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Former President Bush Endorses John McCain; Andy Pettitte Speaks Out;
Aired February 18, 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: Take a look at this video. They're dramatic images from a tornado's path. Severe storms whip through the Southeast United States. Our Chad Myers is tracking the damage reports for us.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And a company in the crosshairs because 143 million pounds of beef recalled. What do you need to know?
LEMON: That is a pretty scary notion.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
KEILAR: And I'm Brianna Keilar, in for Kyra Phillips, who's on assignment in Iraq.
You are in the NEWSROOM.
LEMON: Well, our schools have cause to fret today about the beef they serve in the lunchroom. The biggest meat recall in U.S. history includes frozen beef sold to the school lunch program. The recall was triggered by graphic scenes at a slaughterhouse uncovered in an undercover investigation by the Humane Society. A warning, though, those graphic scenes are included in this report by Judy Echavez in Chino, California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUDY ECHAVEZ, REPORTER (voice-over): This disturbing video shot by an undercover Humane Society investigator tells a frightening story. The Humane Society says that shows workers at this Chino, California meat packing plant of using what are called downer cows, cattle no longer able to stand. Cows not supposed to be slaughtered for their meat.
MICHAEL MARKARIAN, EXEC. V.P., U.S. HUMANE SOCIETY: The slaughter plant workers would kick them, jab them in the eye, ram them with the blades of a forklift and do anything they could to try to get these poor creatures to stand up so they could put them into the kill box.
ECHAVEZ: The Agricultural Department says, the cattle were being processed for human consumption, a huge concern for USDA food safety inspectors. Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing is pulling 143 million pounds of raw and frozen beef. The company supplied beef to some fast food chains and the federal school lunch program in some states.
The Secretary of Agriculture issued a statement saying, I am dismayed at the inhuman handling of cattle that has resulted in the violation of food safety regulations at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. This action is necessary because plant procedures violated USDA regulations.
MARKARIAN: Because these downer cattle are more likely to carry mad cow disease, salmonella, E. coli, there's a food safety risks as well an inhumane handling issue.
ECHAVEZ: The USDA says, it has found no cases of illness related to the meat and stress -- the risk to people is, quote, Remote . Hallmark/Westland did not return CNN phone calls but on their Web site the company posted a statement: "I want to reassure our customers and consumers that are company has met the highest standards for harvesting and processing meat under the Federal Meat Inspection Act."
(on camera): The recall affects beef products dating back two years. Two former employees are now being charged with animal cruelty. USDA is continuing to investigate.
Judy Echavez for CNN, Chino, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Black smoke choking a Texas town this morning after an explosion at an oil refinery. Homes and buildings in Big Spring shook, even homes that were miles away from this refinery, from the shockwave, and the fire that broke out actually closed down Interstate 20. Nearby schools evacuated students and canceled classes. Four refinery workers were injured in the explosion. But luckily all others are safe and accounted for.
Big Spring's mayor says it's a miracle that no one was killed. And early on, we got some really great pictures of the scene from CNN I-Reporters.
Mike Roth lives about five miles from the refinery, and he says the blast shook his house and everything in it for that matter. He grabbed his camera, and he got within half a mile of the plant, beating even EMS crews there.
Now, Cody Jones was driving on Interstate 20, which as we said is closed. He was about 20 -- pardon me -- 10 miles away when he suddenly saw this giant plume of black smoke. Then a couple of minutes later he says he felt the blast wave. Cody shot this picture on his cell phone. And we just want to say thanks to everyone that sent us these photos and video from Big Spring, Texas, today.
And, remember, of course, to send us your I-Reports. You can go to CNN.com and click on I-Reporter. Type ireport@cnn.com into your cell phone. But, remember, stay safe. Safety first, of course.
LEMON: The Republican Party's top elder statesman throws his support to John McCain. Former president George H.W. Bush and the Arizona senator appear today together in Houston, where Bush's endorsement came.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And at this critical time in history, the key point I want to make is the United States of America cannot be permitted to falter. Part of our Republican creed is a prevailing sense of duty, and in the coming election we do not have the luxury of taking a pass on our unique role and responsibilities in the world.
And the indisputable fact that unites the greatest number of Republicans, the most independents and many good Democrats as well, is the fact that no one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than Senator John McCain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, the former president calls charges that McCain is not conservative enough absurd.
Senator Barack Obama made a stop yesterday at the North Carolina home of former rival John Edwards. During the private get-together in Chapel Hill, Obama said he and Edwards talked about how to move the Democratic Party in a direction that focuses on middle-class issues. Edwards earlier had a private meeting with Senator Clinton. Both candidates are trying hard to win his endorsement.
