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Southwest Airlines Investigation; Spitzer Stepping Down; Airspace Violation at Capitol Building; Race Issues Continue to Plague Political Campaigns

Aired March 12, 2008 - 14:00   ET

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

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Hillary Clinton running into a little hot water, because another supporter, Geraldine Ferraro, basically said that Barack Obama is in the place he is today because -- in large measure because he's black. So she's got a couple supporters here either doing or saying the wrong things.
Do you think this is going to have any affect on her? What are people saying?

BEN SMITH, SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, POLITICO.COM: Well, she's got to be relieved that Eliot's getting off the stage. This wasn't something that was, you know, necessarily hanging over her, but she didn't need her home state's governor fighting a prosecution scandal for months.

The Ferraro thing is a bigger deal for her. She didn't throw Ferraro off the campaign, as the Obama campaign had demanded. And so she and Obama are sort of in this real confrontation over these racially-charged statements.

KEILAR: All right, guys. That's all the time we have for right now.

Thanks for being with us, Ben Smith, Politico.com, and Elizabeth Benjamin with "The New York Daily News."

Thanks.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news at the top of the hour. Southwest Airlines has taken some of its planes out of service amid a federal investigation into its inspection and maintenance practices.

CNN's Drew Griffin joins us now with details -- Special Investigations correspondent, I should say.

Drew Griffin joins us now from New York with all the details on that -- Drew.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don. Not just some, dozens of these planes. Precautionary, according to the airline.

They grounded 44 planes as of last night; 38 of them were planes in service, and that has had some minimal effect, according to the airline, on their schedule today, with some cancellations taking place. However, what the airline is saying is, out of the abundance of caution, they have to reinspect these 44 planes.

Those inspections take about 90 minutes, and as soon as they are over, and presumably the planes pass the inspection, they are put back into service. Southwest says already six of the planes have been put back into the service.

This all stems from the news that broke last week that Southwest had been flying planes -- CNN reporting 117 of those planes -- beyond mandatory inspection limits by the FAA, and the fact that an FAA manager was apparently allowing them to do it. Today, or yesterday, Southwest announced three of its employees have been placed on administrative leave, the company has hired an outside consultant to review its maintenance, and the company also says it is reviewing all of its procedures with the FAA and will address any immediate changes that need to take place. Apparently, this is part of that.

Don, the airline says that once these planes are inspected -- again, 90 minutes -- they'll be put back into services, and this is all being done precautionarily, not because of any kind of structural damage that they are finding.

LEMON: CNN Special Investigations correspondent Drew Griffin.

Thank you, Drew.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ELIOT SPITZER (D), NEW YORK: I am resigning from the office of governor. At Lieutenant Governor Peterson's request, the resignation will be effective Monday, March 17, a date that he believes will permit an orderly transition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Thus ends the brief and rocky governor ship of New York's Eliot Spitzer after a sudden and shocking scandal. For Spitzer, the worst may be over, or it may be yet to come. It all depends on how good his lawyers are at deal-making. We are covering Eliot Spitzer's resignation from all angles.

CNN's Allan Chernoff was at Spitzer's announcement in New York. And our Mary Snow is covering the story in the state capital of Albany.

Allan, let's begin with you.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, it was absolutely a stunning press conference, as everything in the entire scandal has been for the past two days. Eliot Spitzer walking into the packed room with his wife once again at his side, and making the announcement that you just heard.

The governor did say that, "I sincerely apologize" with a very determined face on, by the way, and then a moment later, he said, "As a public servant, I have accomplished a great deal." He concluded by saying, "Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

Now, if you think about it, talking about rising once again, after frankly resigning in disgrace here, and really not shedding a tear and not showing tremendous contrition, although he did apologize, this really does show you a lot about Eliot Spitzer. Everybody who knows him says that he is a man of great pride, and you really, I think, still, even at this very moment, saw the pride of Eliot Spitzer, a man who frankly has just tripped up himself.

He's talking about falling, but in this case, after having been the man who hailed the ethical flag here in New York State, "Mr. Clean" now caught up as a client of am international prostitution ring. We really do see him really stepping down in disgrace, but still showing some pride.

KEILAR: All right. Allan Chernoff there for us in New York.

