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Extreme Weather; Huge Fire in Central Florida; Clinton's Superdelegate Lead Down to Zero; Conspiracy Theories Surrounding the Death of the D.C. Madam
Aired May 11, 2008 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, a whole new ball game when it comes to superdelegates, there is a big change in the score. We'll tell you what it is.
From Georgia to Oklahoma to Missouri and beyond, destruction and death over 24 hours. Ground video, skyline video and just plum amazing video.
In Philly, a police beating has a city's feelings bruised and on edge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE BROOKS, SECURITY EXPERT: I was a cop for almost 27 years and, you know, it is disturbing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Security expert, Mike Brooks, sounds off as does an angry Al Sharpton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that what we saw here appears to be very unjustified and very wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Whatever you do, don't make Bill Clinton angry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You interrupted my speech, you let me talk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The D.C. Madam, a suicide say police. No way said conspiracy bloggers. We look at the facts.
And look at this. The pictures are in. She did get married. We got them. Stay where you are. We got tons of stuff, now.
And hello, again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez here in the world headquarters of CNN. We've got a lot of stuff to cover. So let start with some breaking news. This coming to us just about an hour and a half ago. Take a look at Florida. It's literally cut in half by this fire that has done this.
It has shut down part of the state's main corridor, I-95. Now this is just east of Orlando and we're told it has been growing since we first reported on it. We do have a reporter who is standing by there. We should be able to go to him in just a little bit. Again, we'll have that in just a little bit.
But first, there is a huge political shift to tell you about tonight. Hillary Clinton's formidable lead with superdelegates is now officially a thing of the past. I want you to take a look at this numbers. This is a week after the Pennsylvania primary. That was less than two weeks ago from today. Senator Clinton led Senator Obama by 21 superdelegates. Right now, this is how they stand. It is all tied up, folks. 273 a piece. That means her lead is now gone using a sports vernacular, goose egg, zero, as we stand.
Now, remember, these superdelegates aren't just numbers, although we often refer to them that way. They are living, breathing people. Tonight, we have tracked down the actual person, the superdelegate who has tied things up by declaring herself for Senator Obama just today several hours ago before we went on the air. Her name is Crystal Strait.
Crystal, thanks so much for being with us.
CRYSTAL STRAIT, OBAMA SUPERDELEGATE: No problem.
SANCHEZ: You know, what's interesting about this, look, you are not exactly a household name, but you are a superdelegate. Tonight, you are a woman in the political spotlight. Who are you and why Obama?
STRAIT: Well, my name is Crystal Strait, and I represent the young Democrats of America. And what we know is that if a young person votes for a political party three times in a row, they actually become a member of that party for life and will continue to vote.
And we know that in 2004, young people voted and in 2006 young people voted again, and so we know that this 2008 election is crucial to actually creating a block of young voters for the Democratic Party. A lot of the members, the young Democrats of America, a lot of young people from around the country have come out in numbers, and overwhelming numbers to support Senator Obama. And I thought it was important that, you know, I represent them by pledging my vote for Senator Obama today.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you a question, because, you know, you were the one that I guess Senator Obama's camp was waiting for. Did you know that he was just one away from tying the superdelegate count, and did that have anything to do with you making your decision?
STRAIT: No, I did not even think about it until earlier today when we did this interview. SANCHEZ: Yes, he now leads in states, popular vote, pledge delegates and as a result of you going his way tonight, you've now tied him up with Hillary Clinton in superdelegates. In your opinion, do you think this thing is over?
STRAIT: No. As I've always said there are still many states left. You know, we have West Virginia coming up this week. It was important to me, we -- as an organization, we have three superdelegate votes. We have already a superdelegate from young Democrats of America that's pledge to Senator Clinton. And I think that it's just as important that I pledge to Senator Obama to make sure that young people, especially new young people coming in to the party realize that the young Democrats of America truly represents them.
SANCHEZ: Do you think there is going to be many others who are going to be coming in after you now? What would your message be to other superdelegates out there who haven't yet made their decision?
STRAIT: I think it's really important in this process that I've set a long, entire time that you'll know when you make the decision. It's a very tough decision. Frankly, it's the hardest decision I have ever made and -- in my lifetime, which maybe seems like a short lifetime. But it is a difficult decision. I think it's very important that a person makes that decision based on the constituencies they represent and for me it is young people.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you something I think is interesting because I was reading up about you a little bit earlier, and I found I think one of your parents is Japanese and the other parent is what?
STRAIT: Caucasian.
SANCHEZ: Caucasian. So you come from that thing, that maybe relates somewhat to the experience and descendancy of Barack Obama? Did that have anything to do with your decision?
STRAIT: No, no, not at all. My family is pretty split on the issues as well. And quite frankly, not too political.
SANCHEZ: You handle yourself very well on camera.
STRAIT: No problem.
