Most recently, an explosion in Beirut's Christian suburb killed the head of operation of the Lebanese Army and his bodyguard. That was back on December 12th. So, I'm telling you this to give you a little perspective. Because Lebanon has been in the midst of a political crisis as pro and anti-Syrian lawmakers in parliament are locked in a battle to elect a new president. This nation has been without a president since November 23rd.

And today another round of violence, and explosion, what you're looking at right now, just north of Beirut, struck a U.S. embassy vehicle. Lebanese media reporting three people have been killed, two inside the car, one on the street. Not known if any western diplomats were killed in that explosion, but we're looking at some video right now. You can see some of those injured by some of the shrapnel from the explosion. Again, more information is coming in to CNN. And just as soon as we can sort all of it out we will bring it to you. But three people so far, according to Lebanese media, are dead as a result of this explosion -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. Betty, thanks. We'll come back should you learn any more on the very latest in this situation in Beirut. Appreciate that. Thanks, Betty.

NGUYEN: Sure.

COLLINS: The secretary of state in Iraq this morning sizing up efforts to reconciliate the country's various population. CNN's Arwa Damon is live now from Baghdad.

So, Arwa, what is Secretary Rice saying about conditions in Iraq?

ARWA DAMON, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Well, she came here and she met with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki as well as senior government and political leadership. At the end of those meetings she gave a fairly upbeat assessment about the situation here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S., SECRETARY OF STATE: This is a new Iraq, a sovereign Iraq. An Iraq that will lead, we hope, after this year behind. It's passed, with the international community, with the bad times. Then, when the United Nations had to sanction Iraq for the bad behavior of the last regime. And that we can move forward to now one based on equality, respect and the sovereignty of Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAMON: Now, much of that optimism stems from political progress that was actually made here this weekend, where the Iraqi government was finally able to push crucial legislation through parliament, passing what is known as the accountability and justice law that essentially allows low-ranking Baathists to return to work. If you will remember, back in 2003 when Iraq was under the governance of the coalition provisional authority, there were two grave mistakes that were made. One was the disbanding of the Iraqi Army and the other was the debaath indication.

Both of them put together, basically left millions of Iraqis unemployed and angry. They ended up forming the baath vote of the insurgency. Many Americans do believe that Iraq's political progress could move forward a bit faster. Iraqis feel the same way as well. They say this is still a country where it's going to take a long time for them to be able to believe that they can actually =make their dreams come true here -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Arwa Damon reporting live from Baghdad.

Arwa, thank you.

I want to get to our correspondent Anthony Mills. He is on the phone now out of Beirut regarding the situation that we've been telling you about here on CNN. An explosion there just north of Beirut that apparently struck U.S. embassy vehicle.

Anthony, tell us what you know.

ANTHONY MILLS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, we can confirm that a western diplomatic source has told us here in Beirut that that vehicle did indeed belong to the U.S. embassy. We understand that three people were killed in this blast, which rocked a suburb north of Beirut on a coastal highway, as that vehicle passed by. Among the injured, we don't know exactly how many at this stage -- but among the injured, we are told, are at least one American, one Iraqi, and three Lebanese.

It appears as though this vehicle is U.S. embassy vehicle, was specifically targeted. The blast occurred about 3/4 of an hour ago as people were leaving work and heading home for the evening here in Beirut. And it's the latest in a series of well over a dozen blasts and assassinations that have rocked this bitterly, politically divided country over the last two and a half years. It's going to raise specific concerns, I think, Heidi, not just among U.S. citizens here for whom anti-American violence is all too familiar, of course, from the dark days of Lebanon's 15-year civil war, but also among foreigners in general.

Let's not forget as well that just a few months ago a blast struck united nations vehicle, killing six Spanish and Colombian troops in the south of the country. And so there will be a growing fear, I think, especially after today's blast that we may be seeing something of a shift in the violence that as thus far targeted predominantly Lebanese targets and a move towards foreign ones -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Obviously whoever is doing this, trying to make some sort of statement possibly by carrying out attacks like this.

MILLS: Absolutely, Heidi. Certainly the fact that a U.S. embassy vehicle appears to have been targeted is a very high-profile statement. The United States has come in for very strong criticism in this country, as well not just because of the role that it has played in Iraq and the -- what its opponents here call military occupation of Iraq, but also because of the role it played in prolonging, in the view of its opponents here in Lebanon, prolonging the war.

