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Tit For Tat Between John Mccain and Mitt Romney; Private Conversation Between Saddam Hussein and an FBI Agent Now Becoming Public; Barack Obama's Landslide Victory in South Carolina's Democratic Primary
Aired January 27, 2008 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Barack Obama, breaking news on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Ted Kennedy has not announced of his endorsement.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You can make news and we can break news on CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: If we can win include South Carolina and one Kennedy, will he add another. Our Suzanne Malveaux one on one with the presidential hopeful. They talked race, the Clintons, and why he says he is far from perfect.
Tit for tat between John McCain and Mitt Romney. We'll tell you what the spat is all about.
Weapons of mass destruction.
Osama Bin Laden and $10 prostitutes. The private conversation between Saddam Hussein and an FBI agent now becoming public.
Crushed beyond recognition. A bizarre story involving teenagers, a runway and a BMW.
It's one hot debate. A cool superintendent who wants to fire hundreds of teachers and principals who don't make the grade.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great teachers will be rehired. Teachers that are not as good won't.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm very confused about what he's saying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The teacher's union says not so fast with that rating. The argument straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
And good evening, everyone. I'm Tony Harris and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Barack Obama says his huge Democratic primary victory in South Carolina is a sign he can appeal to people of any race and any state. Not surprisingly his rival Hillary Clinton has a different take. She downplays her defeat and she's already looking ahead focusing her energies on the more than 20 contests coming up on Super Tuesday, that's February 5th.
Obama says people are responding to what he calls his new brand of politics. He's also picking up support from a party icon. Tomorrow he is expected to get the endorsement of Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy. Today, Obama told a rally that he is going to keep speaking out on the issues that matter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Part of what you need from the next president is somebody who won't just tell you what you want to hear. But will tell you what you need to hear. We'll tell you the truth. Don't vote for me if you don't want to hear the truth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: We are going to hear from Senator Obama in his own words in just a few minutes. We will bring his one-on-one conversation with our Suzanne Malveaux, that's coming up at the half hour.
In South Carolina, it was African-Americans but in California, the Latino vote could decide whether Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama brings home the biggest prize of all on Super Tuesday. CNN's Kara Finnstrom reports from Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The booming Latino population, being quartet in a Democratic presidential primary as never before. Political ads and slogans in Spanish.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're very excited in endorsing Senator Obama today.
FINNSTROM: The companying of key Latino endorsements and campaign stops.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm very happy to be here in the heart of Latino community.
IRMA MUNGUIA, UNDECIDED VOTER: I think it's just as exciting as when the Olympic torch came by (INAUDIBLE) Boulevard. When politicians come out and talk to our communities, it does make a difference.
FINNSTROM (on-camera): The six were securing Latino votes have never been higher. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are now battling for the full tilt in California communities like this one, and some analyst say that Clinton launched her candidacy here with a clear advantage.
MARK DICAMILLO, THE FIELD POLL: In California Latinos comprised about a quarter of all likely voters in the upcoming Democratic primary and Clinton has a very substantial lead. It's about 3 to 1.
ALEX CASTRO, BUSINESS OWNER: Hillary and Barack Obama have some very good ideas. I'm leaning more towards Hillary.
FINNSTROM (voice-over): The roots of her advantage may lie in her last name.
HARRY PACHON, TOMAS RIVERA INSTITUTE: The relationships that were forced during the Clinton administration was Hispanic elected officials and influentials nationwide have given Hillary Clinton a much more extensive network of community influentials.
FINNSTROM: A point not lost on Barack Obama.
OBAMA: I think it's important to us to get my record known before the Latino community. My history is excellent with Latino support back in Illinois because they knew my record and over time as people become aware of that track record, I think I'll do very well.
FINNSTROM: And why is Barack Obama going to get your vote?
JUANA MARTINEZ, OBAMA SUPPORTER (through translator): Because of the changes that he's going to make as president.
FINNSTROM: Another potential factor, tensions between blacks and Latinos.
EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Competition, jobs, schools, gang violence, prison violence, health care, all of these kinds of things and the immigration have really created such a barrier of tensions between blacks and Latinos. Now Obama is stepping into that. He didn't create any of this, but there is a potential blow back.