SANCHEZ: Thanks so much for being with us and sharing your story. Interesting. Crystal Strait.
I want you to hear now what Senator Clinton has said earlier today while she was campaigning in West Virginia about dropping out or staying in the race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's not over until the lady in the pantsuit says it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: By the way, Hillary Clinton is expected to win Tuesday's West Virginia primary, big. We talk with the governor of that state in just a couple of minutes. He, himself, by the way, is also an uncommitted superdelegate at this point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WESLEY SCHULTZ, I-REPORTER: There is a tornado, 2008. It's coming in Picher, up there by the school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Imagine this massive tornado heading right for you. This was sent to us by I-reporter, Wesley Schultz. The pictures and the sound are fascinating as you look at this. If for nothing else, just the size, and terrifying to look at if you are that close, especially since we learned that at least six people have been killed in this town.
This is Picher, Oklahoma. You're going to be hearing a lot about Picher in the next couple of days. It wasn't the only part of the country that was rake by tornadoes that have killed at least 21 people this weekend. Towns in Missouri and Georgia and North Carolina. All in shock, not to mention, Arkansas. And they are already in cleanup mode tonight.
That's why we have positioned CNN crews around the country tonight. Susan Candiotti, she's in Picher, Oklahoma. Nicole Lapin, she is in Ellenwood, Georgia. Meteorologist Jackie Jeras is right here. She's been putting this whole thing together for us for the better part of the last 24 hours.
Susan, we're going to begin with you. Now, this is interesting. I should share this with the viewers. Last night, you were three states away in Arkansas when this thing hit. How did you get to Oklahoma with this weather what it was? And what did you see along the way?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the weather was too bad to travel overnight because it was dark and storms were still hitting, but we left very early this morning before dark. We did not see too much damage as we made our way across those states to make it here to Oklahoma, but that sure changed when we got to Picher.
This town is cold and eerily quiet tonight except for the sound of news crews and satellite trucks and that kind of thing. As you indicated, Rick, six people were killed. But earlier today, I spent some time with the John Hutchison family. He is among the survivors and he is calling that a miracle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: John, as we look at the foundation here of your house, is this all that is left?
JOHN HUTCHISON, TORNADO SURVIVOR: That's it. CANDIOTTI: What was it? A one-storey house, two-story house?
HUTCHISON: It was a one storey with three bedrooms.
CANDIOTTI: And three bedroom.
HUTCHISON: Yes.
CANDIOTTI: It's all gone?
HUTCHISON: Yes.
CANDIOTTI: It's all gone.
HUTCHISON: It's all over there by a tree.
CANDIOTTI: Can you show me where you and your family were hunkering down. Be careful. Over here.
HUTCHISON: This was the closet. There was a bathroom right here and there was a closet. A door going to each bedroom (INAUDIBLE). But we got in this closet right here and we all huddled down together on the floor.
CANDIOTTI: But the storm shoved you way over here and where did you wind up?
HUTCHISON: Under this door just on the other side of this little table. And my wife was right next to me and she had the little grandbaby in her arms.
CANDIOTTI: How old?
HUTCHISON: About two.
CANDIOTTI: About two.
HUTCHISON: And my daughter, Tracy (ph), who was just on the other side of her with other grandbaby, she is about four -- between four and five.
CANDIOTTI: So all of you were under this --
HUTCHISON: Well, I was right here, then my wife was here with one grandbaby and Tracy (ph) was holding the other one and we're all lying out there.
CANDIOTTI: Oh my goodness.
HUTCHISON: We all walked out alive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Now, Rick, the homes that you see behind me here, they were condemned last fall because the land beneath them was caving in. Picher is an old lead and zinc mining town and it is part of a massive, federal, super fun cleanup because of a great deal of contamination and pollution here. And now you have this tornado hitting, leaving a lot of residents to wonder, what next? What's more to come? Back to you.
SANCHEZ: What is being done for them, I should ask, then?
CANDIOTTI: I'm sorry, Rick?
SANCHEZ: What is being done for those residents who are tonight either has lost a love one or are looking at a home that looks like nothing but rubble and sticks?
CANDIOTTI: Well, they are very fortunate. A lot of the people here have family and friends who have taken them in. No one is going to be rebuilding here, that's for sure. And help is being promised by the president, who has spoken with a lot of governors. FEMA is promising, without specifics for now, to lend these people a hand to relocate somewhere. The Red Cross also has a shelter open tonight not too many takers because of all those people taking in their friends and neighbors.
SANCHEZ: Susan Candiotti, really doing yeoman's work there following this storm across the middle of the country. Thank you, Susan. Let's go now to Nicole Lapin. She is in Ellenwood, Georgia. This is a suburb of Atlanta, interestingly enough. And this thing just came out of the blue, right?
