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Kennedys Endorse Barack Obama

Aired January 28, 2008 - 13:00   ET

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

KENNEDY: I found that candidate. And I think you have, too.
But first, let me say how much I respect the strength, the work and the dedication of two other Democrats still in the race, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. They are my friends -- they are my friends; they have been my colleagues in the Senate. John Edwards has been a powerful advocate for economic and social justice. And Hillary Clinton has been in the forefront on issues ranging from health care to the rights of women around the world.

Whoever -- whoever -- whoever is our nominee will have my enthusiastic support and will have yours, too. Let there be no doubt: we are all committed to seeing a Democratic president in 2008.

But I believe there is one candidate who has extraordinary gifts of leadership and character, matched to the extraordinary demands of this moment in history. He understands what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the fierce urgency of now.

He will be a president who refuses to be trapped in the patterns of the past. He is a leader who sees the world clearly without being cynical. He is a fighter who cares passionately about the causes he believes in, without demonizing those who hold a different view. He is tough-minded, but he also has an uncommon capacity to appeal to the better angels of our nature.

I'm proud to stand with him here today and offer my help, offer my voice, offer my energy, my commitment, to make Barack Obama the next president of the United States.

Like most -- like most -- like most of the nation, I was moved four years ago as he told us a profound truth that we were not, we must not be just red states and blue states, but we must be the United States. And since that time, I have marveled at his grit and his grace, as he traveled this country and inspired record turnouts of people of all ages, of all races, of all genders, of all parties, of all faiths to get fired up and ready to go.

I've seen him. I've seen him connect with people from every walk of life and with Senators on both sides of the aisle. With every person he meets, every crowd he inspires, everyone he touches, he generates new hope that our greatest days as a nation are still ahead, and this generation of Americans, like others before us can unite to meet our own rendezvous with destiny.

We know the true record of Barack Obama. There is the courage. When so many others were silent or simply went along, from the beginning he opposed the war in Iraq. And let no one deny that truth.

There is the great intelligence of someone who could have had a glittering career in corporate law but chose instead to serve his community and then enter public life.

There is the tireless skill of a senator who was there in the early mornings to help us hammer out a need compromise on immigration reform, who always saw a way to protect national security, and the dignity of people who did not have a vote. For them, he was a voice for justice, a voice for justice. For them he was a voice for justice.

And there is the clear effectiveness of Barack Obama in fashioning legislation to put high-quality teachers in our classrooms and in pushing and prodding the Senate to pass the most far-reaching ethics reform in the history of the nation. There is that Barack Obama.

Now with Barack Obama there is a new national leader who has given America a different kind of campaign: not just about himself, but about all of us. A campaign about the country we will become if we can rise above the old politics that parses us into separate groups and puts us at odds with one another.

I remember another such time in the 1960s when I came to the Senate at the age of 30. We had a new president who inspired the nation, especially the young, to seek a new frontier. Those inspired young people marched, sat in at lunch counters, protested the war in Vietnam, and served honorably in that war, even when they were opposed to it. They realized, they realized that when...

KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: All right, Senator Edward Kennedy endorsing Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, quoting him, as "a man of extraordinary gifts of leadership and character."

Kennedy's endorsement had been sought out by all three of the remaining presidential contenders.

Delivering this speech, this endorsement, at a pretty pivotal time during this race, side by side with Caroline Kennedy, comparing Barack Obama to someone as her father, JFK, and a man of change, saying that's exactly what this country needs at the time. Also, you saw Senator Kennedy's son, also, right next to him, the Representative -- Senator -- or Patrick Kennedy from Rhode Island.

DON LEMON, CO-HOST: Yes. I'm Don Lemon, here along with Kyra Phillips here in the CNN NEWSROOM. It's about eight minutes after 1 Eastern Time. Again, we're watching this endorsement by Ted Kennedy, all happening in Washington, as we're watching all of the political candidates today, out stumping.