DICAMILLO: Latinos have displaced blacks in many of the parts of the county but I think it's mostly about Hillary more than Obama. I think she's just a very strong candidate. Obama has a tough time breaking through.
FINNSTROM: The California's primary, February 5th, he has just one week to do it. Kara Finnstrom for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: OK. Let's turn to the Republicans now on what has become an increasingly bitter fight in Florida. The Florida primary is on Tuesday with polls showing Mitt Romney and John McCain battling for the lead there this weekend. The rhetoric turned towards pocketbook issues and a threat of a recession.
Mitt Romney says unlike John McCain, economics is his specialty. But Senator McCain was quick to question Romney's record. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He doesn't want to talk about the economy because, frankly, he's pointed out time and again that he doesn't understand how the economy works. And right now, that's the biggest issue that voters here in Florida concern about. And they want somebody who does understand the economy and having him, time and again say I don't understand how the economy works, I got to get a VP that will show me how it works, that's a real problem for him.
JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm very proud on my record on the economy and Governor Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts where they had very third lowest job creation, where they had $730 million tax increases, where they had more manufacturing jobs flee the state of Massachusetts and almost double the national average and now a health care mandate is $245 million in the red. I'd be glad to compete and debate on those issues. My record on the economy is very strong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: So Mike Huckabee has perhaps the most radical economic plan among Republicans. He wants to wipe out the IRS and create a consumption tax. He calls it a fair tax and he says it will force everyone, and he means everyone, to pay taxes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You're not just paying your taxes, you're paying yours and you're also paying all the taxes for the drug dealers, the prostitute, the temps, the gamblers, and all the illegals who live under the table and don't even operate in the economy you do. Well, welcome to the real world rest of America. Join us in the fair tax.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And another reminder for you, don't miss the big showdown in the Wild, Wild West. This week, the candidates will face off in California, their last debate before Super Tuesday. That's January 30th for the Republicans and the 31st for the Democrats. You can see it only on CNN, your home for politics.
Let's talk weather now. Oklahoma needs rain. California has too much of it and look at what's happening in both states right now. The threat of fire is so bad tonight in Western Oklahoma. Many people are being evacuated in Rosston. Others are being told to get ready. Red flag warnings are in effect right now for much of the region.
In California, the rain just won't stop, 2 more inches today. More in the forecast for tonight. This after a series of fierce storms have already caused deadly avalanches, flooded streets, and sent off mud and rockslides. So Jackie Jeras is following the weather story in Oklahoma, also in the west. But Jacqui, I mean, look, there are weather issues essentially from coast to coast. (WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: His schools are not up to par so one superintendent says, fire all the teachers. But the teacher's union says not so fast. One hot button issue, parents and teachers don't want to miss.
But first, healing words from the grave. The FBI agent who questioned Saddam Hussein tells us the answers. What did the former Iraqi dictator really think about Osama Bin Laden and Kuwait? You'll find out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You know, it's not in the news every day anymore but Kenya is no less of island in unsteady place in the past month. This weekend, in this tourist town north of Nairobi, more than 20 people reportedly died when the rival tribes clashed, burned houses, and fought with machetes.
It all stems from Kenya's disputed presidential election one month ago which triggered a wave of ethnic fighting that has reportedly killed more than 800 people.
No American had more face time with Saddam Hussein than George Piro. He is an FBI agent who interrogated the deposed the Iraqi president for seven months, nearly everyday after his capture.
Tonight, through recollections by George Piro to CBS's "60 Minutes," we learn a lot about what drove Saddam Hussein and what eventually drove his downfall.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS (voice-over): Why did Saddam Hussein invade Kuwait nearly 20 years ago? The apparent answer might surprise you. FBI agent, George Piro says, quote, "What really triggered it for him, according to Saddam, was he had sent his foreign minister to Kuwait to try to resolve some of these issues and the Emir told the foreign minister of Iraq that he would not stop doing what he was doing until he turned every Iraqi woman into a $10 prostitute." And that really sealed it for him to invade Kuwait. He wanted to punish, he told me, Emir al Sabah, for saying that.
Now those three letters now forever associated with the reason for war. W.M.D. Why did Saddam let the assumption leader that he had weapons of mass destruction? Piro says, quote, "It was very important for him to project that because that was what kept him, in his mind, in power. That capability kept the Iranians away. It kept them from reinvading Iraq.
