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GM Offers Buyout to Workers; Government Throws Homeowners Lifeline; President Bush Speaks at White House Reception for African- American History Month; The Latest Developments in the Race for President

Aired February 12, 2008 - 15:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Tens of thousands of GM workers pondering whether to leave their jobs, embattled homeowners across the nation hoping to save their homes.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Two big developments today on the economic front. GM offers workers a buyout, while the government throws homeowners a lifeline.

LEMON: From Wall Street to Washington, from assembly lines to living rooms, we're covering it all for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hello, everyone. I'm Don lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

KEILAR: And I'm Brianna Keilar, in for Kyra Phillips. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LEMON: The president holding and speaking at a reception for African-American History Month at the White House.

Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Madam Secretary, appreciate you coming.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Marcia.

Thanks for coming, Mr. Secretary. Proud you're here.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: If I skip some of the notables, it's because I am going to say something about them a little later on.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: So, Congressman, I will be with you in a minute. (LAUGHTER)

BUSH: I appreciate Dr. Leonard Haynes, who is the executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

I'm proud -- Doc, thanks for coming.

I'm proud to welcome all the presidents from historically black colleges and universities here today. Really appreciate your service to the country.

I want to thank Ron Langston, national director of the Minority Business Development Agency, Roslyn Brock, vice chairman of the NAACP.

Roslyn, thank you for coming. Somewhere, you are. There you are.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: I thank John Fleming, president, Association of the Study of African-American Life and History.

Yes, sir. Reverend Al Sharpton and his wife, Dominique.

Reverend, it's good to see you.

Daughter. Daughter.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: I don't get them right all the time. But thank you for coming.

And, Dominique, you're sure a lot prettier than your father.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: Thurgood Marshall Jr., we're proud you're here. Thanks for coming. Good to see you, sir.

State Representative Calvin Smyre of the state of Georgia, who is the president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, sure proud you're here.

I thank you all for coming. There's a lot of other notables here. Just consider yourself welcomed.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: The theme of this year's African-American History Month is a celebration of America's cultural diversity. It is a tribute to a scholar who deepened our appreciation for diversity, Carter G. Woodson. When Doctor Woodson began his career in the early 20th century, most Americans knew little about African-American heritage.

Dr. Woodson set out to correct that. His scholarship helped pioneer the field of African-American studies. And by the time he passed away in 1950, this son of freed slaves had become known as the Father of Black History.

It is important for all our citizens to know the history of the African-American struggle for equality. We must remember that the slave trade brought many Africans to America in chains, not by choice. We must remember how slaves claimed their God-given right to freedom. And we must remember how freed slaves and their descendants helped rededicate America to the ideals of its founding.

Our nation has come a long way toward building a more perfect union. Yet, as past injustices have become distant memories, there is a risk that our society may lose sight of the real suffering that took place. One symbol of that suffering is the noose. Recently, there have been a number of media reports about nooses being displayed. These disturbing reports have resulted in heightened racial tensions in many communities. They have revealed that some Americans do not understand why the sight of a noose causes such a visceral reaction among so many people.

For decades, the noose played a central part in a campaign of violence and fear against African-Americans. Fathers were dragged from their homes in the dark of the night before the eyes of their terrified children. Summary executions were held by torchlight in front of hateful crowds.

In many cases, law enforcement officers responsible for protecting the victims were complicit in their deeds and their deaths. For generations of African-Americans, the noose was more than a tool of murder. It was a tool of intimidation that conveyed a sense of powerlessness to millions.

The era of rampant lynching is a shameful chapter in American history. The noose is not a symbol of prairie justice, but of gross injustice. Displaying one is not a harmless prank. Lynching is not a word to be mentioned in jest. As a civil society, we must understand that noose displays and lynching jokes are deeply offensive. They are wrong. And they have no place in America today.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: This afternoon we honor four Americans who understand what this symbol represents and who are leading the way toward ending racial injustice across our land.

Congressman John Lewis earned his place in history long before winning a seat in the United States Capitol. As a young man, he became one of the leaders of the civil rights movement. He organized freedom rides and sit-ins and voter registration drives.