The war between Hezbollah and Israel back in the summer of 2006. Many Lebanese, but also radical groups, criticizing America for not immediately calling for a cease-fire. Of course, the current political divide, Heidi, which pits on the one side an opposition led by the militant Hezbollah group, which enjoys backing from Syria and Iran. And on the other, a Western-back group headed by the son of slain Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and of course that opposition, very strongly critical of the United States. That adds to a general atmosphere in which in many quarters in this country, the United States and indeed its embassy officials are not regarded with a particularly positive light. Heidi.

COLLINS: Certainly not. CNN's Anthony Mills reporting to us on the telephone out of Beirut for the very latest on that. These new pictures that we are looking at right now on the explosion that happened there. We will continue to follow that story as it develops here.

Meanwhile, a father fired up over his son's punishment at school.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's disgusting. 21 kids blow and spit into your son's hand. Yeah, it's disgusting. It makes me angry.

COLLINS: What happened? Handed to the band director.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Want to get you to some breaking news that we are following out of Lebanon today. Sources do confirm to CNN a bomb blast targeted a U.S. embassy vehicle near Beirut. Looking at the video now. Lebanese media reports say three people have been killed. Information of course still coming in, but want to take a moment to give you some of the reaction from the State Department.

Again, according to State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack, he does say a U.S. embassy car was hit, the driver slightly injured and the only passenger was a Foreign Service National was not injured. The embassy is now reviewing its security posture. Sean McCormack said the car was in motion when it was hit by the bomb blast. The car, of course, was not able to return to the embassy.

Again, that is the reaction directly from State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack. We're going to keep you up to date on this story as we get more information in as it develops today..

Meanwhile, I want to take you to Jacksonville, North Carolina. Now, just a few moments ago we listened in to the sheriff, Onslow County Sheriff, Ed Brown, talking about the latest in the death of Marine Maria Lauterbach. We also heard from the direct attorney of Onslow County regarding the positive identification of her, and a little bit about the cause of death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEWEY HUDSON, ONSLOW CO. DISTRICT ATTY.: I have -- after talking to Dr. Butz (ph), I then immediately contacted Ms. Lauterbach's family. I talked with her father Victor. And I gave him the news. Of course, he is -- it was very emotional. He was concerned about when the body would be released so that they could transport it back to Ohio for a burial. And that's all I've got to say about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: District attorney of Onslow County there, Dewey Hudson, providing us a little bit more information on the death of Maria Lauterbach. Baseball and steroids, take two. The House Committee is hearing testimony right now. We see the live pictures there, George Mitchell there. CNN's Brianna Keiler is in our Washington bureau this morning. So, Brianna, what has happened so far today?

BRIANNA KEILER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So far we've only heard from George Mitchell the man who put out that report that named names last month. He's a former Senate Majority Leader who was hired by Major League Baseball to put this report together. And he has been stressing this is not about going on an never-ending hunt to find every baseball player who ever used performance-enhancing drugs.

He's been focusing on the future and also the affect that this problem has on young people. He talked about hundreds of thousands of high school-age athletes are emulating their professional idols and using steroids. In fact, there are at least a couple of parents in the audience watching this hearing who lost their children. Their children died after using steroids.

We also heard from committee members, talking about whether Congress needs to intervene. Here is Congressman Tom Davis of Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM DAVIS (R), VIRGINIA: Baseball needs to fix the problem, change this culture, alter how it does business with regards to steroids, human growth hormone and all matter of dangerous performance-enhancing drugs, or, and this is a promise, not a threat, Congress will do it for you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: There's going to be a couple more folks in the hot seat. Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball who certainly did not escape blame in Mitchell's report. Also Donald Fehr, who is the head of the player's union, has been for a couple of decades now.

He has said in the past that the report could have damaged reputations of players who didn't deserve to have their reputations damaged. Certainly going to be interesting to hear what they have to say.

COLLINS: Yes, it is. Everybody is very interested in what Roger Clemens is going to have to say as well. I know there's been some type of postponement. When are we likely to hear from him?

KEILAR: This was a hearing that was supposed to come tomorrow. It's going to be postponed now until February 13th. We don't know what we're going to hear from Roger Clemens. But, his lawyer says he is going to be there before Congress without immunity, not taking the Fifth Amendment.