Some of you might think Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden saw eye to eye. Well, you think wrong. Piro says, quote, "He considered him to be a fanatic and as such was very wary of him." He told me "You can't really trust fanatics."
Saddam Hussein went to the gallows in 2006 and Piro says he did not fear death. The FBI agent tells "60 Minutes," his answer was, he was 67 at the time. He had lived longer than the average Arab may lived in the Middle East. He had a wonderful life. Got to be the leader of the cradle of civilization and, in his opinion, of course, had a significant impact on that country, the region, the world. So he was not bothered by having to face death.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: That interrogation lasted seven months in a windowless room and Piro said Saddam Hussein never knew he was talking to an FBI agent. Hussein was hanged in Baghdad just over year ago, December 30th, 2006.
Wreckage so mangled you can't even tell what it used to be. This is the horrifying result of what was supposed to be a night of fun for a group of young people. We will tell you more.
Plus, no apple for teacher this time. Maybe a pink slip instead. You won't believe what one big city school chief wants to do.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Fire all teachers? That sounds like an extreme move to help America's failing schools get back on track. But Chicago's school chief says it's the only way. At least in his district. Susan Roesgen has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Next year at Chicago's Harper High School, the hallways and lockers may be the same, but all 130 teachers and support staff could be gone.
ARNE DUNCAN, SUPERINTENDENT, CHICAGO SCHOOLS: We have a moral obligation to come in and do something dramatically better for those children now. We cannot wait.
ROESGEN: Chicago's school superintendent wants to fire bad teachers at eight failing public schools. So he's willing to lay them all off and make them reapply for their jobs. Last year, at this one high school, 95 percent of the students flunked the state academic exam.
(on-camera): Here at Harper High School, the principal says the prospect of getting new teachers is fabulous. The teacher's union says, not so fast.
MARILYN STEWART, CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION: How can you blame the teachers when everybody, I mean, there's accountability all up and down the line. There's parent accountability. There's district accountability. There's a principal accountability. There's teacher accountability. There's student accountability. So how can you just blame a teacher who has a child for six hours a day? We're doing our job.
ROESGEN (voice-over): Firing the teachers is not a done deal. Chicago's School Board will vote on the plan next month. Susan Roesgen, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: OK. You've heard the controversy. Now hear the debate. We have the chief of Chicago's schools going head to head with the teacher's union. That's what I'm talking about. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Before the break we told you about the Chicago's school chief's dramatic proposal to fire hundreds of teachers and principals at eight underperforming schools. Well, Joining me now to defend his proposal is Chicago's School Superintendent, Arne Duncan and to defend the teachers, Marilyn Stewart, president of the Chicago's Teacher's Union.
Arne, good to see you.
Marilyn, good to see you.
Arne, let me start with you. Why are you doing this? Why this proposal? Clearly, you feel that some kind of dramatic action needs to be taken here. So explain it to us.
DUNCAN: Sure. I'm happy to. The vast majority of schools in Chicago public schools are getting better each year. Over the past five years, on the elementary side, we're improving actually twice the rate of the state. The high school side, ACT scores are up twice the rate of the state, three times rate of the country, so overall, we're very, very pleased.
HARRIS: That sounds like a success story, Arne. That's sounds like.
DUNCAN: It's exactly right. We had over 600 schools. We're a big school system. And when you have a handful of schools that are not improving, that are resisting those efforts, I think we have a moral obligation not to hide behind the collective success and to deal openly and honestly with those situation where we have to do dramatically better.
HARRIS: What do you mean by resisting those efforts?
DUNCAN: Again, we're not seeing progress we're seeing across the district. We have to do something better for those children and we have to do something better now.
Our children have one chance for an education. They can't wait another five years or ten years. So when things aren't working, I think we have a moral obligation to challenge the status quos, bring great talent in. We've done it the past couple of years, not at this scale. We've seen huge progress.
At early elementary, we saw a ten-point jump in test scores just in one year. At Sherman, we saw a seven-point increase. Harvard Elementary that we started this year, we don't have any test score results, but the average student there is going to school two more weeks each year. Attendance is up dramatically.