Meantime, we want to check in now with our Suzanne Malveaux, who is -- who is at this particular endorsement. She joins us now to talk about it. This has really pitted, Suzanne, two political dynasties against each other when you think about this, the Clintons versus the Kennedys. And you know, everyone had wanted this endorsement, but Barack Obama got it.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, this is really an extraordinary moment. It's an extraordinary development. We're not only seeing this Democratic giant, one within the party, a whole dynasty, if you will, but we're also seeing the clear rejection of not only Hillary Clinton but the former president, Bill Clinton.

If you listen to his words, Senator Ted Kennedy's words just over the last couple of minutes, some phrases that pop out here. He talks about Barack Obama not being trapped in the old patterns of old politics. He talks about the fact that he has not demonized anyone.

There is a lot of back story here. In fact, Senator Kennedy very frustrated with Bill Clinton, with Hillary Clinton, the tone the campaign had taken over the last couple of weeks, the fact that he felt that Bill Clinton had stepped over the line, that he had misrepresented his record, that he was trying to use race as a wedge between these two candidates, that there was a lot of frustration within the Democratic Party over the behavior of both of the Clintons, that coming from Kennedy, as well as others.

He also said, as well, that we know the record, the real record of Barack Obama when it comes to the Iraq war. That is a direct swipe at both of the Clintons for what some say are the distortion of his record, that he was against the war, that he has been against the war ever since the beginning.

There was a lot of back and forth over statements that he had made on whether or not he really truly took that position. Well, Senator Ted Kennedy making it clear that he believes the Clintons were not being truthful about that.

So what you're seeing here is really kind of a fight, a battle between these dynasties, these families, but also over the tactics here, over the politics of how this whole race is actually being conducted. And a rejection by some that they just did not understand and did not appreciate what had happened over the last couple of weeks. That kind of fierce fighting, in-party fighting that we saw between the candidates -- Don.

LEMON: Yes. And Suzanne, stand by. We're going to listen in a little bit. But I want you to sort of ponder this, as we're waiting for Barack Obama to get up there and speak.

Think about this. This is really going to be sort of a pivotal moment for the Clinton campaign, because they've gotten lots of criticism about Bill Clinton possibly having too much influence on Hillary's campaign and that maybe he is going to back off a bit, that he's actually hurt the campaign, at least critics are saying, more than he has helped this campaign.

We're going to listen in, continue to listen in and wait for Barack Obama to step up to the microphone. Just real quickly, as we're waiting for Ted Kennedy, because really, we want to hear -- we've heard a lot from him. We want to hear Barack Obama.

Suzanne, if you're still listening, talk about that. Do you expect that he will back off, real quickly?

Let's listen in. Then we'll get that from you, Suzanne.

KENNEDY: When John Kennedy thought of going to the moon, he didn't say, "No, it's too far. Maybe we can't get there, shouldn't even try."

I'm convinced we can reach our goals only if we are not petty when our cause is so great, only if we find a way past the stale ideas, stalemate of our times, and only if we replace the politics of fear with the politic of hope, and only if we have the courage for true change.

Barack Obama is the one person running for president who can bring us that change. Barack Obama is the one person running for president who can be that change.

I love this country. I believe in the bright light of hope and possibility. I always have, even in the darkest hours. I know what America can achieve. I've seen it; I've lived it. And with Barack Obama we can do it again.

And I know, I know that he's ready to be president on day one. And when he raises his hand on inauguration day, at that very moment, at that very moment, we will lift the spirits of our nation and begin to restore America's standing in the world.

There was another time when another young candidate was running for president and challenging America to cross a new frontier. He faced public criticism from the preceding Democratic president, who was widely respected in the party. Harry Truman said we needed someone with greater experience and added, "May I urge you to be patient?"

And John Kennedy replied, "The world is changing. The old ways will not do. It's time for a new generation of leadership."

So it is with Barack Obama. He has lit a spark of hope amid the fierce urgency of now. I believe that a wave of change is moving across America. If we do not turn aside, if we dare to set our course for the shores of hope, we together will go beyond the divisions of the past and find our place to build the America of the future.