And Barack Obama says he doesn't think it's a big deal that he borrowed lines for a speech from a key supporter, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. But he says he probably should have given him credit. During his campaign in 2006, Patrick said words matter like I have a dream and all men are created equal. Obama used the same wording Saturday night in Wisconsin.
A Clinton spokesperson says -- accuses Obama of plagiarizing Patrick. But Obama says, that's going too far. Patrick tells "The New York Times" he and Obama are friends and allies, and they often share ideas about politics, policy, and also language.
Wisconsin is now a major battleground in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination. Just ahead of the state's primary tomorrow, a new American Research poll of likely Democratic voters shows Senator Clinton leading with 49 percent. Senator Obama has 43 percent.
But the latest Research 2000 poll shows Obama in the lead with 47 percent, and Clinton with 42 percent. You will want to watch CNN's "THE SITUATION ROOM" for some new polls on the race in the all- important state of Texas. It's straight ahead at 4:00 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.
KEILAR: The race for the Democratic nomination is focusing on some key states coming up. Senator Barack Obama is campaigning today in Ohio, which holds its primary on March 4th.
Right now, he leads in CNN's estimated total delegate count 1,262 to Hillary Clinton's 1,213, I should say. Both Obama and Senator Clinton are hoping for a boost from tomorrow's contest in Wisconsin and Obama's native state of Hawaii, where our Suzanne Malveaux is joining us live from.
And make no mistake, folks, she may be wearing a Hawaiian shirt, but I can guarantee you she's working very hard out there on the campaign trail, right, Suzanne?
(LAUGHTER)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm working very hard, Brianna.
KEILAR: Yes, right.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: Our bosses are watching. Working very hard here. I want you to remember those weeks we spent in Iowa, 10 degrees below zero.
KEILAR: OK.
MALVEAUX: So, this is balanced coverage here.
KEILAR: We will give it to you. OK.
MALVEAUX: That's how we like to think of this.
But this really is a story here. You have got a race here, a real race for those 20 delegates. Senator Barack Obama, he was born in Honolulu. He was raised much of his life here, so a lot of people think that he has kind of the home-court advantage, but they are not taking this race for granted. Now, we haven't even seen either one of the candidates here, but certainly they have got some high-powered supporters who are certainly backing them.
Had a chance to talk to his half sister, Maya. She is out on the campaign trail in full force, and she's reminding the people here that he is a native son, that he understands their concerns, something that they call the aloha spirit, the ability to get along with others. And so she has been very much at the forefront out there. We saw her even passing out kind of a potluck dinner in the park, what she calls Obamasadas, kind of a pork dish that she made up.
And she's really trying to rally as many people as possible. A lot of crowds have really come to her. She's attracted quite a bit of people. He also has some ads that are out here as well. Now, you look at the other side, though, and make no mistake, Brianna. Senator Clinton is not giving up the home turf here to Obama. She dispatched her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, for three days. She traveled across the islands, was greeted very warmly. She even did a little kind of hula dance, indulged some of the people that asked her to participate in that.
She is not, again, answering questions to reporters. But she is speaking to supporters. She's answering their questions, talking for hours on end about various issues, her mother's health care plan, Iraq, and things like that. So, obviously, both of these sides very competitive, trying to win those 20 delegates -- Brianna.
KEILAR: All right, so Chelsea Clinton will hula, but she's not going to answer reporters' questions. Kind of funny there.
And I'm just wondering when is the last time that you covered a campaign in Hawaii. I mean, why is this state getting so much attention this time around?
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: Well, you know, it really is amazing, because this is such a close race. A lot of people are saying Barack Obama obviously riding the wave here of a lot of momentum, but at the same time there is an opportunity here for Senator Clinton to catch up in that delegate count, that it may all be decided when it comes to the very end, that it's a tie and the superdelegates are going to weigh in.
And so they really feel that this is a competitive situation, so Senator Clinton certainly not ceding this state to Barack Obama. It really underscores just how serious and that they both are about this race.
KEILAR: All right, Mahalo, Suzanne Malveaux. We appreciate your report. And of course we envy your assignment. Thank you very much.
Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will face off in another debate ahead of the big Texas and Ohio primaries on March 4th. You are going to want to watch their face-off on Thursday night. It's in Austin, Texas, and our special coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, and you can only see it right here on CNN.
LEMON: Well, you're seeing one of the five people whose lives were cut horribly short. A funeral today for Catalina Garcia. She was one of the victims of last Thursday's rampage at Northern Illinois University. She's the first to be buried. Here's Dan Ponce from CNN's Chicago affiliate WLS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN PONCE, WLS REPORTER (voice-over): Loved ones of Catalina Garcia are doing their best to warm and comfort each other on another cold February morning. Hundreds are gathered at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church in Cicero to pay respects and pray for her family.