One Sunday in 1965, he set out to lead a march from Selma to Montgomery. The marchers never made it past the rows of state troopers outside Selma, but their message made it all the way to Washington. Five months later, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act. More than 40 years later, John Lewis continues to inspire us.

And we are blessed to have him here today.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: William Coleman has lived a life of many firsts. After graduating first in his class from Harvard Law School, he went on to become both the first black American to clerk on the Supreme Court and the first to hold a Cabinet post in a Republican administration as secretary of transportation under President Gerald Ford.

William Coleman has also helped open doors of opportunities for others. He worked alongside Thurgood Marshall, the father of this good man, on the legal team that triumphed in Brown vs. Board of Education.

This ruling exposed the fallacy of separate but equal, and it helped return America to the great truth that all men are created equal. For this, we owe William Coleman our lasting thanks.

We are honored to have (AUDIO GAP)

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: Three years after Brown vs. Board of Education, nine students in Little Rock stepped forward to test the Supreme Court's ruling. On September 25, 1957, federal troops escorted them into the city's all-white Central High School. Once inside, the Little Rock nine were spit on and called names.

One of the students was a senior named Ernest Green. As graduation day approached, some suggested it might be safer for Ernest to receive his diploma in the mail. Many people would have taken this advice -- not Ernest Green.

In May of 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. was on hand to watch Ernest become the first African-American to graduate from Little Rock's Central High School.

We are honored to welcome Ernest Green to the White House during the 50th anniversary.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: And, finally, as a young boy, Otis Williams remembers his mother packing food for their move from Texas -- oh, what a tragic mistake.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: To Detroit. She did so because restaurants along the route refused to serve African-Americans.

In Detroit, Otis Williams grew up to become the leader of one of the most successful vocal groups in the history of our country, the Temptations. This group has recorded 37 top 40 singles, including four No. 1 hits on the pop charts. Their success paved the way for other African-American artists. Their melodies continue bringing Americans of all races together to this day.

Otis can remember performing in a venue in South Carolina where blacks and whites in the crowd were separated by a barrier. The next year, when the Temptations returned, that racial divide was gone. As Otis once put it -- quote -- "The highest achievement for me has been to have our music penetrate all kinds of barriers, for it to be colorless."

The music of the Temptations has given countless Americans sunshine on a cloudy day.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: And we can't help ourselves from loving them.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: Throughout American -- African-American History Month, we remember how individuals, African-American leaders of all kinds helped bring our nation together. We recognize that our nation still has a long way to go.

But, in the example of the leaders like those we honor today, we see strength greater than any division. And we see hope for a day when freedom rings from every mountainside.

And now it is my great pleasure to introduce the Temptations.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: Come on up.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: Go ahead.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: Glad you're here.

LEMON: All right. Are we going to listen some music? Don't we want to hear a little bit? No? OK. I would love to hear them.

But we're going to move on, since we're working against the clock here, but the president holding an African-American History Month celebration at the White House. You heard him speak. Probably one of the most profound things he talked about were some of the things that have been happening in the news lately, lynching and nooses, the use of the noose as a symbol of hate.

And he said, it has no place in our culture; it is not a joke. So, the president speaking there, and now there's the performance. Man, I want to listen.

But we're going move on because we have some developing news that Brianna is going to get to at the Weather Center.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

LEMON: We want to update some developing news coming out of Oxnard, California.

T.J. Holmes with the details for us -- T.J.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, this is a school shooting we have been watching out there in Oxnard, E.O. Junior High school in Oxnard, California, where one student was shot, a 15-year-old, live picture we're seeing here of what is still happening at this school. They are working to get all those students home.

They are being released for the day, being sent home. The shooting happened around 8:30 local time out there in California. But one student was shot, another student now in custody. The victim is a 15-year-old.

Now, we want to update you here, because we were given information earlier to CNN here by a lady from the Oxnard City Council, who told us that the student had, in fact, passed away. Well, now we are being told that that is an unconfirmed report, and now we do not know the status of that student.