My friends, I ask you to join in this historic journey, to have the courage to choose change. It's time again for a new generation of leadership. It is time now for Barack Obama.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, American University. Thank you. Thank you, American University. To Congressman Kennedy, to Caroline Kennedy, to Senator Ted Kennedy and his lovely wife Vicki; to Caroline's three children, Rose, Tatiana and Jack, who were my greatest advocates over the past several months. To Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, other members of the Kennedy family who are here today and to Mayor Adrian Fenty, the mayor of Washington, D.C.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you!

OBAMA: I love you, too.

I thank all of the Kennedys for your words, for your support and the service that you have rendered to this country.

I stand here -- I stand here today with a great deal of humility. I know what your support means. I know the cherished place the Kennedy family holds in the hearts of the American people. And that is as it should be, because the Kennedy family, more than any other, has always stood for what's best about the Democratic Party and what is best about America.

They've stood by the idea that each of us can make a difference; and that all of us ought to try, that no frontier is beyond our reach when we are united and not divided; and that those of us who are not content to settle for the world as it is can remake the world as it should be, that together we can seek a newer world. No one embodies this proud legacy more than the people we just heard from.

For a woman who was introduced to America in the spotlight, Caroline Kennedy has worked on public view to bring about changes in communities all across the country, whether it's her work with the New York City public schools or the Profile and Courage Award, her books on politics, civil rights and history, Caroline has been a quiet force for change in this country. And it is an extraordinary honor to her support.

It is an honor, as well, to have Congressman Kennedy's support. He has been a champion in the fight to make sure that every American has equal access to the quality mental health care that they need. It is one of the great civil rights issues of our time. And it is an issue I'm proud to have worked with him on.

He's not just part of the next generation of Kennedy leaders. He is part of the next generation of Democratic and American leaders, and I look forward to fighting by his side in the months and the years to come.

Of course, it is a special honor and privilege to have the support of the congressman's father, Caroline's uncle, Senator Edward Kennedy. In the year I was born -- hold on a second. In the year I was born, President Kennedy let out word that the torch had been passed to a new generation of Americans. He was right; it had. It was passed to his youngest brother. From the battles of the 1960s, to the battles of today, he has carried that torch, lighting the way for all who share his American ideals. It's a torch that he's carried as a champion for working Americans, a fierce proponent of universal health care, a tireless advocate for giving every child in this country a quality education.

It's a torch he's carried as the lion of the Senate, a man whose mastery of the issues and command of the levers (ph) of government, whose determined leadership and deft political skills are matched only by his legendary ability to tell a good story.

Ted Kennedy stands apart from the prevailing wisdom in Washington that has reduced politics to a game of tactics and transactions in which no principle is beyond sacrifice. And his public life is a testimony to what can be achieved when you focus on lifting the country up, rather than tearing political opponents down.

I think it may be hard for university students to fully grasp the achievements of this man, because so much of his work was done before many of you were born and so much of it has been done since, but few public servants in our nation's history have had such a profound influence on the course of our nation. Few leaders in this country have more experience in how to bring about real change, and few have better judgment about where we're headed as a party and a people. So today, to have this man stand beside me today is more than just politics for me. It is personal.

I was too young to remember John Kennedy, and I was just a child when Robert Kennedy ran for president, but in the stories I heard growing up, I saw how my grandparents and mother spoke about them, and about that period of our nation's life as a time of great hope and achievement. They inspired my family, as they inspired families all across the country. And I think my own sense of what is possible in this country, part of the reason I stand here today, comes in part from what they said America was like in the days of John and Robert Kennedy.

I believe that's true for millions of Americans. I've seen it in the offices. In this city, where portraits of John and Robert hang on office walls, or collections of their speeches sit on bookshelves. I've seen it in my travels all across this country. Because no matter where I go or who I talk to, one thing I can say for certain is that the dream has never died.

The dream has never died. The dream has never died. It lives on. It lives on in the older folks I meet, who remember what America once was and know what America can be once again. It lives on in the young people who -- who have only seen John or Robert on television but are ready to answer their call. It lives on in those Americans who refuse to be deterred by the scale of the challenges we face, who know, as President Kennedy said at this university, that no problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.