MARIA SANCHEZ, FAMILY FRIEND: I am just sorry for her family. And we are with them with in this situation.
PONCE: Relatives of Catalina Garcia say she loved children, especially her young nieces and nephews. Her love for kids is why she was studying elementary education at Northern Illinois University. Now her name is one of five names written on crosses throughout the NIU campus. Sunday services throughout DeKalb, were dedicated to the five victims. PRISCILLA DIAZ DELEON, FRIEND OF VICTIM: It's a very devastating time for everyone, you know. Everyone's sad and, you know, they just -- they can't believe what happened. You know, it's a big tragedy.
PONCE: Catalina Garcia was the youngest of four siblings. Relatives say she looked up to her holder brother, Jaime, and decided to attend NIU in part because he graduated from there.
JAIME GARCIA, BROTHER OF VICTIM: She was the princess of the family, the youngest, she that was definitely something very -- that she behaved like the princess. She deserved to be treated like a princess, more importantly.
PONCE: Today, she is being remembered for her charisma, her dedication to her studies and her contagious sense of humor.
JESUS ESPINOZA, COUSIN OF VICTIM: She would never give you a frown. She would never be sad. She would always be smiling.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Also this afternoon services for two more victims. There's a memorial for 19-year-old Ryanne Mace, the youngest of the victims, and visitation for 20-year-old Daniel Parmenter.
KEILAR: And let's get now -- we want to show you some sound from Andy Pettitte. As you may recall, he testified before Congress behind closed doors, not only that he used performance-enhancing drugs, but that his friend and teammate, Roger Clemens, used performance- enhancing drugs, although Clemens denies that. And for the first time since testifying, he faced the media. Let's listen to some of what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY PETTITTE, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER: I want to apologize the New York Yankees and to the Houston Astros organizations and to their fans and all my teammates and to all of baseball fans for the embarrassment I have caused them. I also want to tell anyone that is an Andy Pettitte fan, I am sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: So, an apology there from Andy Pettitte. Let's get you now to some Q&A. He's taking questions live at this press conference.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
QUESTION: ... longtime friendship, did you feel any pressure on yourself not to say anything that could damage Roger, or did anyone try to pressure you not to say anything that could damage Roger?
PETTITTE: I mean, nobody -- nobody tried to pressure me to do anything, you know. Like I have said, I was under oath, and I went in there. I was just as honest as I could be with the committee. So, no, no one tried to pressure me into doing anything. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to go in the back here to Bob Clapish (ph).
QUESTION: Andy, given all that has surrounded you in the last couple of days, at any point during this period, did you think about not pitching this year and just staying home with your family?
PETTITTE: I mean, I would be lying if I said that that didn't cross my mind. Not over the last couple of days. Because I was, you know, fully committed to this team and to -- to the organization. But it's been a it's been a hard off-season. It's been a hard off-season. I think anybody that knows me, knows the way I live my life, know the way I kind of take things.
And you guys have covered me for a long time. And it was an extremely difficult off-season, but I felt like that, you know, when I did even think about that, I felt like that wouldn't be a very, first of all, honorable -- or that wouldn't be the thing to do as a man, I don't think, is to -- I felt like I needed to come out, be forward with this, and face you guys, and, you know, whatever circumstances or repercussions come with it, I will take it, and I will take it like a man, and I will try to do my job.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to go here to the right. Duces (ph).
QUESTION: Andy...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back here.
QUESTION: When you used the HGH in those instances, was there any hesitation on your part? At any time, did it cross your mind, you know what, maybe I shouldn't?
PETTITTE: There's no doubt -- and I'm not sure if you all have read the deposition or whatever, but there was. In 2002, there was. And I think it was stated, and I think it's been said, you know, you know, Mac (ph) had recommended that I not do it.
So, there was definitely some hesitation. I had my trainer recommend to me that I don't do it. But it was a decision I made. And, again, I felt like I was making an awful lot of money, and if I was told that it might be able to help some tissue damage in my elbow or whatever, I felt like it might to be something I ought to try to do. But there was hesitation, sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are going to go here in the middle to George Vessey (ph).
QUESTION: Andy, I think everybody -- over here in front of you. Everybody who covers you knows that religion sustains you to a large degree, knows you're a religious person. Could you talk a bit about the decisions you made to use this stuff and the answers you gave, how you can put that in a religious context and how religion has sustained since then to get you through this? PETTITTE: Well, as far as when I used it in 2002, I would just say that I really, I felt like it was the right thing to do in my heart. I mean, you know, you know, if I feel like that some people might believe that's hard, you know, to understand or whatever.