HARRIS: Well, let me stop you there and bring Marilyn for a second. And Marilyn, you hear what Arne is saying. The problem here is that there is a resistance to the kind of change that would improve these underperforming schools and the blame rests with these teachers and the administrators, so they've got to go.
DUNCAN: No, sir, we're not blaming anybody.
HARRIS: You're not?
DUNCAN: What we're saying is that talent matters. And we need to bring a critical mass of great talent into those neighborhoods where children deserve the best education.
HARRIS: So if you're talking about letting go 200 teachers, you're telling me they shouldn't feel as though they are being blamed for the failing?
DUNCAN: No, they're good teachers and every single billion teachers will be rehired. Great teachers will be rehired there or elsewhere in the system, the marketplace place. Great teachers will be rehired. Teachers that are not as good won't. I think that's healthy for the children.
HARRIS: Marilyn, I'm sorry. If I'm one of the teachers on the list, I think I'm being singled out.
STEWART: I'm very confused about what he's saying because the school that I visited on Friday, these are schools, some of these schools were not on probation. I visited some of the teachers and they were dedicated. You are breaking up teams. These are teachers who are not resisted to change. They are resisted to creating instability in an already unstable neighborhood. These are teachers who are working diligently to turn around these students. We're talking about accountability. We're talking about accountability on every level, from the parents, the district, the community, the teacher, and the student.
HARRIS: Arne, you're not going to get this. You know, this is a bold proposal but you know this is never going to really fly. Don't you know that in your heart? You made proposal, don't you think it's time to sort of bring both sides together and really work on solutions?
DUNCAN: I couldn't disagree with you more.
HARRIS: Did you really think you're going to get this?
DUNCAN: We've been turning around underperforming schools for years. The schools get dramatically better. We are absolutely committed to challenging the status quo and doing something dramatically better for children. We are also doing this year, for the first time, that's theory bold is returning around high schools and to feed the elementary schools as well. And the theory is simple. You can't turn around at high school if you're not improving the elementary schools and vice versa. So in a short amount of time, we're not just going to improve the educational opportunity structure for handful of students, we're going to turn around for entire neighborhoods and do it very, very quickly.
HARRIS: Marilyn, you want to in on this?
STEWART: Yes. But some of the schools for which they are sending students are only marginally better. So how was that improving schools?
In the past, they have sent students to schools and the receiving school was not on probation and then it went on probation. The district and the union are already collaborating to turn around struggling schools and we didn't have to close those schools. So what we're saying is that you have to create an air of stability, not instability.
HARRIS: But Marilyn, let me just say this to you. In the final analysis, is it about the students and, my goodness, at the end of the day, if the teachers are in issue here, isn't it better to move them out, to get them to reapply for their jobs, let's get them some additional training and perhaps finds a better fit for them. At the end of the day it's about the students, and if they are not getting the education they need, well then, we've got to, look, maybe we do need this approach.
STEWART: Absolutely. But what you're saying, if these teachers are awful, why are you rehiring somebody that's awful. The school he had mentioned, Sherman Elementary. 30 percent of those teachers that they hired are not there. So there's something with teacher retention that is missing in this effort to improve these schools. If you can't keep these talented teachers in the system, there's something wrong with that plan.
HARRIS: And Arne, last word on this.
DUNCAN: Last word. We have one chance to give our children a great education. When we fail to do that, public school systems perpetuate poverty. It perpetuates social failure. When we give our children a great education, they have a lifetime of opportunity ahead of them. That's exactly what we're doing.
HARRIS: All right.
STEWART: Well, the school is not the answer the way you're doing it.
HARRIS: All right. Arne and Marilyn, let us leave it there. We will be following this story to be sure. Thank you both.
DUNCAN: Thanks for having me.
STEWART: Thank you. HARRIS: All right, got to go. Coming up, our Suzanne Malveaux one on one with Barack Obama. They talked race, the Clintons, and why he says he is far from perfect.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You know, President Bush has often used his Primetime State of the Union address to launch bold, new initiatives, but not this year. Tomorrow night will be his last chance to report to Congress on the State of the Union. That is Mr. Bush begins the final months of his presidency.