And it lives on in those Americans, young and old, rich and poor, black and white, Latino and Asian and Native American, gay and straight, who are tired of a politics that divides us and want to recapture the sense of common purpose that we had when John Kennedy was president of the United States of America. That is the dream we hold in our hearts. That is the kind of leadership we long for in this country. And that is the kind of leadership I intend to offer as president of the United States of America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama! Obama! Obama!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Obama! Obama! Obama!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama! Obama! Obama!

OBAMA: So make no mistake, the choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders. It is not about rich versus poor, young versus old. And it is certainly not about black versus white. It is about -- it is about the past versus the future.

It is about looking backwards or marching forwards. It's about whether we are going to seize this moment to write the next great American story so some day we can tell our children that this was the time when we healed our nation, this was the time when we repaired our world, and this was the time when we renewed the America -- that this was the time when we renew the America that has led generations of weary travelers from all over the world to find opportunity and liberty and hope on our doorstep.

One of these travelers was my father. I barely knew him. But when, after his death I finally took my first trip to his tiny village in Kenya and asked my grandmother, and I asked my grandmother, who lives there, in a small shack without running water, electricity, I asked her if there was anything left from him.

And she opened a trunk and took out a stack of letters which she handed to me. There were many more than 30 of them. All handwritten by my father, all addressed to colleges and universities across America. All filled with the hope of a young man who had been born into poverty, but who dreamed of more for his life.

And his prayer was answered when he was brought over to study in this country. That's how he ended up meeting my mother. What I learned much later is that part of what made it possible for him to come here was an effort by the young Senator from Massachusetts at the time, John F. Kennedy, and by a grant -- and by a grant from the Kennedy Foundation to help Kenyan students pay for travel.

So it is partly because of their generosity that my father came to this country, and because he did, I stand before you today, inspired by America's past, filled with hope for America's future, and determined to do my part in writing our next great chapter.

So that is the essence of America: each generation reaching back and bringing along those who might have otherwise been left behind.

So I'm asking for your hands; I'm asking for your help; and I'm asking for your hearts. And if you will stand with me in the days to come, if you will stand for change so that our children have the same chance that somebody gave us, if you'll stand to keep the American dream alive for those who still hunger for opportunity and still thirst for justice. If you are ready to stop settling for what the cynics tell you, you must accept and finally reach for what you know is possible. Then, we will not just win these primaries, we will not just win this general election, we will change the course of history and write a new course for change in this country. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world. Thank you, everybody. God bless you.

LEMON: Senator Barack Obama giving a very enthusiastic speech there at American University in Washington, D.C. And you cannot deny, no matter which side of the fence you're on, Republican, Democrat, what have you, the magnitude of this moment considering the history of the Kennedy family in this country. Barack Obama saying that the Kennedys embody what is best about America. And it appears that he's gotten it all in there.

He said young, old, black, white, gay, straight. He's reaching out to everyone, and even across the aisle saying that he is looking forward. Senator Ted Kennedy, you see him there, standing next to Barack Obama, said a wave of change, he can see it, is moving across America. And he believes that that change begins with Barack Obama.

Sort of a surprising move, though, that he chose to endorse Barack Obama instead of Senator Clinton here. Really you're watching history in the making here. Two political dynasties pitted against each other. The Obamas -- I should say the Clintons, as well as the Kennedys. Everyone thinking that the Kennedys would endorse Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. But instead, they chose to endorse Barack Obama. So again, American University, Washington, D.C., we're watching that endorsement in front of a very enthusiastic crowd.

PHILLIPS: Lets talk about that other dynasty now. With her defeat in South Carolina behind her, Democratic senator, Hillary Clinton, is on the trail today in New England. Live pictures right now. She's campaigning in Connecticut and Massachusetts, hosting a townhall in Springfield. Let's take a listen.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... a very comprehensive plan, it's on my Web site, hillaryclinton.com. Let me give you the highlights. First of all, we have got to invest more in energy efficiency. We can cut a lot of our greenhouse gas emissions if our buildings are more energy efficient. I have said that I would tell the federal government agency that takes care of the buildings owned by the federal government, they could not rent or build a new building unless it was carbon neutral, unless it was energy efficient.