So, if, in fact, this is a correction and a retraction and something we can correct -- and this will be good news, if the student is not dead -- that would be great. But right now, just that report is unconfirmed is the report we're getting out of California. The city council, which had earlier -- a member there had told us that, in fact, the student was dead, that person now going back on that statement and saying now that they cannot confirm whether or not the student that was shot is, in fact, dead or not.

So, right now, we do not know the condition of that student who was shot. Police say this was an incident between these two students, an isolated incident. No other students were being targeted or anything like that.

But the other student is, in fact, in custody. We do not know the age or the grade of the student, the alleged shooter. But that student is, in fact, in custody, no one else hurt, but, again, a live picture we're seeing outside of E.O. Green middle school or junior high school there in Oxnard, where students now being sent home after a shooting at the school that had happened in a particular classroom today.

So, we're working to try to get more information and confirm something out there about the condition of that student, but right now unconfirmed. We can't say whether or not this student is dead or alive or just what condition that the student is at this point. We're on it. We will try to update you with the best information we can get -- guys.

LEMON: All right, thank you, T.J.

(BUSINESS UPDATE)

KEILAR: And the other major financial story that we're following, General Motors, of course, trying to cut costs by cutting union jobs.

It's offering a new round of buyouts to all its U.S. hourly workers who belong to the United Auto Workers. Now, the new buyout offer comes as GM reports a nearly $39 billion loss for all of last year, the biggest yearly loss ever for any automaker.

Now, despite that, GM managed to eke out a narrow profit before some big charges in the fourth quarter. And here are the terms of those buyouts. They are being offered to 74,000 workers. Those who are now eligible to retire can get between $45,000 and $65,000 as an incentive to go. That's along with pension and health benefits. And then younger workers can get up to $140,000.

Under the contract signed with the UAW last year, GM will be able to replace up to 16,000 workers with non-union employees, who will get half the wage. But the company did not say how many workers it is looking to replace with this buyout offer.

LEMON: Big protest in Berkeley, California. First, the city council told the Marines they weren't welcome. Then it said it was reconsidering. Now, it's catching flak from both sides.

We're going to get you back now to the White House and the Temptations performing "Midnight Train." That's not what they're performing, but it's one of my favorites.

KEILAR: That's a favorite.

LEMON: African-American History Month at the White House. And there you go, the Temptations.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Twenty-two past the hour, 3:22 here in the East. Here are three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

If you're about to lose your home, the Bush administration wants you to reach out for help right now. It's unveiled a new plan to hold off foreclosures for 30 days for people who are at least 90 days late on paying their mortgage.

And apparently strong turnout so far for the Potomac primaries in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. Democrat Barack Obama's hoping to build on his momentum from a four-state weekend sweep of Hillary Clinton.

Meantime, Republican Mike Huckabee is looking to chip away further at John McCain's strong lead.

Jangled nerves in southern Mexico right now, after a strong earthquake rocked the region. The 6.4-magnitude quake was felt across hundreds of miles, some building damage reported there, but no reports of major injuries -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Big protest in Berkeley, California. First, the city council told the Marines they weren't welcome. Then it said it was reconsidering. Now it's catching flak from both sides.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Protesters out in force right now in Berkeley, California. And they're expected to stay out into the evening. Now, this all started with a letter that the city council sent to the local Marine recruiting station.

And Kraig Debro from our affiliate KTVU brings us up to date on this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRAIG DEBRO, KTVU REPORTER (voice-over): Code Pink and their supporters turned the front lawn of Berkeley's school administration building into an anti-warring cabinet. The issue today isn't so much the war as it is the military's right to recruit soldiers in Berkeley.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This isn't about the Marine recruiters having a right to have their business open, as if they were some kind of shoe store. What are they buying and selling in there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The U.S. government sends -- they spend $6 billion recruiting our youth every year. The least we could do is put our bodies in front of that military recruiting center and challenge people to think twice about before they sign on the dotted line.

DEBRO: Before the speeches came the shouting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I won't calm down. My son is a Marine. The Marines have rights. They deserve the respect.