Let's talk now with Mary Snow. She's joining us now from the New York state capital of Albany.

What's going on there, Mary?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'll tell you, Brianna, lawmakers are still reeling from the shock of what has happened. And lawmakers are now also looking forward -- looking ahead to what the businesses is at hand.

You heard Eliot Spitzer there saying that the transition will take place on Monday, and the new governor will be David Paterson, who is at his home outside of Albany. He released a statement saying, you know, he is saddened like all New Yorkers by what has happened, and considered Eliot Spitzer a friend, but now the work of New York must go on.

Another Democrat, Sheldon Silver -- he is the assembly speaker -- he spoke to reporters earlier today, also talking about the somber tone here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHELDON SILVER (D), SPEAKER, NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY: This is, obviously, a painful day for all of New York. Now I think is the time to pray for the Spitzer family. For his parents, for his wife, for his children. It's also a time to move forward with the people's business.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: And on the other side of the aisle, the Republicans, one of Eliot Spitzer's fiercest rivals, Senator Joe Bruno -- he is the majority leader in the senate -- he and Eliot Spitzer have clashed in the past year, and there were allegations back and forth between the two of them, with Joe Bruno saying that Spitzer had initiated espionage, spying on him at one point, and it became a very public spat. Today, Joe Bruno also sent out his sympathy to the Spitzer family and said that no one is happy about what has been going on. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BRUNO (R), NEW YORK SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: There is no pleasure in what is going on in this state in anybody's life, and there shouldn't be, because this is serious. We have a fiscal crisis before us. And our elected responsibility is to govern, and that's what we are going to focus on today and going forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Now, since word of this broke, there had been talks between Eliot Spitzer's staff and the staff of David Paterson about this transition. And as we now know, Brianna, this is officially is supposed the take place on Monday, and we have heard from some lawmakers that David Paterson is expected to address both the senate and assembly here in New York as lawmakers try to move on. And they have a mammoth budget that they are trying the work on, but still, they are keeping one eye back, saying they still can't believe what's happened in the last few days.

KEILAR: A lot of shock, for sure.

Mary Snow there for us in Albany, New York.

LEMON: So what's next for New York's soon to be ex-governor? What can New Yorkers expect from their next governor? What does all of this mean outside of New York?

Our panel is back, and they can shed some light on all of this for us.

Joe Conason is a national correspondent for "The New York Observer"; Paul Callan is a lawyer and former New York prosecutor; and John Roland is a political consultant and former New York City -- New York news anchor.

I'm going to start with you, Joe Conason, because last time -- you didn't get a chance to speak last time.

But I am reading your article today that's in The Observer, and it is says -- "The Shame of Eliot Spitzer" is what it's titled. In it you write, "It is painful to watch the fall of Mr. Spitzer, because the potential he represented was so inspiring."

He did represent that, as you said, the potential, and it's painful to watch. But even today, he seems confident, always he seems confident. But even today, he didn't appear that contrite when he came out in front of the media. Can you talk to us about that?

JOE CONASON, "NEW YORK OBSERVER": Well, look, I have no idea what he is feeling. He has to be feeling tremendous embarrassment and shame and remorse. And I think that he tried to express that, but it's true that he is not great at expressing that kind of feeling.

I think he is a proud person, and he feels that this is his last chance to say, you know, I did accomplish something as governor. It wasn't all a fight between me and Joe Bruno, the state senate majority leader, it wasn't all a disgrace. That we did achieve some things.

LEMON: And Sheldon Silver talked about that just moments ago. I mean, you heard him live. He said there are things that Eliot Spitzer can be proud of. He came in office right away and changed a couple of things. I think he talked about workers' compensation.

CONASON: He talked about workers' compensation. He talked about an ethics reform package that Governor Spitzer managed to get through the legislature in the early days of his tenure.

Remember that he came in with a very big mandate. He had won I think around 70 percent of the vote when he ran for governor the first time. He had tremendous support across the state that cut across party lines and ethnic lines and upstate and downstate divisions. Everybody was impressed with him and had a lot of confidence with him, and it's terrible to have seen that squandered this way.