CNN's Ed Henry reports. He's been forced to scale back his wish list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Broadly speaking, what we should look for is that the president is really not going to have any bold, new initiatives, which is something new for him. Because in previous interviews, he's always liked to have big ideas, throw them out there. He as a former baseball owner, as you know, and he's always said he doesn't like small ball. He doesn't like this small, bite-size initiative. He likes big things like Social Security reform.
Well, that failed when he pushed it in 2005 and I think right now it's a reflection that the White House realizes they have to be more realistic with the Democratic Congress. That they can't roll out any major initiatives. They are just not going to get done in the president's final year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: A reminder, CNN is the place to see the presidential State of the Union address to Congress. Our coverage begins tomorrow night at 8:00 Eastern live from the CNN election center with The Best Political Team on Television. And remember, CNN also has the most complete coverage of the race for White House. Tune in tomorrow at noon for special edition of CNN's "Ballot Bowl." All the presidential hopefuls on the road in their own words. That's at noon Eastern tomorrow right here on CNN, your home for politics.
Political fashion statements in tonight's "Dog Bone Politics."
Mitt Romney ditched his usual shirt and tie at a rally today in Miami with members of the Cuban-American Community. Instead, he wore what's called "Guayabera" shirt traditionally popular in Cuba and across Latin America. I'm sure I mispronounced that. Romney says the shirt was a gift from the Bay of Pigs Museum.
There wouldn't be any hard words with John McCain and Hillary Clinton when they are respect to party nominations. That's the opinion of Former President Bill Clinton at least. He says the two senators are friends and that they joked in the past that if they run against each other, they might put Americans to sleep. Today, John McCain said if he squares off against Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, the debate would be respectful but in his words, it's going to be anything but boring.
One Democrat who is not happy with some of Bill Clinton's recent remarks Senator John Kerry, the party's 2004 presidential nominee. Kerry recently endorsed Barack Obama and he tells the "National Journal" that Bill Clinton is getting, quote, "Frantic."
In Kerry's words, "I think you had an abuse of the truth, is what happened. I mean, being an ex-president does not give you license to abuse the truth. And I think that over the last days it's been over the top."
Two big interviews, both about Barack Obama. We hear from the senator himself, why he thinks he won in South Carolina. And then South Carolina Congressman, James Clyburn, tells us whether Obama is right or not.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: As Senator Barack Obama's landslide victory in South Carolina's Democratic primary has everyone talking, but will Obama do just as well on Super Tuesday?
CNN's White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux sat down with the senator today to reflect on his big win and to look ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Congratulations senator for your big win in South Carolina.
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you.
MALVEAUX: You got 80 percent of the African-American vote. You pretty much split the white vote with your other two opponents. There was a lot of discussion about race before this vote. Your campaign, the Clinton campaign accusing each other of exploiting the issue. What happened?
OBAMA: Well, you know, I don't want to go over tit-for-tat what happened last week. I think it's fair to say that it's never been my style and never been my interest to run a race-based campaign and that my whole message has always been that I want everybody included in the broad coalition to bring about change.
I have dedicated a big chunk of my life to moving us beyond some of those old arguments and I think the people of South Carolina responded yesterday in part because they don't want to go backwards. They want to look forward. And that's part of the reason why we did so well.
MALVEAUX: CNN has confirmed multiple sources that you have a major endorsement under way, Massachusetts Senator, Ted Kennedy. Obviously, that's a very big deal for you and this has perhaps signaled that there is Democratic establishment that seems to be turning in your corner, turning your way?
OBAMA: You know, Ted Kennedy has not announced that he's endorsed me.
MALVEAUX: We can make news, we can break news on CNN.
OBAMA: Ted Kennedy, you know, speaks for himself and does so eloquently. So I can confirm that I've actively sought his endorsement. I was honored to see Caroline Kennedy write a wonderful op-ed today in the "New York Times." Invoking her father and talking about why she was supporting my campaign. But I'll let, Teddy, speak for himself.
MALVEAUX: You said last night, part of your speech, we are against the idea that it's acceptable to say anything or do anything to win an election. Do you believe the Clintons are doing that?
OBAMA: What I believe is that we are seeing hopefully the transition away from a culture of politics that a lot of people participated in. And that in our own campaign, I have to constantly fight off and that is that the -- ends justify the means.
I want the American people to be able to trust what I say. And if I -- if I am uncertain about an issue, then I'll tell them. That we still have more work to do before we decide a direction. If I have a disagreement with the American people on a certain issue, or at least the majority of them, I will let them know.