DEBRO: Tonight, the Berkeley City Council will vote to rescind a letter it sent to the Marines two weeks ago. A letter called on the Marines to move out of their Shattuck Avenue offices. The letter added that the Marines unwelcome intruders and should leave their posts.

Pro-troop support group Move America Forward brought the letter to the attention of the national media.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We busted the Berkeley City Council, and they were not expecting the backlash of thousands, millions of people from across the country who are outraged about how they crossed the line here.

DEBRO: And nearly brought this one veteran to tears.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The same kind of hate-America, anti-military sentiment that I encountered when I was coming back from 'Nam 40 years ago. It was wrong then, and it is wrong now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DEBRO: The fuss over the letter even moved some in Congress to introduce legislation that would call for taking away millions of dollars from the city of Berkeley.

Now, it's unlikely that will pass, since the Republicans who introduced it are in the minority. However, that legislation, and the attempt to introduce the legislation certainly sent a clearly sent a message.

I'm a little distracted by the number of police officers here to my right and also the number of confrontations that are taking place out here. And I want you to see something. If you look across the street, on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, you can see Code Pink. They have been out here since 7:00 p.m. last night in what they are calling a peace-in.

Now, this is all leading up to the 7:00 p.m. meeting tonight, when the city of Berkeley will vote on whether or not to rescind that letter and also whether to take back what they said about the Marines two weeks ago -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes. And, Kraig, I want to actually ask you about Code Pink, the anti-war demonstrators there. The city council had basically given them kind of free rein to disrupt business there at the recruiting station. But I know there's a new development with Code Pink. What can you tell us?

DEBRO: Well, the city of Berkeley two weeks ago had voted 6-3 to send the letter to the Marines. They also voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a parking space right in front of the recruiting station.

So, tonight, in addition to voting on the letter that they sent, whether or not to rescind it, we understand they are also going to be voting on whether or not to rescind that parking space in front of the recruiting station.

KEILAR: All right, Kraig Debro with our affiliate KTVU there, thanks for your report.

LEMON: The Potomac primaries -- will today's voting in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., help settle the battle for the White House on both sides?

We will hear from our panel of political experts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. Four Republicans and Democrats -- another critical stop on the road to the White House. The Potomac primaries are underway. Polls close at 7:00 Eastern in Virginia and an hour later in Maryland and in Washington, D.C. Will it be another big day for Barack Obama? And will John McCain widen his Republican lead?

Joining us now from New York, CNN contributor Roland Martin. Roland, be good now. ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Always.

LEMON: I don't want to have to come there to...

MARTIN: Always.

LEMON: And Republican strategist Annie Dickerson.

Annie, good to talk to you. The first time I've spoken to you. Glad to have you on the show.

ANNIE DICKERSON, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Thank you.

LEMON: And in Washington, my home girl, CNN political analyst and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile -- hi, Donna.

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hello.

LEMON: Good to see you.

OK. So a lot at stake here. You know what, I want to start first off -- first off -- I want to start with the Democrats, but I want to play this by Hillary Clinton -- this sound bite about what she's looking forward to. And then I want to get your response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have something in common with my husband. He never carried caucuses either. He lost all of the ones that I've lost. So my perspective is that as we now move into this two person race with the big states up ahead -- Ohio, Michigan, obviously -- I mean Ohio and Texas -- we're going to see a real focus on the differences between us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Donna, is she making excuses already for losing?

BRAZILE: I think she's trying to dampen expectations. She's absolutely correct, Bill Clinton didn't do well in those states. But look, those states are very critical to the Democratic Party. They're critical not just in the presidential contest, but we actually have red state senators in North Dakota matter.

Of course, you know, Montana matters. Nebraska matters. So they are activists, but they are also Americans who stood in lines and some of them despite the cold. So I respect the fact that they're part of the process. And after all, we agree -- we all agreed to play by the rules.

LEMON: Yes, and, Roland...

MARTIN: Don...

LEMON: Roland, the next contest that she's expected to win a long way off. I mean can you -- can she deny the momentum? Even by then, she's expected to win. But if someone is...

MARTIN: Right.

LEMON: ...you know, you think they have the momentum -- at least, true or not, that doesn't bode well, does it?