But I think that it's been, you know, that Mac testified to it and I didn't have any disagreements with him. It was something that I thought about for a few days. And I just thought it was the right thing to do, you know. I didn't know much about it. I was told that it could help me. I was told that it might be able to help my tissue repair, like I said. So, again, I knew I was hurt. I had been on the D.L. before, but I knew in 2002 I think I was I was pitching a game against Boston actually, and I knew that I had hurt my elbow.
And so, you know, as far as my faith, I felt good about it when I did it. But then like I said, I felt very uncomfortable with doing it when I started to do it. And that's why I did it for the two days, and then stopped. I just -- I didn't feel right about doing it. I didn't feel right about going to, you know, Brian McNamee's room and then I guess not having a doctor, you know, do this.
So, and as far as how my faith has sustained me through all this, it's just, you know, you know, I know why I did things. I know in my heart why I did things. I know that God knows that, and I have tried to live my life a certain way. And I know that I'm going to have to stand before him one day. And that's why I felt like, you know, you have to tell the truth, and even though the truth hurts sometimes and you don't want to share it, you know, you have to get it out there.
And, you know, so, you know, and that's how it's helped me is I know that once I have this press conference and talk to everybody about this and share everything with you, I think the truth will set you free. And I think I'm going to be able to sleep, you know, a lot better at night once all this, you know, gets by.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Alan (ph) right next to him.
QUESTION: Andy over here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the middle, Andy.
QUESTION: We have learned a lot about the code among teammates, what you share with outsiders, what you don't share with outsiders. How have you tried to reconcile that code with some of the legal processes that you have been brought before?
PETTITTE: I'm kind of -- I don't know if I lost you or what. I mean, I'm trying to decipher exactly how you want me to answer.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Well, there's a code among teammates. There's stuff that you talk about only amongst each other, and there are things that you do share with the outside. And I imagine that this would not have come out, you would not have talked about it publicly had legal proceedings not put you in a position that you described having had to participate in.
PETTITTE: Right.
QUESTION: What have we learned about the ballplayers code and is it going to change, do you think, given the situation you were in?
PETTITTE: Well, I guess, I guess it may, you know. I don't know a whole lot about, you know, baseball code or whatever. But code or no code, when you get put under oath -- you know, I have never had to testify under oath before and in front of a committee, and it's kind of a -- it's a little bit of an intimidating experience. So, kind of you know, you just be honest, you know. And it's a situation I don't think anybody -- I would never want anybody put in a situation I have been put in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Andy, we're going to go to your far right, standing, Joel Sherman (ph).
QUESTION: Andy, you mentioned that Brian McNamee told you not to do it, but you said you were told that it could help you. Can you say who told you it could help you and what they told you?
PETTITTE: Yes, that was -- that was -- that was -- like I said, I think, in the deposition, so I can share it with you all, Mac had come down to Tampa to work out with me there for about a week-and-a- half. We talked for several days.
And he had told me, you know, that I hear this stuff can help you. And so that's who -- you know, he had told me that. Again, and when he shared with me that he did, he thought that I would feel uncomfortable doing it. And, you know, so he was the one that had told me that he, you know, he had heard that it could, you know, help repair tissue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to go to the middle now, Andy, Bob Holtzman (ph).
QUESTION: Anybody who has had a longtime friendship can certainly sympathize with your situation with Roger. If he's watching now, what would you want to say to him?
PETTITTE: Well, I mean, I think Roger knows how I feel about him. You know, he knows that I have admired him, and I continue to admire him. And like I said in my opening statement, he's been a great friend to me and I have spent an awful lot of time with him. And I love him like a brother.
You know, the situation was a horrible situation. Mac's an extremely good friend of mine also. You know, in my situation, you know, you know, Mac told the truth about me. So, it's not like I have some vendetta out against him, you know, you know, Mac. So, this has just -- this has been a horrible situation for me. Both these men are my friends, and I have known them for a long time and care about them dearly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dan, you have a mike? Right here in front of me.
QUESTION: Andy, how concerned are you in your efforts now to, as you said before, truth will set you free, put this behind you, how concerned are you that Roger's situation is still ongoing and might still involve you in the future?
PETTITTE: Well, I hate that, because I don't -- like I just said, I mean, it's a horrible position to be put in. So, you know, it concerns me. Of course it does, because I don't want to be in this situation. And I think anybody in their right mind, you know, wouldn't want to be put in this situation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who has a Mike? Mark Feinstein (ph)?
QUESTION: Andy, if I'm not mistaken, you signed your contract shortly before the Mitchell report was released. Did you know at that point that you were going to be named in it?
PETTITTE: Mark, I'm not sure. I know that I knew several days before the Mitchell report was released. So, if you could help me and give me an exact maybe on that, we could clarify that right here.
QUESTION: I think you signed the contract the day before the report came out.
PETTITTE: Then I knew about it.