MALVEAUX: But what do you think about the Clinton's behavior? I mean, do you think it has been appropriate since last week?
OBAMA: You know, I think I said last week that there were times when they were presenting my record in a way that I objectively (INAUDIBLE) was inaccurate and we want to make sure that gets corrected. But I want to spend more time talking about how we're going to solve the problems that people are feeling right now.
MALVEAUX: Let's move forward to the economy then. Obviously, Congress is going to be proposing its economic stimulus package to the president. There are some of your colleagues in the Senate who say, it doesn't go far enough. They want to see an increase in food stamps, they want to see more subsidies for heating their home, extending unemployment benefits. Where do you stand on this?
OBAMA: I think the broad outlines of the tax stimulus are appropriate but I also think that extending unemployment insurance, making sure that we have a food stamp provision to the extent that we can provide some heating, assistance, I think that would all be appropriate.
MALVEAUX: Last question. President Bush is delivering the State of the Union address to the American people. If you were president today, with the war as it is, with the economy sinking, what would you say to the American people about the State of the Union on Monday?
OBAMA: What I would say is that the state of the American people is strong, but the state of our government is weak.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HARRIS: Well, perhaps few others appreciate the significance of Senator Obama's win in South Carolina than Congressman James Clyburn. The House majority shared a few of his thoughts with me tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES CLYBURN, (D) SOUTH CAROLINA: I think it was very, very significant. If you recall running up to the primary, there was a lot of questions about whether or not Mr. Obama could acquit himself well among white voters and there were some numbers indicated that he had dropped from 20 percent down to 10 percent.
Well, when we looked back, the exit polls indicate he got around 24 percent of all the white vote in South Carolina and he got around 50 percent of all the 130 white voters. And so I think that bodes well. And when it comes to our party here in South Carolina, we have more young people involved in this process than ever before. 532,000 people voted in that primary. That is great news. About 23 percent of those people were independents. 4 percent say they were Republicans.
So we have Republican women coming in to vote for Hillary Clinton and yet a lot of young people coming in to vote for Barack Obama and South Carolinians in upper part of the state voting heavily for their native son John Edwards. We had just the best day that you could possibly think of here in South Carolina.
HARRIS: Well, let me try to take that apart for just a moment here. Everyone was fighting so hard against the idea that the South Carolina primary would end up being a race primary. So when you look at the numbers again, and I'm not going to dispute you, but I just want to offer just a different take on it. Three-fourths of whites voted for white candidates and close to 80 percent of blacks voted for Barack Obama. Why was it anything other than a race primary?
CLYBURN: Because this is the first time that African-Americans in the country got a chance to vote. He came in. He have to win in the victory up in Iowa and would be says that he was the white candidate? No. He won because he reached out. He tapped into people's hopes and their aspirations, their dreams, and I think the same thing happened here in South Carolina.
There's a lady of 104 years old going to the polls, with an Obama T-shirt on. This lady has been waiting all of her life for an opportunity to do this. That's the kind of pride all of us know the history of this country and of South Carolina. And it was a source of pride for so many elderly African-American women to get an opportunity to vote for someone of color who has a chance of being president. Now, that ought not be shied away from.
HARRIS: So what came out of South Carolina for you last night that suggests that Barack Obama can move forward and I say that mindful of the fact that you haven't endorsed a candidate? But what comes out of South Carolina for you that suggested he can move forward and perform well on Super Tuesday given that there only a handful of other states with the kind of demographics reflected in South Carolina.
CLYBURN: Look, he came into South Carolina having proven that he can get non-black votes. I think that what he did in South Carolina was demonstrate that he could put together blacks and whites, men and women. He could put together Christians and Jews and some non- Christians and non-Jews. He put together a group of activists here on the ground, 11,000 of them.
And let me tell you something. A young African-American woman managed his campaign in South Carolina, Stacy Brayboy. Nobody is talking about. She did a marvelous job.
Hillary Clinton's campaign manager in South Carolina was an African-American woman. Yesterday, I saw young African-Americans involved in politics in a way that had never been involved in before. People used to think that these people couldn't run campaigns successfully. Both camps showed that they can. So that is what this is all about to me, bringing people into the process, making sure that they are participating in doing nothing to tramp down their enthusiasm.