MARTIN: Well, first of all, she was expected to win Maine and she didn't win Maine, was blown out on in that state. But, Don, on this whole point of this view of big states, small states, this is part of the problem, I think, with the Clinton portion of the Democratic Party in that they have a 50 plus one view -- let's just win 271 delegates and only focus on Congressional races.

Remember when they criticized Howard Dean for talking about a 50- state strategy? That's the problem here. As Donna said, you have Democratic senators, you have Democratic governors.

In two years, you're going to see redirecting coming up. You want Democrats in charge of the state legislatures versus, you know, Republicans. Republicans, they want to control those. And so I think it's very dangerous to dismiss those states, because it does matter when you're trying to win a majority of the nation...

LEMON: OK.

MARTIN: ...as opposed to just the presidency.

LEMON: OK. And, don't, worry, Annie, we're going to get you in here. But I want to do the Democrats and then get rid of them and then we're going to talk about the Republicans.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Wait. Wait. Hang on. Hang on.

MARTIN: No, no, no.

LEMON: Hang on.

MARTIN: Wait.

LEMON: Wait. OK, listen, let's talk about these super-delegates. That's why I wanted to...

MARTIN: All right.

LEMON: ...handle this part of it first and then get to the Republicans. I don't want to slight anyone.

Let's talk about these super-delegates. Everyone is saying the super-delegates, they may end up deciding this. Barack Obama says if that happens, this is not good for the Democratic Party and not good for the country.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've got to make sure that whoever wins the most votes, the most states, the most delegates, that they are the nominee. I think that it would be problematic if either Senator Clinton or myself came in with having won the most support from voters and that was somehow overturned by party insiders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: He is thinking -- and a lot of folks are thinking that it could end up being another 2000, you know, sort of a hanging chad sort of thing, where the super-delegates end up picking who the nominee is going to be and the people may not exactly like that.

BRAZILE: Well, let me just say, as a super-delegate, that Senator Obama makes a very strong point. But one thing I should also state is that super-delegates are part of the process. We're only 20 percent of the total delegates. And while I have also, you know, chastened some of my colleagues from jumping on board too quickly, I would like to see the voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania and Texas and North Carolina and Oregon and all these other states chime in before some of us super-delegates get off our fence.

So Barack Obama makes a very important point. But super-delegates are part of the process. He's a super-delegate. Hillary Clinton is a super-delegate. So is Bill Clinton.

LEMON: OK...

BRAZILE: They've all made a -- taken a position. Some of us have decided not to take a position.

LEMON: OK, guys, we're -- enough talk of the Democrats.

Let's go to the Republicans now.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Let's give Annie a turn to talk about...

MARTIN: Well, wait, wait, wait. Wait a minute, Don, because I'm going to talk Republican, too, now.

LEMON: I know. I know.

MARTIN: Cut that out. All right now.

LEMON: OK. But let's -- I want to get -- I want to be fair. I told you, Roland, to watch yourself. We have someone new here who I haven't spoken to and we want to be nice to her.

(CROSSTALK)

BRAZILE: ...Valentine and give her some love.

LEMON: And I know it's -- thank you very much for that, Donna.

BRAZILE: Thank you.

LEMON: All right, so let's talk about Mike Huckabee. Does he, I mean, at this point, really, the numbers -- he can't win. Why is he still running?

DICKERSON: There are a number of reasons that I believe Mike Huckabee remains in the race. A lot of it is he wants to be relevant. He wants to continue to do the best that he can. Look it, he's -- with no resources, very little organization, no money, he's come from the back of the pack, been able to best Rudy Giuliani, a celebrity and the kind of money that a Mitt Romney was able to put into the race. He wants to be on the platform. He wants his agenda listened to.

LEMON: But he says...

DICKERSON: And I think he's in a very good position to deliver his coalition of Evangelicals and the Christian social conservatives.

MARTIN: That's right.

(CROSSTALK)

DICKERSON: He's in a position (INAUDIBLE)...

LEMON: But at this point, no matter -- Annie and Roland, hang on.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: But at this point, no matter how you put the numbers together with the delegates, it doesn't...