LEMON: Yes. And just moments ago -- and I'm pretty sure that you guys were listening -- John Roland, I was taking to former mayor of New York City, David Dinkins. And John, in all honesty, when I worked with you back in the '90s, David Dinkins was the mayor of New York City. And Mr. Dinkins said he felt sorry really not only for Eliot Spitzer, but for Eliot Spitzer's parents. He talked about how proud they were of him, and how proud many New Yorkers were of him until this happened.

JOHN ROLAND, POLITICAL CONSULTANT: Well, and his parents happen to be wonderful people. They're very generous and charitable people in New York, and they have to just be absolutely crushed at all these -- all this news about their son, whom they deeply love.

LEMON: Have you -- did you listen to the interview with David Dinkins? Because you mentioned it. This is a person who was supposed to be, by all accounts, the first Jewish president of the United States.

ROLAND: Well, that was the whole plan, Don, for him to go from AG to the governor's office, and then to run for president. That was -- that was talked about, that was discussed, that was the whole idea. And of course now that will certainly not happen.

And in talking about the pride that the man had, a lot of reporters who cover him would substitute that word with arrogance. That, in fact, he was more arrogant than he was anything else. And to me, that's kind of what he showed today when he stood there with his wife.

He was always infamous for his arrogance, and now he will be infamous for his hypocrisy. It's a very sad way to go out of office.

LEMON: And Paul Callan, we have been talking about over the last couple of days -- I asked you early on what Eliot Spitzer might have been doing over the past couple of days, and obviously it was sort of an exchange -- or maybe a deal, some sort of -- for his resignation, that he was trying -- and at least his attorneys work out some sort of deal before -- with prosecutors before he resigned. And now that he's resigned -- and we're hearing form the Justice Department that there is no deal -- has he lost his leverage here as far as being prosecuted or even possibly going to jail?

PAUL CALLAN, ATTORNEY: Well, he lost a lot of his leverage. I mean, that was a huge poker chip that he was holding, the governorship of New York, and being able to trade giving that up. But I suppose what Eliot Spitzer and his lawyers ultimately decided was that, from a political standpoint, he had no ability to survive.

There was talk about instituting impeachment proceedings in the New York assembly. There's a steady drip of adverse stories ability him in the press. And when all was said and done, he had no political support. And (AUDIO GAP) hold on. So it was time to shift over to the legal arena. And you will see now over the next few weeks, I would imagine, he will be negotiating with prosecutors trying to get the best deal he can.

LEMON: OK. All right.

Paul Callan is a former lawyer and a former -- is a lawyer and a former New York City -- or New York prosecutor, I should say. Joe Conason, national correspondent for "The New York Observer." And John Roland is a political consultant and former New York City news anchor.

Thank you both -- thank you all. You've added some great perspective for us here today.

KEILAR: Eliot Spitzer is on his way out as governor. How long can he stay a husband? Can his marriage survive his sex scandal?

We'll be asking psychologist Judy Kuriansky.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

KEILAR: There she was again, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's wife Silda, standing by her man yet again today as he announced his resignation. Spitzer is accused of spending thousands of dollars on prostitutes.

You probably know marriages that have broken up over much less than that, so a big question now, can the Spitzers' marriage survive?

I'm joined now by Judy Kuriansky. She's a licensed clinical psychologist and a newspaper columnist. She's joining us now from Washington.

And basically, can this marriage be salvaged?

JUDY KURIANSKY, PSYCHOLOGIST: Hi, Brianna.

Any marriage can be salvaged, which may be surprising to some, under several conditions. The first one is, is the couple willing to make a new commitment to their relationship? And the second one is, can they find out what really went wrong? What went awry in soon to be former Governor Spitzer's situation? What was making him go to prostitutes? They'd have to decide, was there something awry in their own sex life? Does he have a sex addiction?

All these questions would have to be discussed between them, and hopefully with a therapist who can guide them.

KEILAR: So those are the questions you would ask in, say, couples counseling?

KURIANSKY: Absolutely.

KEILAR: Now, let's talk about the kids. There are kids involved here, as there are in a lot of potential breakups -- three teenage kids. What really needs to be done right now in consideration of them?

KURIANSKY: Well, those three teenaged girls need to have a lot of talking to with their parents, some open discussion. They're old enough to do that, and they will need to know, why did daddy do it? Just like everybody in the public wants to know. And they will want to know whether or not they are going to stay together, because that is the most important thing for those children.