I've also said that we will have a green building fund to renovate a lot of the buildings, both in the United States government and in partnership with states and cities like Hartford and Connecticut. It is also important that we put on a very fast track, an increase in the gas mileage that Congress has just voted for. Doesn't go as far as I would like, but it's the first change we've got and we've got to push it hard and help the auto companies figure out how they're going to accelerate their implementations.

I saw a car the other day, one of these plug-in electric hybrids with one of these long lasting batteries. They were test driving it for a couple months. In Washington, they went 1500 miles on ten gallons of gas. What we've got to do is to say to the American auto companies, you've got the prototypes, put them into production. Get them out there. Let people buy them. Let's get the price down. We also have got to do much more on making our renewable portfolio standards that you know about real, so that we have a lot more of our electricity coming from renewable sources like solar and wind and geothermal.

Other countries are beating us. Germany made a big bet on solar power. They are putting several hundred thousand people to work installing solar panels and making the equipment for it. You know, Connecticut has as many sunny days as Germany. We could put a lot of people to work right here in Connecticut, all across this state with the energy jobs in the future, the green power jobs.

We also have to figure out how we're going to sequester and store carbon from coal. We need a demonstration project on that. And as I said, there's a lot of detail in my plan. But the final thing is, I want, as president, to (INAUDIBLE) major greenhouse gas eliminations --

PHILLIPS: That's Hillary Clinton's focus now, Super Tuesday, when two dozen states hold nominating contests. It's just eight days from now. We're going to hear more from Senator Clinton in just a bit. And we're going to check in with CNN's Jim Acosta on the trail there with Senator Clinton. That's coming up straight ahead.

LEMON: We certainly are.

And on day ahead of Florida's Republican primary, the race is too close to call. In our latest Republican poll of polls, John McCain, with 29 percent, and Mitt Romney, with 28 percent, are in a statistical dead heat. Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee trail the frontrunners. Ron Paul, well he is last. The poll of likely Republican primary voters is an average of four different surveys.

PHILLIPS: All right. So we heard from Barack Obama, and the Kennedy dynasty supporting him now, giving its endorsement to his campaign. We heard Hillary Clinton, who is speaking as well, this hour and also Senator John McCain out stumping, he and his wife there, in Orlando, Florida. We're following all the candidates, all the speeches, trying to bring it to you in real time.

Well big question today, can Rudy Giuliani pull it off in Florida? The stakes get even higher as his standing in the Florida polls drops lower. CNN's Mary Snow joins us now from Clearwater.

Hi, Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.

And Rudy Giuliani made a stop here. We're actually at an airport hangar because he's flying around the state making his final pitch to voters. I asked him about his confidence level going into tomorrow. He's defiant, saying that he believes he will win here. Although, as you point out, the polls that have been taken in recent weeks show him trailing his main rival, Senator John McCain and Mitt Romney. This is a crucial state for Rudy Giuliani because he really staked his candidacy here in Florida, thinking that a win here would propel him into Super Tuesday. In making his final pitch, here is a little bit of what he had to say earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is about who will be best to be president of the United States. Who can lead this country most effectively, who can lead it, keep it safe, keep it secure, keep it prosperous. And I believe I'm the candidate who can do that. Let's make Florida Rudy country. Let's do it. Let's get it done. Let's win in Florida, and then let's take this campaign to the rest of the country. If we win in Florida, we're going to win every place else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Now, he was making his final pitch. He's trying to tout himself as the candidate who will cut taxes, increase the military. And you know, in terms of what the campaign is really hoping on is early voters. People could go to cast their ballots -- taking down the set here. That's all the noise back here. But the state reports more than 450,000 Republicans have already cast early ballots. And the Rudy Giuliani campaign is really hoping that a bulk of those votes will be for him. And that is what they're really banking on at this point -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Mary, Rudy Giuliani has been behind in the polls but he's defiant that he's still going to win this race. Who is he counting on?