DICKERSON: Right.

LEMON: ...it doesn't appear that he can win. He says he's not a numbers guy, but he is a miracle guy, he's used to miracles. But at this point, Annie, is he running for vice president?

DICKERSON: Oh, I believe that he would love to be vice president. Who wouldn't want to be on the ticket? And he certainly would love to be able to get that. But I don't believe that John McCain is in any position, more than a Hillary Clinton or a Barack Obama right now, to make any decisions as to who is going to be joining them.

So I do think the best that he can do is deliver his particular coalition, that he's done a very good job at bringing together. That's a very important group for John...

LEMON: OK.

DICKERSON: And I think that he's going to deliver those to him.

LEMON: OK. Go ahead, Roland.

MARTIN: Don, do me a favor. Put that graphic back up... LEMON: Yes, go ahead.

MARTIN: ...showing the delegates of the Republicans.

LEMON: Seven hundred and twenty-three for McCain...

MARTIN: You see that?

LEMON: Yes.

MARTIN: But here's the deal...

DICKERSON: (INAUDIBLE).

MARTIN: You need 1,191. As long as McCain has not gotten to 1,191, Mike Huckabee should continue running. I am sick and tired of people sitting here saying oh, he should drop out. The reality is he has not lost the race. Until you count to get to 1,191, it doesn't matter. That's like saying if you're the New York Giants and you went down in the first quarter against the Patriots, hey, forget it, go home, you didn't win the Super Bowl.

DICKERSON: Well...

MARTIN: That's why you've got to complete the whole game.

DICKERSON: We like underdogs and that's why us New Yorkers really like the Giants and what they were able to do. So I'm with you on that.

Hey, you know, never say never. Never say never about Hillary Clinton being able to try to beat back this amazing movement that's going on with Barack.

LEMON: OK.

DICKERSON: But, statistically speaking alone, there is no way. The ledger on the Republican side is done. The bread is baked. It's going to be John McCain.

LEMON: Annie, I'm glad you said that.

Let me get Donna in here. Donna, who is most poised now, do you think, to win the White House, Republicans or Democrats? Can you -- can you -- do we even know at this point?

BRAZILE: Well, the polls suggest that this is a Democratic year. And let's hope that the polls are right. The Democrats will have to work very hard to win over the hearts and minds of the American people. But the polls suggest that the American people want a new direction and that the Democrats -- Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton -- is poised to win in the fall.

LEMON: Donna Brazile...

MARTIN: Donna, Donna, there's going to be a problem, though... LEMON: Donna Brazile -- I know, Roland, we could talk about it all day.

MARTIN: There's going to be a problem.

LEMON: OK. And we may get you guys back here tomorrow, if you're available.

DICKERSON: And John McCain is very well positioned, as well...

LEMON: OK...

DICKERSON: ...up against Barack Obama or Hillary.

BRAZILE: But I want to...

LEMON: All right...

BRAZILE: Can I say this?

LEMON: Yes, hurry up. Real quick.

BRAZILE: What George Bush said today about lynching was right on. Thank you, President Bush, for making that strong statement about the noose. Very good. I enjoyed what I heard today, as well as The Temptations.

LEMON: And Roland...

MARTIN: Donna praised the Republicans.

DICKERSON: Great. (INAUDIBLE).

MARTIN: Oh my lord.

(LAUGHTER)

DICKERSON: I know, what a cowgirl.

BRAZILE: I thought it was going to rain today, Roland. It's going to storm.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: There are some, like, tornado warnings and stuff in parts of the country.

Hey, listen, guys, thanks to all of you.

Roland, are you talking about on this tomorrow on your radio show, the president and what he said about nooses and stuff?

MARTIN: No. I'm actually going to talk about The Temptations singing at the Black History Month celebration.

LEMON: OK. All right. (LAUGHTER)

LEMON: You guys are awesome. All right, Roland Martin, Annie Dickerson and, again, Donna Brazile.

BRAZILE: Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you all for joining us today in the CNN NEWSROOM. We always appreciate it when you guys can be a part of what we do.