And the third of all is that both parents are going to need to sit down and tell them, daddy did something that was inappropriate and wrong, let's tell you what real love is about. This is what I really advise all parents to do proactively with their kids, is to say this -- prostitution is not an acceptable or a healthy thing for any relationship, but add, please, what is healthy is love between two people where they make a commitment to each other. Always be sure to add that to the discussion.

KEILAR: So let me ask you this, because let's talk about two different types of betrayals here. Let's say an emotional betrayal, a long-term affair, or something like what happened here, allegedly happened here with Governor Spitzer, a physical betrayal, if you will, with a prostitute. What would be more easy to forgive in general when you are talking about women?

KURIANSKY: Well, what I have found in my practice is that it's easier for women to forgive the prostitution, because it's a sex act, and it doesn't involve love. And remember, that's what women really want. Any time in surveys what they want is love.

And so the emotional cheating, as you have mentioned, can be even more devastating, because that means the man is given his heart to someone else. To give just his body part and to have a woman perform sex acts on him, or do something sexual, she can figure out, OK, that may be disgusting to me, but what was it about that, and how can we have a healthy new sex life? So I think in that case, there's a little more hope than an emotional cheating and an emotional affair.

KEILAR: Very insightful. Dr. Judy Kuriansky, thank you.

KURIANSKY: You're welcome.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A once promising political career ends in disgrace, Saying he is deeply sorry, New York governor, Eliot Spitzer, announced his resignation effective on Monday. Spitzer, who built his reputation as crime-fighting attorney general, has been accused of spending thousands of dollars on high-priced prostitutes. His wife, Silda, was at his side as he announced his departure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPITZER: In the past few days I have begun to atone for my private failings with to my wife Silda, my children and my entire family. The remorse I feel will always be with me. Words can not describe how grateful I am for the love and compassion they have shown me.

From those to whom much is given, much is expected. I have been given much; the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York and the chance to lead the state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: On Monday, Spitzer will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor David Paterson. He will be New York's first African-American governor and its first disabled governor since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Paterson is legally blind.

Former New York City mayor, David Dinkins, weighing in on the sex scandal that has brought down Governor Eliot Spitzer. Dinkins spoke with me earlier, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VOICE OF DAVID DINKINS, FMR. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: I am saddened by the entire circumstance. I know Eliot, I like him a lot. He is exceedingly bright. I was stunned by this news. And I am so sorry for his family, for his teenaged daughters and for his parents, particularly, of course, his wife.

But, I worry more about his father and mother who are advanced in age. They are my generation, and of course, his teenaged daughters. It is tough. I hope that they make a judgment for the girls to go to school in Switzerland or someplace. They should haven't to grow up in the face of this.

LEMON: And I want to -- I'm going to speak to something very candidly that some folks have mentioned, others -- people not mentioning it as well. But, I have been listening to it on the radio, reading about it on the blogs and you were talking about Eliot Spitzer's family. You were an African-American mayor of New York City, and that was history. There were talks of Eliot Spitzer being the first Jewish president ever, and there are people in the Jewish community who are saddened by this because they looked up to him as a hero, a -- not only a hero in his political capacity, but as a hero of the Jewish people.

DINKINS: I think that is very true. I have never discussed it with Eliot, but I would not be at all surprised had not one of his ambitions been to achieve the presidency of the United States. He's certainly -- pardon me -- better equipped than the president we now have.

LEMON: What is this -- you are talking about his family. What sort of -- you know his family, I would imagine.

DINKINS: Yes, not real well, but I know them, his father who is very successful and generous to me over time, and he is not well. He is sort of bent over a little and -- but I know he and his wife. They have swelled with pride.

I saw them recently in the last several weeks. Eliot spoke to the Association for a Better New York, gave a great speech and his father and mother were there and his wife, of course, also. And I know the pride that my father felt when I achieved the office of mayor of New York.

So, I know how his father and mother must feel. And so it is really sad, and while I am delighted that David Paterson will have this opportunity, I am so sorry for the Spitzer family.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: David Dinkins was the first African-American mayor of New York City.