HARRIS: Representative Clyburn, great to talk to you. Thanks for your time.
CLYBURN: Thanks for having me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: You know, Representative Clyburn mentioned that one of the many Obama votes in Saturday's Democratic primary came courtesy of one of South Carolina's most treasured citizens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Praise the lord.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Annie May Rosebond (ph) is 104 years old. She was a teenager when women weren't even allowed to vote. Annie May voted in Greenville, South Carolina, making no secret of her favorite candidate.
Your money is up for debate in Congress this week. Literally, the House and Senate take up the economic stimulus plan. What does that mean for the cash you've heard would be headed your way?
And the writers took a night off from the picket line so the actors could go ahead with their awards. We take you to the red carpet.
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HARRIS: So in a few days Congress could decide if many of us will get a check for at least $600 come mid-May. House leaders say they back it on Tuesday. They are expected to vote on the president's economic stimulus plan.
Meanwhile, Senate Committees are feverishly working on what they want to add. As it stands right now, here is what the White House and House leaders have agreed on. Individual taxpayers could get up to $600. Most working couple, 1200 with an additional $300 per child. And that money is certain to help more than just the U.S. economy. Here is CNN's Allan Chernoff.
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ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Judy Ruggiero is already thinking of where she would spend the extra few hundred dollars from a tax rebate. What do you think you would buy?
JUDY RUGGIERO, SHOPPER: Well, I have three grandchildren. I might spend it on them.
CHERNOFF: Toys?
RUGGIERO: Yes, toys, clothes.
CHERNOFF: Marie Gartshore plans to buy more toys for her grandson, like the pet giraffe she just purchased.
CHERNOFF: Where do you think it's made?
MARIE GARTSHORE, SHOPPER: I don't know. I didn't even look. In China. They are all made in China, especially if they are inexpensive.
CHERNOFF: Discount retailers that offer great value, like Wal- Mart targeted now in general stand to be big winners from the rebate program. Because the tax rebates are aimed at their customers. Middle and lower income consumers. But the manufacturers, who are likely to benefit most, are generally not American.
(on-camera): Walking to almost any store that sells toys or apparel and you know where the products are made, Thailand, Cambodia, China. It's almost all imported.
(voice-over): Nearly one-third of what U.S. consumers spent on manufactured products comes from abroad, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. That doesn't even include imported crude oil used for gasoline. And drivers will spend some of the rebate money at the pump.
SONIA TOBAR, DRIVER: As my tank filled up and I'll be able to go places. And I won't think about it twice.
RAE HEDERMAN, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: People who go out and, for example, you know, spend money on gasoline, fill the car up, that money will go to our trading partners. You know, people who provide with us oil, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Norway, Nigeria for example. And they will actually help stimulate their economy.
CHERNOFF: Tax rebates should help the U.S. economy but they won't provide the spark they would have generated decades ago when the country wasn't nearly as dependent on cheap foreign imports. Allan Chernoff, CNN, Pearl River, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: OK. When you head to the vending machine, you expect to see chips, cookies, and candy, right? Well, when you slide your quarters in this machine, you're going to get more than a sugar rush.
Plus, it's the only party in town not to get the hook because of the writer's strike. And we're going to take you there.
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HARRIS: OK. A bizarre and devastating car crash in Florida on an air strip that killed five young men this weekend. It happened here in Ocala. That's about an hour north of Orlando. You're looking at the remnants of a new BMW, believe it or not, looks like a crushed can now. Police say the car was speeding down a private airport runway early Saturday morning.
Actor John Travolta happens to use that same runway. The car ran off an 85 foot high embankment at the end of the runway and when airborne smashed into an oak tree. Three of the five young men inside were ejected. Police say it is way too early to tell if alcohol was involved.
Drink up. It's time for, "You've Got to Be Kidding." To Fresno California where bar owners are giving more than just last calls. They are giving last text messages. They are texting warning to patrons and let them know where DUI checkpoints are located. Police say they won't be outsmarted. They plan to send their own text messages with phony checkpoints snoop to cell.