KEILAR: You're listening here too Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, who has been holding a news conference. He apologized to both the Houston Astros and the Yankees for any embarrassment that he has caused.
You know probably that Andy Pettitte testified before Congress under oath behind closed doors telling them that he had used performance-enhancing drugs, specifically human growth hormone, also testifying that Roger Clemens had used HGH, although Clemens, of course, denies it.
And we're going to have more for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Picking up the pieces in Prattville, Alabama. This is a community that is shattered after tornadoes took direct aim yesterday. About 200 homes and businesses are damaged or destroyed. Nearly 30 people are hurt. Survivors say that warning sirens sent them diving for cover, wherever they could find it, in grocery store coolers, laundry rooms and even store bathrooms. Governor Bob Riley is among those trying to take stock today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BOB RILEY (R), ALABAMA: The damage here is extensive. But one of the great things about living in Alabama -- and I say this after every major emergency we have -- it truly is amazing to see what's happening out there with all the families in this state.
We pulled up to one family that had lost their home. We counted 23 different volunteers that were in the -- in the yard just cleaning up, trying to help them get their lives back in order.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: And while Prattville was the hardest-hit, there are cities across Alabama, Georgia, and also Florida who saw tornadoes, actually 34 reported in all. And those storms and also snow piling up in the Midwest have left quite a travel mess.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
LEMON: Well, chances are, if you have Web-based e-mail, you use one of two services, Yahoo! or either Microsoft, and now they could be merging. Susan Lisovicz is in New York with all the details today.
Hi, Susan.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don. And this story just really has the longest legs. We just keep having new developments about it. As you know, Microsoft is trying to merge with Yahoo!. This is an unsolicited $45 billion offer. Yahoo!'s board says it something better.
Market Watch notes that nearly three-quarters of U.S. Internet users have mail accounts from either Microsoft or Hotmail, meaning a combined company would be an e-mail Goliath. Microsoft tells CNN it has 300 million Hotmail users worldwide. While e-mail is probably not a big enough part of the overall deal to cause regulators to step in, some privacy advocates are worried about one company getting that much traffic, and the impact it could have on data security. The two companies also attract a sizable instant messaging audience.
So, just think about those two together. Ironically the growing popularity of Google's Gmail and Gtalk could get Microsoft and Yahoo! off the hook from regulators, and it's Google who has been one of the loudest opponents of any possible deal. So, there's a lot of incestuousness.
LEMON: So, you know what? I'm not an expert in this, are they regulated already? Because you remember when the -- what is it deregulation like when AT&T and those guys they all had to share because it was a monopoly?
LISOVICZ: Right. That was something that was completely different.
LEMON: OK.
LISOVICZ: Obviously, that was before the Internet became such a huge part of our life. I mean, it's just something that is developing, but I don't think that's the biggest part of the issue here, Don.
LEMON: Yes.
LISOVICZ: With this e-mail, with the two between them.
LEMON. OK. All right.
LISOVICZ: And it's something that I think could be either just waiting for simply a better bid. Or, for another party, a white knight what they call, and that's why there have been other parties mentioned, including News Corp as one of those interested merging with its online -- online properties.
LEMON: All right. I get it now. OK, so, let's -- speaking of monopolies, iTunes, the big player in MP3s, they are like the biggest ones, right, in MP3 downloads?
LISOVICZ: No question about it. And they have new offerings all the time. And the latest one is "American Idol." Mr. Lemon, I'm not sure that you are watching this particular program, like the rest of -- the rest of America.
LEMON: Comedy relief only.
LISOVICZ: Well, some of the performances are pretty good actually.
LEMON: Yes.
LISOVICZ: Performances on American Idol will now be available for download to MP3 players on iTunes. The cost, $0.99 for a song, and $1.99 per video starting on March 11th. It's obviously pretty early in the season. So, perhaps you're not completely -- you haven't found your favorite yet, it's still a pretty large field, Mr. Lemon. Didn't you have something to show me from the last hour?
LEMON: You remember "American Idol," but there was the thing, not "The Gong Show," there was another show back in the '80s and we would have watched it on this TV that was like "American Idol" --
KEILAR: "Star Search"?
LEMON: "Star Search." That was it.
LISOVICZ: "Star Search."
LEMON: Yes, Brianna Keilar to the rescue. I knew I'm not crazy. This is a TV, take a look at this, Susan. You don't remember this TV?
LISOVICZ: Well, now I do. I mean, that's like a piece of furniture --
LEMON: Can we scroll up a little bit, and then you can see the big tubes I told you about? That was it. That thing was giant. It took up like half the room.
LISOVICZ: That's like the size of a New York City studio, I might add. I think Sears touted that as the video revolution. LEMON: Yes, but it was a great TV to watch the game with the Betamax, or you could watch -- "Star Search" with your Betamax and your big projection TV.