KEILAR: Eliot Spitzer's shocking fall from grace, well, it is burning up the blogs, no surprise. Tons of e-mails, comments and coverage of the story in cyber space today. Let's find out more about that from our Fredricka Whitfield.

Fred, what are you seeing?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, well it's scandalous, it's salacious and it's front page news, whether it is hard copy newspapers or it's on their dotcom Web sites.

Just take a look on "The New York Times" Web site and see what it says, right there: "Spitzer Resigns : Accepts Responsibility for 'Failings.'"

Then there is "The Washington Post" headline -- washingtonpost.com: "Eliot Spitzer Resigns as New York Governor."

And then, of course, you've got the "New York Daily News" right here over my left shoulder: "Spitzer Resigns." And the "New York Post": Spitzer Resigns."

All of these Web sites, by the way, are inviting their readers to vent, to talk about how they see this investigation, the consequent resignation and the 'what next' for this man who was to uphold the law in that state.

And just take a look at what some of the folks have been saying on the discussion board of the "New York Post": "He is famous for his no mercy approach to law enforcement, and always asking for the maximum sentence. He should get the same treatment."

And, "They better prosecute him, the FBI is going after Roger Clemens for perjury and here you have a governor getting caught red- handed breaking several federal laws and maybe nothing is going to happen?"

And, "It sickens me that gifted men and allegedly intelligent men can throw it all away...in addition to throwing lots of moolah away for what? The family will carry the burden not this putz!"

These are some of the comments coming from those who have been invited to the discussion board there at "New York Post." Meantime, while it is front page news, of course in the tri-state area, it is across the country.

And the "L.A. Times" has something that's very interesting in a story that is on its latimes.com Web site. It talks about how already, just hours after the resignation of the New York governor, there are companies that are already capitalizing over this scandal.

There are Client 9 T-shirts -- this being printed on the latimes.com Web site -- "and boxers and sweatshirts and hats and mugs. There is apparel that says, Eliot, phone home.

There are shirts showing the zealous former prosecutor -- I'm quoting now -- saying, "Do as I say, not as I do." And one that says simply, "I was Client 8, and all I got was a lousy T-shirt." So, some folks who are making some money and also laughing about it.

But certainly it is no laughing matter, especially if you are the family of the Governor Spitzer. So, certainly, tragedy that it is being played out on the front pages, whether it be hard copy or Web sites across the country -- Brianna.

KEILAR: That is right. And Client 9, obviously what Spitzer was known as in the criminal indictment, that's why the play on words there. Fredricka Whitfield, for us. Thanks.

LEMON: All right. And Brianna and Fredricka, just getting new word here from -- let's see -- Senator Clinton's office. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, of course running for president. She is reacting to Spitzer's resignation.

And here is what it reads. Just got it, hot off the printer as we says here: "I am deeply saddened by this turn of events and my thoughts are with Governor Spitzer's family during this painful time. I would also like to express my support for Lieutenant Governor David Paterson. I look forward to continuing to working with him on behalf of the people of New York. David has overcome every obstacle and broken every barrier in his path and I know that he will continue to display that leadership and determination as governor."

Presidential candidate and senator of New York, Hillary Clinton, responding today to the Eliot Spitzer resignation.

In a poll of New Yorkers, almost half say they have never heard of the man who is replacing Eliot Spitzer as governor. David Paterson is lieutenant governor and his climb up the political ladder is a story of courage in the face of major obstacles.

Here is CNN's Brian Todd.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not as well known as Eliot Spitzer, and not as controversial. David Paterson was sworn in as lieutenant governor of New York in January 2007.

ED KOCH (D), FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR: He is an understated guy, and that, I think at this particular moment in time, will be very helpful.

TODD: At 31, he was the youngest state senator ever in New York. Then, worked his way up to Senate minority leader making more friends than enemies.

Paterson, who is now 53, lives in Harlem and becomes New York's first African-American governor. In 2004, he was given a speaker slot at the Democratic National Convention.

LT. GOV. DAVID PATERSON, NEW YORK: I have a vision for New York state. I can't see it with my eyes, but I feel it in many heart.

TODD: Paterson is legally blind, but that didn't keep him from running in the New York City marathon.

PATERSON: I am as proud of that as any elective office or any other achievement I have had in my life.