MARTIN: Thank you.

DICKERSON: Thank you.

LEMON: Have a good day.

And be the first to know the results in tonight's Potomac primaries. Sign up for CNN's breaking news e-mail alerts and you'll know when we know. Sign on at CNN.com.

Also, as they said, The Temptations -- oh, sorry, we're going to weather, not The Temptations.

KEILAR: Yes, but first, we just want to let you know we're going to be checking in with Chad Myers here in a second in the CNN Weather Center. He's talking severe weather. We've got some tornado issues going on in Cocoa Beach, maybe a tornado warning. And we're going to get the answers from him.

LEMON: Did I not see The Temptations in the prompter there, no? OK. Sorry.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Let's get you straight to the CNN Weather Center and Chad Myers.

You're monitoring some damage, right, from a tornado in Cocoa Beach?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, we knew the tornado warning was there. We even said that the tornado probably was on the ground and now we have confirmation that actually it was.

Here's Melbourne and Cocoa Beach right about there. Now the storm is up past and north of Kennedy Space Center there.

This is from our affiliate WKMG. The roof off the Diplomat Condo Complex, at least one of the buildings there in Cocoa Beach, along A1A. And one of the buildings -- it's got a little of a truss like roof. And this truss roof has actually come off of one building and onto the other.

Here's the Diplomat Condos here on the Google Earth here. And I'll begin to zoom it out for you and we'll kind of show you what we're talking about. Not really huge damage in this area but, you know, I mean, if it's your condo, then it's big damage. There you go, as we zoom out. Here's Cocoa Beach, all the way up. We -- I believe this tornado was probably skipping along here in Cocoa Beach, as well.

Now we're getting farther to the north. We know that this thing was on the ground north of right there. That's Cape and Cope -- this is Canaveral -- Port Canaveral. And so it was actually into the water here and then off. And so finally, right now, at least at this point, it is not spinning enough to make a tornado warning on it. So we'll keep watching it for you here.

Snow on the north side -- feet of snow in the Adirondacks and the Catskills. And then severe weather in other places.

I'm still seeing ice in Columbus and we're still seeing some ice in Cincinnati, as well. And it's going to all freeze up tonight.

Part of what this is, I mean, this is just warm air and cold air clashing. And when that happens, you get tornadoes on one side and you get snow on the other side. Look at all that big line of weather moving through New Orleans and Louisiana and Mississippi right now -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes. And back to that -- the tornado in Florida there, I mean, this is the area where the Kennedy Space Center is, obviously.

MYERS: Absolutely.

KEILAR: We should remind our viewers that, actually, there is a Space Shuttle crew right up in space right now. So certainly glad it didn't come a few days earlier. It could have caused a whole lot of problems. But hopefully everything there working out.

Thanks, Chad. We really appreciate it.

LEMON: When you call 911 for emergency help, you expect to get it straight away. Well, a Pennsylvania woman didn't and she died. Brenda Orr was trapped in a nightmare two weeks ago today. Her bed caught on fire and with her in it. And disabled by multiple sclerosis, she couldn't escape or call for help. No one picked up for seven rings. She was then placed on hold.

A local newspaper recently obtained the audio and we'll play a shortened version of it now. And just a warning -- some -- some of you may find it disturbing.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 9/11, can you hold one second, please?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't. This is an emergency. 9/11 emergency. 340 Doyle. Bed on fire.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks for holding. 911. Where is your emergency?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 911 (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 911, bed is on fire. 340 Doyle.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What township or borough are you in?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 340 Doyle.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What township or borough are you in?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 340 Doyle.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What township or borough are you in?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What borough?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you still in the house?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you still in the house?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, well, you'd better get out of the house.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I'm disabled. The bed is fully inflamed.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, city police and fire officials say they don't know if Orr could have been saved, but that county emergency dispatch clearly mishandled the call. After an investigation, Bucks County officials said internal procedures weren't followed and disciplinary action has been taken.