LISOVICZ: I suppose, you could just make a whole event out of it, couldn't you?
LEMON: Thank you, Susan.
LISOVICZ: You're welcome.
KEILAR: John McCain picks up support from President Bush's father, and the Democratic battle goes on. There is a lot to focus on, as more states get ready to weigh in on the presidential race. We're going to get some insight from CNN's senior political analyst, David Gergen.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Some major stops tomorrow on the road to the White House, Wisconsin, Hawaii, also Washington state. Holding nominating contests. And, on March 4th with featured primaries in Texas and Ohio, that is just around the corner. Let's bring in CNN's Senior Political Analyst, David Gergen. He's joining us now from Boston with his views on how things are shaping up.
And, there's something that is really sort of lighting up the Internet that I want to talk to you about. This is Hillary Clinton's camp saying that Barack Obama borrowed language from one of Obama's supporters for a recent speech, Deval Patrick.
They say that in the speech in Wisconsin, basically Obama listed rhetoric, is what they are saying, from a nearly identical speech that Patrick gave two years earlier. And, I want to show you Barack Obama's response, and then we're going to come back to you, David. Here is Obama's response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Look, I have written two books, wrote most of my speeches. So, I think putting aside the question that you just raised in terms of whether my words are my own, I think that would be carrying it too far.
Deval and I do trade ideas all the time. And, he's occasionally used lines of mine, and I add -- at a J.J. dinner in Wisconsin used some words of his. And, you know, I would add that I notice Senator Clinton on occasion has used words of mine as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: So, Obama there saying that Clinton has used some of his words. I mean, what do you make of this? Is this really bad for Barack Obama, or is this not a big deal?
DAVID GERGEN, SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it was a mistake, in fact, a dumb mistake. And they can rationalize it all they want, that it was harmless, that she has indeed lifted portions of -- his campaign slogans and her own rhetoric. And, if you look back on presidential rhetoric, and if you look back on Martin Luther King, there are frequent instances: "Ask not what your country can do for you," "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Those have been ascedants (ph) in rhetoric. But after all the rationalizations, the best thing he can do is say, look, I made a dumb mistake, let's move on, and let's let the voters decide in Wisconsin tomorrow what they think of it.
KEILAR: And let's go to the Republican side now. John McCain, of course, the presumptive nominee here. What does he need to accomplish here in the near term?
GERGEN: He needs to start winning big. In the primaries that are left -- because Huckabee has been nipping away at his heels. And the more Huckabee scores against him, the greater uncertainty Republicans will have that they have a united party, and that they're going to rally in the fall.
So, he needs to put Huckabee away. And with a few big wins, that will do it. And, I think they'll go their separate ways after that. I do not think Huckabee's now going to now be a vice president on that ticket.
KEILAR: Very interesting. And let's talk about the upcoming races tomorrow, of course, Wisconsin, Hawaii for Democrats only. And then, there is March 4th, which people are really looking toward, especially Texas and Ohio. What -- how big of a deal is tomorrow, compared to the March 4th race?
GERGEN: This is important, because the narrative of this campaign, the story line in the press now is that Barack is the front- runner, that he's moving ahead swiftly, that he can move ahead even more with delegates tomorrow. And -- and what Hillary Clinton needs to do now is to pull an upset.
If Hillary can come in here and beat the odds, and that's not out of the question. Remember, there was a time only a few weeks ago, she was ahead by double digits in Wisconsin. Looked like a very good state for her. I'm amazed she hasn't tried to compete for it more than she had. But even so, she needs and upset, he needs a victory, one more victory. And if he can make it in double digit, that would be a big win for him and give him even more momentum. It would help him a lot in another midwestern state like Ohio if he could win tomorrow.
KEILAR: Yes, momentum. We're hearing a lot about that.
Everything is about momentum right now. Momentum and delegates, but the two things become intertwined.
KEILAR: All right, thanks so much. David Gergen, our senior political analyst. Thanks for joining us.
GERGEN: Thank you. KEILAR: And Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, they're going to face off in another debate ahead of the big Texas and Ohio primaries that are on March 4th. You're going to want to watch their face-off. It's Thursday night in Austin, Texas. And our special coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. You can only see it right here on CNN.
LEMON: Conspiracy theorists, rejoice. Some long lost stuff related to the JFK assassination turns up, including a shocking, but suspect, transcript. Details from Dallas, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK, we're going to get to "Right on Your Money" in just a moment.
But the only thing we know for sure about that satellite that's supposedly falling towards the Earth is when they are going to try to shoot it down -- Jamie McIntyre -- correct?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, the Pentagon had always said that Thursday would be the earliest day because they want to wait for the space shuttle to land before they take that first attempt. But now, sources are telling CNN that Thursday is the day they're planning to go ahead and take the first shot at this satellite, once the space shuttle is on the ground.