SNOW: Yes, he's really counting on his solid supporters, some of the older voters here in Florida, former New Yorkers also. Cuban Americans in the Miami Dade area. But also, the people who have gone and cast ballots already in that early voting, because it really started just when the South Carolina primary was taking place. He wasn't really active there. So he believed that he got an early footing in the state.

And that is what he's really banking on. We did ask him about his plans. Where do you go after here, what happens? He says he's not entertaining any thoughts other than winning here. And in terms of where he goes next, he said of course he'll be at CNN's debate in California on Wednesday. But then he's going to be meeting with his staff to strategize the states where he will focus on after that -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Mary Snow there in Clearwater, Florida. Thanks so much.

And the all important delegate count, in the end, that's what matters in the race for the White House. As it stands, Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic field with 230 delegates. Barack Obama has 152. And John Edwards 61. The numbers include delegates won in state contests plus super delegates, those are Democratic office holders and party leaders who have announced their support for a candidate. The magic number for nomination is 2,025.

On the Republican side, Mitt Romney leads with 73 delegates. John McCain has 38, Mike Huckabee 29, Ron Paul six and Rudy Giuliani, two. The GOP count includes delegates won in states and commitment from Republican National Committee members. The magic number for Republicans, 1,191. And to find out more about the delegate count, click on to our Web site, cnnpolitics.com.

LEMON: CNN is your home for politics throughout the day, plus this. More reasons not to give your very young kids over-the-counter cold meds, no matter how much they cough, sneeze or sniffle. Actually, thousands of reasons.

PHILLIPS: Plus, pedaling for peace and some good PR. Two cyclists use their spokes to try to take Iran off the axis of evil.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, the Food and Drug Administration is still looking hard at kids' cold meds. It has released figures on E.R. visits related to these over the counterdrugs. And medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, is here with new details on that new report.

Elizabeth, what do they show?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Don, these drugs are so controversial because parents often love them. They say that it takes care of their kid's cough or cold. But these new numbers from the Centers for Disease Control certainly would make a parent question whether or not they want to give this drug -- these drugs to their children.

Lets take a look at these numbers from the CDC study. What they found is that in the course of two years, there were more than 7,000 emergency room visits because of kids who took these drugs. And one out of four times, the medicine was administered properly. The parents gave it properly. And so that certainly makes some people question, is there something going on with these drugs.

Now, it is important to say that the industry points out, well, three out of the four times, it's because the parents messed up the dosage in some way, shape or form or because the kids took it on their own. They found it in bottles and they took it on their own. Now, the government has already said that kids under two should not be taking cough and cold meds. But there are a lot of people who say that that ban also ought to be for older kids. In fact, this study found that most of the kids who were getting into trouble with cough and cold medications are ages two to five -- Don.

LEMON: So Elizabeth, in this study -- how old are we talking here? How old are the kids in this study?

COHEN: Right. The kids in the study were all ages, but the kids that really got into trouble were ages two to five. And that's why, again, people are questioning the government has said under two you shouldn't be taking this, maybe they ought to change that and say even older kids shouldn't be taking these drugs.

LEMON: And what about -- what about safety caps on medicine, Elizabeth?

COHEN: Well, apparently there are plenty of kids who are getting around whatever safety caps there are on these medications, because there were plenty of reports of kids just finding the stuff and swigging it on their own.

LEMON: So they're getting -- OK. And then in the end here, were these kids OK?

COHEN: You know what? Most of them were, Don -- 93 percent of the kids didn't even have to be admitted to the hospital. So the vast majority were just fine, even though the kids were anxious, they thought the kids had had some kind of reaction.

LEMON: All right. Elizabeth Cohen in New York today.

COHEN: Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you very much and wish you were here.

COHEN: Me, too.

LEMON: See you later. Thanks again.