KEILAR: A daring rescue, rough surf, rougher coastline, a boat in danger and choppers to the rescue -- the amazing airlift.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Check out this amazing water rescue off the coast of Northeastern Australia. What happened here, a yacht ended up wedged on rocks overnight after a ride on rough waters. Rescue crews came down from helicopters and they pulled 32 passengers and crewmembers to safety. Now despite that real rough crash there by the yacht, emergency workers say no one was injured. LEMON: Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Degas -- these are the names attached to the four oil paintings stolen from a Swiss art collection Monday. Now there's a reward, as police try to trace down the thieves.

But where does an investigation like this begin? We'll speak with a stolen art investigator from the FBI. That's tomorrow in the 3:00 hour of the CNN NEWSROOM.

KEILAR: Here's what's hot on CNN.com right now.

A mummified mystery in Phoenix, Arizona. A landlord entered a trash-filled deserted cottage to find a body in a bathtub. Police say it's been there five to seven years and they have no idea who the deceased is or who was renting the cottage.

Trouble for a new millionaire. Fifty-six-year-old Daniel Snay won $10 million in the Massachusetts lottery. But as a convicted sex offender, he could be facing jail time for not telling Connecticut authorities that he left their state four years ago.

And the family of an elderly man in Lawrence, Kansas called Brad Shuck a true hero. He saw a house on fire. He stopped his car and he pulled out the man trapped inside. Both -- good news -- are OK.

And you can link to all of our top 10 lists from the front page of CNN.com.

LEMON: That is a good Samaritan, don't you think?

KEILAR: It is. Definitely.

LEMON: Speaking of a good Samaritan -- I don't know, a good political journalist -- a good journalist all the way around.

KEILAR: A Good Samaritan, too.

LEMON: It is Wolf Blitzer, don't you think?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, guys. Thanks very much.

Coming up at the top of the hour, the Democratic race is incredibly close and we're only three hours away or so from the first polls closing in today's so-called Potomac primaries. We're live with all the candidates.

Plus, live here in "THE SITUATION ROOM," the former presidential candidate, John Kerry. He'll explain why he's endorsing Barack Obama.

And one radio talk show host thinks African-Americans might be better off voting Republican this time. He's joining us live.

All that and a lot more coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM" -- back to you.

KEILAR: Thanks, Wolf.

LEMON: All right, Wolf, thank you. We'll be watching.

The closing bell and a wrap of the action on Wall Street just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street. We'll show you why -- hey, look, this is pretty good. Did you see that?

KEILAR: Yes. Let's get to Susan Lisovicz.

LEMON: Yes, she's...

KEILAR: She's standing by with a final look at the trading day.

LEMON: We'll tell you why we're doing that. Did you see that?

LISOVICZ: You're saying cheese. Well, we all love that song, "Shake It Like A Polaroid." And perhaps what you're seeing at Polaroid itself is a shakedown. The company is closing three of its factories worldwide. It's cutting 450 employees. And it's for the very reason, Don Lemon, that you were holding up your cell phone that takes digital pictures.

LEMON: Yes.

LISOVICZ: There was a time, a few decades ago, when -- well, actually, not even that long ago -- when Polaroid was a pioneer. And that's why you're...

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: And then you went ...

LISOVICZ: Yes. Go ahead. Do it. Blow on it.

KEILAR: You're not supposed to do that.

LISOVICZ: Right. And you see this perfect picture. The problem is, is that Polaroid was late into the digital game and is trying to reinvent itself. And we wish Polaroid the best of luck. It has only a hundred -- by the time of this downsize, they only have 150 employees left. It had 21,000 -- just about 21,000.

LEMON: So you can't even buy the film anymore, even if you had one of the old cameras? I like nostalgic things like that.

KEILAR: Oh, just it hurts the nostalgia, doesn't it?

LEMON: Super 8 cameras and all that.

LISOVICZ: Yes. You know, you might be able to. I'm not really sure. I think the cameras they're -- those are phased out. Maybe the film. But they're going to way of vinyl, I mean, let's face it.

LEMON: Oh, man. LISOVICZ: Like vinyl records.

LEMON: And phone booths.

LISOVICZ: And the phone booth. And there -- and, you know, they have a place for a lot of us.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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