Also called before the committee, Andy Pettitte and former player Chuck Knoblauch. As well, something that's very interesting, two men who were significant sources in the Mitchell report, two men who claimed to have either injected players or were a major source of performance-enhancing drugs for players.

Again, that's February 13th. That's something that will captivate a lot of baseball fans, Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, no question about it. CNN's Brianna Keilar coming to us from our bureau in Washington today. Brianna, thanks for that.

We have talked to John McCain's campaign so next we turn to the Romney camp. Is today a must win?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Last hour we heard from John McCain's campaign, and now we turn to his chief rival in today's Michigan primary. Is this a must win state for Mitt Romney? Joining us now former Senator Jim Talent, he is an adviser to the Romney campaign. Senator, thanks for being with us.

JIM TALENT, ROMNEY CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Great to be with you.

COLLINS: I'll ask you the same question I asked the other guys. What is a victory for your campaign tonight?

TALENT: Well obviously, we like to finish first. I view this cycle and always have, Heidi, as more like 1976, than 1988. In other words, it's more like the next tell cuff (ph) then a hibachi match where you have to knock somebody out. What you've got to do is finish competitive over the run of the primaries. You're going to win your share and then you got to avoid crashing. And if you do that, you get the nomination.

So, it would be nice for any of these people to win in Michigan. We'd love to. But basically, we just have to be competitive and then move on to the next one. And I think after Super Tuesday, the trend may be clear. But not before then.

COLLINS: Not before Super Tuesday?

TALENT: Yes, I really don't think so and I've never thought so.

COLLINS: All right, well, I'm going to ask you anyway this question then because I'm sure you have heard it before.

TALENT: OK.

COLLINS: Is there concern because Governor Romney did not win in New Hampshire, basically his backyard, did not win in Michigan -- pardon me, if we can't win in Michigan, which is basically, you know, some territory that he would call his own, growing up there for a few years, what state can he win?

TALENT: Oh, and fair enough. Look, I'm not trying to say that's not a relevant question. There's a whole set of states. I mean, and I think we're going to get our share. Nevada, Florida, and then the Super Tuesday states. I mean, there's any number of them. We won among regular caucus goers in Iowa and we won among Republicans in New Hampshire. And I think we're going to win among Republicans in Michigan. We have more delegates, we have better organizations around the country, we have more resources, we have a very energetic candidate, so we have a lot of strengths. And I think we're going to get our share of wins. I hope we win today. But again, this is more -- think Nextel Cup is the way I say to people. You know, you want to finish competitively in every race, you want to win your share and you want to avoid crashing.

COLLINS: Well, obviously, one of the issues that I believe the voters in Michigan are really going to be listening for is certainly the economy. We're talking about 300,000 jobs that have been lost since 2000. Is Mitt Romney's message on that issue getting through to the voters?

TALENT: Oh, I really think so. And what -- he's talking about the economy but in the context of changing Washington. And you can tell he's frustrated and you know, the voters are frustrated particularly here in Michigan because we have a system in Washington that is doing things all the time that often the people don't want, like trying to pass an amnesty bill with immigration and then not addressing issues that really are meaningful to people, whether it's health care or job or infrastructure.

And that's why the voters are indignant. And I think Governor Romney is as well. It's the same kind of theme he ran for governor of Massachusetts on and I do think it's resonating in Michigan.

COLLINS: Obviously tied to those issues, though, are Social Security and health care as well.

TALENT: Right.

COLLINS: Do you think Senator Romney's plan -- or Governor, pardon me -- plan for not socializing health care is working in Michigan?

TALENT: Yes, I think the results are really coming in well. I mean basically, what he did was he got rid of a lot of the spending in health care that wasn't related to excess or quality and he did it by relying on the principles of choice and competition. So, health insurance premiums -- the costs have been cut by half. The number of uninsured in Massachusetts is down by over 50 percent.

Now, that achievement alone in one term of a presidency would be just incredible in terms of improving the lives of the American people for the better.

COLLINS: Former Senator Jim Talent talking about what could and could not happen tonight in Michigan from the Romney campaign. We certainly appreciate your time here. And we all will be watching those returns for sure. Thank you.