Again, why? Because they want to have time for a second shot if the first one misses. This is a tricky proposition, trying to hit the satellite just before it enters the Earth's atmosphere, when it becomes uncontrollable and unpredictable where it will land. And so, they want to launch that missile from an Aegis cruiser into about 150 miles up and try to intercept the satellite. They think the chances of hitting it are pretty good. It's about -- ten times bigger than what they normally shoot at, which is a small warhead, about three or four feet wide. This is about the size of a bus.
But they're trying to score a direct hit on the fuel tank, so that they can destroy that hydroxene fuel so it doesn't end up being a toxic cloud on the Earth. They're trying to bring the satellite down in the Pacific. But now, again, sources telling us that they will likely make that first try on Thursday. That way, if they miss while the satellite's continuing to orbit, they can calculate their chances of taking a second shot.
LEMON: OK. So they may have a second shot. I thought there was only one -- they only had one shot at it, Jamie.
MCINTYRE: Well they may not be able to take the second shot. Because once they go back and calculate, if another shot would bring it down over land, that would defeat the whole purpose. They may or may not be able to take it, but they want to maximize their ability to have that second chance just in case the first one misses.
LEMON: All right. Jamie McIntyre, thank you, sir. KEILAR: Diversifying your stocks and bonds is an important part of building a strong portfolio, or at least you might think that. CNN's Christine Romans takes a look at an off-the-wall investment that could be right on your money.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL MOSES, CO-FOUNDER, ARTASANASSET.COM: This is the first painting I ever bought.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Michael Moses looks at art a little differently than most people. As co-founder of the Mei Moses Fine Art Index, he can appreciate art's beauty and also determine how its value has appreciated over time.
MOSES: From 1950 on, you can see that the growth rate, the slope of these two lines, is about the same.
ROMANS: On Moses' Web site, artasanasset.com, potential investors can track the value of over 12,000 works of fine art sold at Sotheby's and Christie's, a valuable tool for those interested in investing beyond the stock market and real estate.
MOSES: We have given individuals information that allows them to assess art versus other assets that they hadn't had that ability to do before.
ROMANS: According to Moses, art has traditionally stacked up pretty well against more conventional investments.
MOSES: Compared to the traditional assets, the total return for the S&P 500, has been a little bit over 10 percent over the last 50 years. And the return for our index over the same period has been about the same.
ROMANS: But he says, there's more to it than just dollars and cents.
MOSES: Art is an enjoyable thing to invest in, because it has beauty outside of its investment potential.
ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
A.J. HAMMER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm A.J. Hammer in New York. Audiences will get a chance to see Heath Ledger's last film after all. I'm going to tell you about the creative twist that's saving the movie. Coming up next, in the NEWSROOM.
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LEMON: The tragic death of Heath Ledger left one movie with some real problems. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT"'s A.J. Hammer is here to tell us about the production that was stalled by the actor's death and they're picking up and moving on. Who is replacing Ledger? Or maybe I should be saying who are replacing ledger?
HAMMER: No, exactly, Don, because it's not one, it's three A- list actors replacing Heath Ledger for his last movie role. Ledger was in the middle of filming "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" when he accidentally took that deadly combination of prescription drugs. Well, director Terry Gilliam has reportedly replaced Ledger with a combination of three actors: Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp.
Now, the movie is a fantasy where characters travel to different dimensions. So Depp, Law and Farrell will all be able to play the same role in different dimensions. This device is also going to let the film use the footage they've already shot with Ledger. And also, Don, it's going to save the movie, despite these rumors that have been floating around since Heath Ledger died that the movie will be scrapped altogether. So, a project that will continue and we will get to see him in it.
LEMON: OK. I understand that there's some news concerning Paul McCartney's divorce case.
HAMMER: Yes. This is kind of his deal or no deal situation. A judge is going to be the one to decide how Paul McCartney and his soon to be ex, Heather Mills, will be dividing up their assets. You probably heard, the couple was in court for the last week seeking a settlement, but the judge was unable to mediate a deal, so that means that judge gets to spend the next few weeks on his own, figuring out what settlement to impose on the couple.
Divorce hearings are private affairs in Britain, so what each side is asking for here is unknown. The four-year marriage broke up back in 2006. That's when McCartney filed for divorce citing unreasonable behavior by Heather Mills. The former Beatle has an estate that could be worth $1.6 billion bucks according to some estimates. Despite a lot of speculation about what Mills may get, Don, we may never know the details of the final settlement, unless one side or the another decides to make it public and I don't really know why they would do that.
LEMON: Could this -- I heard somewhere this could be the biggest divorce in British history. Is that -- the biggest award or something like that?