DINKINS: Legally blind, he was able to finish law school and get elected to the Senate and become the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, all with this -- what for some would be a handicap.

TODD: Paterson comes into office as a relatively fresh face.

STEVE KORNACKI, NEW YORK OBSERVER: The public is hoping for that replacement to redeem the office and to redeem their faith in elected officials in general. So David Paterson, in a sense, walks into a great opportunity.

TODD: Republican leaders say they are willing to give the new governor the benefit of the doubt. JAMES TEDISCO (R), NEW YORK ASSEMBLY MINORITY LEADER: I told him we would give him our full support because this is not about politics anymore.

TODD (on-camera): Paterson will need all of the friends he has. New York state has to close a budget gap of up to $5 billion this year.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: One person is detained in connection with the killing of the UNC student body president. We've got the very latest from Chapel Hill.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: One week after Eve Carson's body was found near the University of North Carolina campus, police have detained at least one man in connection with her killing. CNN affiliate, WTVD, reports he was picked up in a raid on a house in Durham, less than ten miles from the crime scene.

We are expecting a news conference by Chapel Hill police this afternoon. For the past few days, investigators have been focused on security photos that show a man who allegedly was trying to use Carson's bank card at an ATM and at a convenience store.

LEMON: A business associate of a couple who have been missing for more than a week has committed suicide. Dennis Gerwing was the last person known to have seen John and Elizabeth Calvert. And police had just named him as a person of interest in that case.

The Calverts split their time between Georgia and South Carolina, where they manage a marina. Gerwing had been involved with some of their bookkeeping. Now police say he left at least one suicide note, but they are not revealing the contents.

KEILAR: The FBI is set to release more details this afternoon in a desperate search for three children and their father. Eddie Harrington is accused of snatching his twin, 23-month-old girls and also a three-year old son last week in Georgia.

Agents say he at one point indicated in a letter that he was going to kill his children. Harrington is believed to be driving a green 2002 Chevy Impala with Indiana tags. We're going to bring you that new information once the FBI releases it.

And for the best crime coverage on the web, you can check out the CNN.com/crime. This is the new effort from our friends at truTV and CNN.com. You can go behind the police tape, into the courtroom like never before at CNN.com/crime.

LEMON: Changes at the top. The commander of all troops in the Middle East bows out, and he says it is not about what he thinks, it's about what other people think. We will explain.

A.J. HAMMER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm A.J. Hammer in New York.

Governor Spitzer may have resigned, but he is going to be a punchline for a long time. I will show you how he's getting the late night talk show treatments as they are covering this scandal. That is coming up next, in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. We were -- we've been talking about oil going up $100 a barrel. Now it is $110 a barrel. We call that an intraday price. That is the high today, and this information, of course, available CNNmoney.com.

But to get the reaction from it and to explain all of this, our Susan Lisovicz standing by at the New York Stock Exchange with that -- Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don.

These kind of moves are not sadly unknown as of late here on Wall Street. What is surprising is that oil continued to climb today, despite the fact that one of the major economic reports today was on weekly inventory. And we got stockpiles that not only show the surplus -- they came in better than expected on both crude and gasoline.

So, it really suggests the speculation that is rampant in the oil pits. And what I mean is that, because we have seen the stock market under such pressure, the dollar under such pressure, traders, not long-term investors like you or me or most of our viewers, but traders looking for a quick buck are just jumping into this market and they're driving this price up.

Now, granted, I mean, supplies have been tight, and that is one of the reasons why we have seen crude rising so dramatically over the last year. But on a day where you see that the weekly inventory report actually shows a surplus, it is kind of a surprise. The bad news is that oil has settled now at $109.92 a barrel. And that is -- yes, a new high.

LEMON: Yes, and we look at your left shoulder, we can see the Dow up 51 points, Susan. We're going to --

LISOVICZ: Yes.

LEMON: -- check back with you in a little bit and get a complete check of the markets.

LISOVICZ: I'll be here.

LEMON: Yes. And CNNmoney.com for all of this information.

Thank you, Susan. LISOVICZ: Your welcome.

KEILAR: Time now to check what the videos are clicking with all of you CNN.comers today. And the Eliot Spitzer scandal, it is at the top of the list. The New York governor announcing this morning he is stepping down. This word comes two days after he was publicly linked to prostitutes.