TALENT: Thank you, Heidi. COLLINS: Unfortunately, we also are going to be watching this. Not a very pretty picture for the Dow Jones Industrial averages right now, down 205 points, resting at 12,572. In just a few minutes, we're going to be talking with Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange wondering what is behind this rapid decline. More volatility.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: We continue to follow this story out of Beirut. Just north of Beirut, there has been an explosion. Our Betty Nguyen is helping us to keep updated on this story and joins us now from the news room.

Betty, what more are we learning here?

NGUYEN: Well, we are getting some new numbers. Originally, we were going with Lebanese media reports because that's all that we had. Well, apparently, we have gotten some new information from a State Department spokesperson.

Let me tell you this, the explosion that ripped through a U.S. embassy vehicle Tuesday killed four Lebanese civilian bystanders. But State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the driver of the U.S. embassy vehicle which you saw in that video just moments earlier, was slightly injured and the only passenger, which was a foreign service national, was not injured. But look at the wreckage from that explosion.

Now, Spokesperson McCormack could not confirm that the vehicle was the target of the blast. That's what Lebanese media was reporting a little bit earlier. Or he could not reveal if it simply tripped a roadside bomb intended for a different target. So, there's a lot still to be learned. But nonetheless, a lot of damage as a result of this.

Again, U.S. reports say four Lebanese civilian bystanders have been killed, although Lebanese media reporting upwards of 20 people injured in that blast and a lot more casualties because of that.

I do want to give you a little perspective in this because this is just the latest in a series of attacks. Lebanon is in the midst of a political crisis as pro and anti-Syrian lawmakers in parliament are really locked in a battle to elect a new president because this country has been without a president since November 23rd. And as a result, you're seeing sporadic violence in the country and today is the latest round of that.

So, we'll continue to follow this story for you, Heidi, and bring you the latest.

COLLINS: All right, CNN's Betty Nguyen watching that story out of Beirut for us.

Betty, thank you.

On Monday, the Dow rose nearly 200 points because of news from one of its components. Well today, it is dropping more than 200 points because of news from another. Susan Lisovicz is on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange now with details.

I must say, we kind of been talking about this over the past couple of days, Susan. We're going to be seeing up a couple hundred, down a couple hundred and then we sort of even everything out.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

COLLINS: What could make a dad this spitting mad?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL KEENE, SON WAS PUNISHED: Obviously on my first response, my son was mistreated. My first response is I wanted to crack the man in two. I mean honestly, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: The unusual and kind of nasty school punishment in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Spitting mad, hot under the collar. A dad outraged over the punishment his 11-year-old son was given in band class. More now from our Stephanie Guadian, of our affiliate station KTRK.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEENE: My blood was boiling. I was mad, I was angry.

STEPHANIE GUADIAN, KTRK REPORTER: It's crystal clear how Michael Keene feels about the punishment his 11-year-old son was given for forgetting to bring his trumpet to band class at New Caney's sixth grade campus.

KEENE: Obviously my first response, my son was mistreated. My first response is I wanted to crack the man in two. I mean honestly, right?

GUADIAN: The New Caney Independent school district confirms the band teacher did punish the student by having other students empty their spit valves into the boy's hand. News that did not sit well with other New Caney parents.

JIMMIE MIKEL, PARENT: With the diseases going on around nowadays that's very unsanitary, for one thing. And there are ways to correct a child without going to that extreme.

MARY SARGENT, PARENT: That's just totally wrong. That's just -- a teacher needs to be punished for that. Because, I mean, the kid has got to live with that embarrassment for the rest of his life now. That just ain't right.

GUADIAN: Keene says he became aware of the January 4th incident after his son went to a school counselor asking to be transferred out of band class. The school district has since placed the band teacher on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

KEENE: For the most part, they fixed the problem. I mean, they resolved with -- ensuring that students don't have to go through this again, and -- which is the most important thing.

GUADIAN: Keene's son is back at school, but no longer in band class. And while the father is pleased with the school district's responsiveness, it's still hard for him to stomach what his son went through at such a young age.

KEENE: That's disgusting -- 21 kids blowing spit into your son's hand. Yes, it's disgusting. And it makes me angry.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Voting with their wallets. The economy, the top issue in Michigan's Republican primary. We'll talk about it in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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