HAMMER: Well that's the interesting thing. That's been all the discussion as long as this has been going on because of the nature of the value of Paul McCartney's estate, as I said, somewhere around $1.6 billion according to some reports. But we may never actually know that final number.
LEMON: Yes. That is --
HAMMER: Everybody wants to know it's just a matter of big curiosity when that kind of number is in play.
LEMON: That's a messy court battle. Let's talk about another one. Anything going on with Britney Spears?
HAMMER: Well, there's always something going on with Britney Spears. Nothing particularly in the courtroom proceedings that involve her family's control over her estate. However, Heidi Klum to the rescue. Heidi Klum is offering her home as a refuge, just in case Britney needs a place to crash.
LEMON: How sweet.
HAMMER: Yes, she's a sweet, wonderful woman. She told a German TV station that Britney could actually live with her and her pop star husband, Seal and their three kids for a few months, if they want, because Klum said, and I'm quoting here, "I would help set her straight." If only Britney's issues were that easy to take care of.
Now coming up tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," something entirely different, Hollywood cheaters. Here's a question -- why do men who are with the most beautiful women in the world wind up cheating on them? Well, we have the surprising reasons tonight. It's a special report, you won't want to miss on TV's most provocative entertainment news show, 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. Think about it, Don, these guys are with these unbelievable beauties and then they screw it up and mess around and, you know, everything goes to pot.
LEMON: Because they're men. I mean, come on. That's why they do it. No.
HAMMER: It's not that simple.
LEMON: All right, A.J. Hey, listen, we got to move on, but I want to tell you, like we do Britney everyday, you got to do Amy Winehouse every day for me. I'm obsessed -- obsessed.
HAMMER: I'll send you an e-mail.
LEMON: I want to know how she's doing.
HAMMER: All right.
LEMON: All right. Thank you, A.J..
HAMMER: You got it.
LEMON: Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
KEILAR: Yes, he's standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour -- Wolf?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: All right guys, thanks very much.
The Clinton camp accusing Barack Obama of plagiarizing parts of a campaign speech. He says it's not that big of a deal. You're going to hear for yourself what's going on.
Also the former president, George Herbert Walker Bush, today formally endorsing John McCain. Well, what about the current president? What will President Bush's role be in the campaign and the Republican frontrunner?
And count down to another big primary day, including in Hawaii, which could have a major impact on this race. Both Chelsea Clinton and Barack Obama's sister are campaigning there. We're going to have a live report from Honolulu.
All that, and a lot more, coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM." Back to you.
LEMON: All right, we'll be watching. Thanks, Wolf.
KEILAR: Thanks, Wolf.
And conspiracy theorists, you're going to rejoice. Some long, lost stuff related to the JFK assassination turns up, including a shocking, but suspect, transcript. We've got details from Dallas ahead.
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KEILAR: On a day the nation memorializes its past presidents, some long-hidden JFK memorabilia surfaces just steps from where our 35th president was shot. Now, this bunch of information and items belonging to major players in the drama and a mysterious and possibly made-up transcript.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: It was one of the most infamous moments of the 20th century, an assassination that set off an avalanche of conspiracy theories. And these boxes, unearthed in an old safe in a Dallas courthouse, may give those theories new life.
CRAIG WATKINS, DALLAS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We've been looking at this for a year.
KEILAR: Dallas county district attorney, Craig Watkins, says his office is now looking for a new home for a wealth of material gathered in the aftermath of President John Kennedy's assassination.
Among them, boxes of documents from the trial of Jack Ruby, who killed Lee Harvey Oswald two days after the president was assassinated.
JACK RUBY, MURDERED LEE HARVEY OSWALD: I emphatically deny these charges.
KEILAR: Also, found the holster for the gun he allegedly used, a pair of brass knuckles, business cards from the Carousel Club (ph) that Jack Ruby owned, and much more.
WATKINS: We have some film that we haven't looked at. We have some recordings that we haven't listened to.
KEILAR: Most controversial, a transcript allegedly to be a conversation between Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby, in which they supposedly talked about a plot to kill the president some six weeks before that fateful day in Dallas.
WATKINS: It was actually mixed in with other documents.
KEILAR: But most students of the assassination think the transcript is fake, and may even have been part of a movie script that the Dallas D.A., at the time, was working on. For now, authorities say they need another month to catalog the documents, before they find a permanent home for them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: D.A. Watkins says he decided to make all that memorabilia public in the interest of transparency.
LEMON: Very interesting --
KEILAR: Sure is.
LEMON: -- A movie script, who would have thunk?
KEILAR: And is it real?
LEMON: All right. Now it's time for "THE SITUATION ROOM" and Mr. Wolf Blitzer.
Take it away, Wolf.
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