Three Georgia gas stations are now being run by state-appointed lawyers. This comes amid allegations customers were being cheated. A judge ordered the stations seized while the investigation continues.

And in New Zealand, a clever kiwi dolphin proves to be a lifesaver for two stranded whales. Rescuers have been trying for hours to save the whales, finally they were actually debating humanely euthanizing them. Then this dolphin showed up and somehow guided the whales to a channel in open water, obviously saving their lives.

You can link to all of our top story lists from the front page of CNN.com.

LEMON: And she read that story with a smile.

KEILAR: Yes, who doesn't love a story like that?

LEMON: A good dolphin story.

KEILAR: I want to go. I'm going to go on CNN.com right now.

LEMON: All right. Go check it out.

KEILAR: Will do.

LEMON: Check it out. Let's see -- show me what is going on.

Oh, I have to deal with --

KEILAR: The news, yes.

LEMON: Yes, I have to deal with the news.

The Spitzer scandal -- and he is laughing, the next person we are going to toss to. The Spitzer scandal is good news for some folks, the talk shows find themselves with some great new material.

"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT"'s A.J. Hammer, he's here to tell us about the late night talk show funny men. They are finding the Spitzer scandal very funny and they are having a field day with it. And sadly, I was part of that last night.

HAMMER: Well, let's keep the mood light here. I think that's the direction we are heading anyway. And as shocking, you know, Don, as the Spitzer story has been, the late night talkers have really been making the point that a politician caught with his pants down, it's a pretty regular event, even if there are some out of the ordinary elements to this particular scandal. Watch Mr. Leno.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, HOST, "TONIGHT SHOW": This shows you how the whole world is backwards. You've got Democrats -- now they are supposed to be poor, right? Don't the Democrats traditionally represent the poor people? They're paying $5,000 an hour for sex.

You've got the Republicans, they're supposed to be rich, right? They are cruising airport bathrooms trying to get it for free. I mean --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: So there you go, Don. You know, Jay Leno just putting it all in perspective for us. Referring of course to Republican senator, Larry Craig, who was arrested for soliciting sex in an airport bathroom.

LEMON: OK. Anyone showing any mercy towards Governor Spitzer in this whole story?

HAMMER: In a word, no. Not a chance. Fortunately, Spitzer's wife, Silda, is getting some sympathy. In fact, Jon Stewart did run a montage of wives standing by their philandering husbands, and then he went into this bit...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": It is mind-blowing that they always have their wife by their side. It seems like cruelty piled upon cruelty.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, exactly. If anything, let the hooker stand up there. She's the one everyone wants to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Yes, so there you go. David Letterman said what a lot of people are probably thinking in this line about Spitzer's marriage. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW": He was known, a regular customer. He was known as Client 9 -- Client 9. And it looks now like Client 9 will soon be looking for wife number two.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: And Letterman doing the math for us there. Certainly everybody is feeling badly for Silda Spitzer and the family, and Silda, particularly, having to stand by her husband there.

We're going have much more on the Spitzer scandal tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." That's right, Hollywood sex scandals and the lessons Eliot Spitzer can learn from Hollywood stars whose lives were almost ruined by their sex scandals.

You will hear the frank advice and you won't want to miss it, tonight, on TV's most provocative entertainment news show. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," getting on at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.

LEMON: I don't think that this story is over, A.J. I think when we find out Clients 8, 7, 10 and all of them -- that's going to -- it's going to get more interesting.

HAMMER: Yes. And in terms of the late night shows, this is fuel for a long, long time.

LEMON: Long, long time. A.J. Hammer, thank you. We'll be watching.

HAMMER: You got it, Don.

KEILAR: Before he was governor of New York, he was a proud and capable and crime fighter. We will hear more about Eliot Spitzer from an author who wrote about his climb up the political ladder.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: One man, 11 dogs, two victories back to back. Lance Mackey and his sled team crossed the iditarod trail finish line before dawn today, nine-and-a-half days and 1,100 miles after leaving Anchorage. This is Mackey's second consecutive iditarod win. But it is not, actually, his greatest victory.

The 37-year-old musher from Fair banks beat throat cancer a few years ago. His father and brother are also iditarod champions.

The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

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