PHILLIPS: 1:45 Eastern time now. Here are some of the other stories that we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM. President Bush reversing his words. Congress considering his plan. In less than eight hours, the president gives his final State of the Union speech in which he'll prod Congress to pass an economic stimulus package. But it could face a hurdle in the Senate where Democrats are planning to add on to the plan.

Detroit mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, is losing his chief of staff. Christine Beatty says that she's quitting after allegations she and the mayor lied in court about an alleged affair.

And, an apparently peaceful end to a hostage drama in northwest Pakistan. Pakistani sources say gunmen have freed at least 30 students and teachers held for hostage hours at a primary school. The hostage takers are described as local criminals, not Islamic militants.

LEMON: Pedaling for peace and some good PR. Two cyclists use their spokes to try to take Iran off the axis of evil.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We have been covering this for a long period of time. And we know Hollywood has been slowed by the writers' strike. But its sagging spirits got a boost last night with an actual, honest to goodness awards show. CNN's Kareen Wynter has the highlights. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: For one night, at least, glitz and glamour returned in Hollywood. Finally, an awards show with star power. Unlike the Golden Globes, and the upcoming Oscars, the S.A.G. Awards didn't face the threat of picketing writers. Instead, the Screen Actors Guild, which supports the strike, had their blessing. And everyone was out in force on the red carpet.

JAMES GANDOLFINI, ACTOR, SOPRANOS: It's been 10 years, it's an honor. That's all I can say. Thank you.

WYNTER: Inside the Shrine Auditorium, it was a sweet swan song for the Sopranos which swept the drama category. Best ensemble and honors for James Gandolfini and Eddie Falco. And, TV comedy The Office won the ensemble award, while 30 Rock garnered trophies for Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey.

TINA FEY, ACTOR, 30 ROCK: It's really encouraging, and also anything that just reminds people that we have a show, I'm all for it.

WYNTER: Both supporting actor honorees were first time winners. Ruby Dee for her work in American Gangster, and Javier Bardem for his performance as the cold-blooded killer in No Country For Old Men.

JULIE CHRISTIE, ACTOR, AWAY FROM HER: It's lovely to receive an award from your own union, especially at a time when we're being so forcefully reminded how important unions are.

WYNTER: Julie Christie also took home her very first SAG Award for her work in Away From Her, while Daniel Day-Lewis' performance as an obsessed oil man in There Will Be Blood, earned him best actor honors. Day-Lewis used his acceptance speech to honor the late Heath Ledger.

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, ACTOR, THERE WILL BE BLOOD: I'd like to dedicate this to Heath Ledger.

WYNTER: The Coen brothers crime drama No Country For Old Men solidified it's Oscar prospects, by winning the biggest prize of the night, outstanding ensemble.

JOSH BROLIN, ACTOR, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN: As there were 47 people in this cast, each and every one making this the movie that it has become.

WYNTER: Usually the SAG Awards don't get quite as much attention as the Golden Globes or the Oscars, but if the writers' strike isn't settled soon, well, this could end up being Hollywood's biggest night of the year. Kareen Wynter, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Screams from a man who fell into an icy pond. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's going down. I can't breathe. It gets your heart rate going.

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PHILLIPS: Water temperature hovering around freezing. How rescuers made the save.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't breathe. I can't breathe no more.

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LEMON: Wow. That is screams of panic. You know anyone would. Because -- check this out. A painstaking rescue. Weymouth, Massachusetts, a man walking home in the middle of the night mistakes a frozen pond for a road. He's in the icy water for almost half an hour before firefighters could reach him. They had to cut through the ice and maneuver a canoe. The 27-year-old is being treated for hypothermia.

PHILLIPS: Well, if you're in Arizona, forget about going out on Tempe Town Lake any time soon. Arizona has shut down that man-made body of water because it's too full. Already, parts of bridges have been washed away. The state has started releasing some of the water into the nearby salt river which is normally dry. Chad Myers, he's been monitoring all the storms all across the country. Some places are getting warmer, others can't stop the rain.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: Coffee, tea or soda? Too much could spell trouble, especially if you are diabetic. Our Medical Correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen will spell out the caffeine danger.

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