Craigslist, great place to find used furniture but probably not the best spot to shop for a would-be assassin. Too bad a Michigan woman didn't get that. The police say she posted a listing looking for someone to bump off a California woman. Investigator says she was having an online affair with a woman's husband. Do you think this woman was spending way too much time on the Internet or what?
You know, they say curiosity killed the cat but in this case it made Sophie a hero. You see, Sophie, snipped out some child pornography. Her owner had just moved into this apartment in Austin, Texas where a friend have notice the cat clawing at a gap at the top of the kitchen cabinets. The friend reached in and found several DVDs of child porn. Police were able to track them to the former tenant. He is in jail on $40,000 bond.
And who came up with this idea? Medicinal marijuana in a vending machine. Look for one near you. Sometime next week in L.A. Yes. I'm sure no one will ever try to break into it and steal the contents. Never going to happen. But I digress. Here's how it works. Patience shows their prescription. They will then be fingerprinted and given an access card to use the machine after hours. It is the only thing going as far -- well, at least so far this award season. The writers took the night off to picket lines to let the actors hand out the trophies. We are heading to Tinsel Town.
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HARRIS: Entertainment world. The Golden Globes were a bust of the Oscar, who knows? But tonight is award night in the Hollywood might turn out to be the year's biggest start showcase. The Screen Actor's Guild to pass out its annual awards and CNN's Kareen Wynter was there.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm backstage at The Screen Actor's Guild Awards. The show has just wrapped and what a night it was. The excitement still building behind me as some of the night's big winners. They've just started to file out. They will be doing some press and let's talk about who won what.
In the television category, well, "Sopranos" and "30 Rock," they won multiple wins tonight. The movie "No Country for Old Men" wins two awards. That's ensemble cast. Javier Bardem also picked up an award in the male actor in the leading role category. Many actors had a chance to speak with before the show on the red carpet. They just really expressed a sigh of relief. How much they were looking forward to the big night tonight because of the whacky award season really that we're in.
The Golden Globes were scaled down. No one knows what's going to happen with the Academy Awards, so they say it's really just all about celebrating. I'm Kareen Wynter inside the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles with CNN.
HARRIS: You know, we were so flushed with political primary fever last night that we almost missed it when the nations other less Democratic. But still finally important contest reached its suspenseful apex.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michigan, Kirsten Haglund.
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HARRIS: There she is. Smiles and tears, high heels and evening gowns, its Miss America. And that is 19-year-old Kirsten Haglund accepting the tiara, the sash, and the heavy responsibility the title holds. Miss America told CNN's Robin Meade she had one person in mind throughout the pageant.
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KIRSTEN HAGLUND, MISS AMERICA WINNER: My grandma. Absolutely. My grandmother was Miss Michigan in 1944. She went to Miss America. Venus Ramey, Miss D.C. was crowned. And D.C. was my roommate this year. But she's here in the audience and I am so glad that she could be here. All my friends and family but she was the first one for her. ROBIN MEADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So backstage now after we just watched her get in the car and go to her first press conference as Miss America. We talked to her beforehand. She says that she's going to promote her platform about eating disorders. That is something she's going to talk about all year and that's what this experience is during her year of service. But I asked her, what are you most nervous about in this year and here's what she says.
HAGLUND: I just want to be the very best that I can be and uphold the -- just what this organization represents, which is class, which is dignity, and character. And it's been around for 86, 87 years but we're bringing out modern twist this year. So I want to keep the class organization.
MEADE: You know, I thought I would give you a taste of the traditional press conference. Her first press conference as Miss America. Not traditional as the format of the broadcast. Maybe if you watched it, you notice that it was more of a reality show format with the eliminated contestants remaining on stage. All an effort to give a hip, new image.
I hope that she is hip to traveling, because she starts a year of traveling tomorrow. And if you're wondering why the heck is Robin Meade in a gown? Because I judged the Miss America pageant this year. I hope you're happy with our choice. I'm Robin Meade for CNN in Vegas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: OK. For more stories like that and more Robin Meade in general, you can tune in to "HEADLINE NEWS" weekday mornings from 6:00 to 10:00 Eastern, for "MORNING EXPRESS WITH ROBIN MEADE." I'm Tony Harris. Thanks for joining us at the CNN NEWSROOM.
Coming up next, Campbell Brown presents "Broken Government: Campaign Killers."
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