NICOLE LAPIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It did come out of the blue. Obviously, an F-2 tornado, not the kind of Mother's Day wake up call. This people were (INAUDIBLE). And you know, Rick, this is a fairly new subdivision, about five years old. And what we've been hearing a lot lately is that people here really took pride in customizing the interiors of their houses, cabinets in the kitchen, tiling.
This is obviously not how this homeowner would have wanted to show off his kitchen. The kitchen wall blew out early this morning. Obviously, this home simply too dangerous for us to go in tonight, but another residents, Lawrence Boddie did just give us a tour of his home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE BODDIE, TORNADO SURVIVOR: All right. This is where we were sleeping when we heard the first big boom. Now, we stand here about a second. But this about become to loose. I mean, it's all down through here. So this was the first big boom and this is what I actually got my wife and I up.
And this door was blown off -- were blown open. The guys have nailed it. Shot a couple of nails in there. So I was getting wind and rain this way. This was all -- you could see it blown out. And wind and rain coming this way. Stuff was just flying everywhere. As you can see her door, it blew off the hinge, and split in half there. And her luck that she was not in her bed. As you can see all of this blew out. And that door -- actually, that door was jammed, first. And I kept pushing on it and pushing on it, and I got it open to see that she was not in here. And then as I let it go, it just blew back, and her windows out and stuff everywhere. And I heard them yelling, because I was looking for them and didn't find them, so I come down the stairs, and they were all in here with my wife and three kids. We all climbed into the closet and stayed in there until all the noise seized and after that we just slowly eased out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAPIN: And as those people slowly did ease out, they realized the scope of the damage. Here are the facts. 175 homes damaged. Up to 120 mile an hour winds, an F-2 tornado. The behind all of those houses, obviously an individual story to tell and a lot of individual people who are going to continue with the cleanup in the upcoming days.
Rick?
SANCHEZ: Good work, Nicole Lapin. Following that story for us there in Ellenwood, Georgia. Let's go to Jacky Jeras now in our severe weather center.
You and I had several conversations throughout the night. Share with our viewers if you would, Jackie, just what the power and dimensions of these storms have been as you've been tracking them over the last 24 hours.
JACKIE JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, just incredible, Rick. The power of this tornado. We really have been focusing on the one that hit in to the Picher area. In Oklahoma, across the state line, moved through Missouri. Now, today we are looking at pictures from amateur photographs. We're looking at radar data. We're looking at the storm damage to determine exactly what kind of tornado this was.
This picture, shown to us from Anthony Inman from Picher, Oklahoma. And then check out, this is so impressive to me. Wesley Schultz from Picher took this picture. This is what we call a wedge tornado. You know, most video that you see of a tornado kind of makes that triangle and that point towards the bottom. This is what we call a wedge.
It's like the bottom part of the triangle is just cut off. When we see this, we know that this is an extreme tornado causing major damage. You can't run from it. You can't hide from it. You want to be underground. Now, we are waiting for the National Weather Service at Tulsa, Oklahoma to tell us what their assessment is on this storm.
But what I can tell you that on the other side of this storm, when it moved through Missouri, the assessment is now that this was an EF-4 tornado, winds 170 miles per hour, and at one time, Rick, this tornado was one mile across. So this was a monster tornado. Tossed cars about a half of mile down the way.
SANCHEZ: Unbelievable. Jackie, thanks so much for the update. We will be getting back to you throughout the night as we continue to follow some of the developments on these storms. And let's go back now to Central Florida.
I mentioned this to you at the very beginning of this newscast. They have been spared the severe storms that Jackie was just talking about, but now we understand there is trouble of a different sort there. These are huge fires that are right across the middle of the state. This is just east of Orlando, if you can picture the State of Florida.
Bob Kealing is from affiliate WESH, fondly referred to usually as WESH. He is live there on the scene in Volusia County.
How big is this thing and what is the affect right now?
BOB KEALING, WESH REPORTER: Well, Rick, we are talking about 500 acres. And the real problem is that it is knocking on the door of a couple of residential areas. Now, for folks who might be familiar with this area, we are talking about four miles, basically, as the crow flies from Daytona International Speedway. And 500 residences are under mandatory evacuation orders tonight.
And they will be kept out of their homes until at least 9:00 tomorrow morning. Now, while the wind is continuing to whip this evening and into tonight, firefighters have gotten something of a break, because inexplicably, despite these winds, the fire has laid down somewhat. And we are being told just within the last ten or 15 minutes, that fire crews feel that they have it about 20 percent contained. And they are also confident that they have been able to dig a pretty good fire line around it.
But unfortunately, they are expecting more of these conditions in the morning. And they are really trying to make a stand right along Interstate 95, because they don't want that smoke to continue wafting over the main artery as people try to go to work in the morning.
So for this evening, it's 500 acres, 500 residences near the LPGA International Golf Course Community are under mandatory evacuation orders. And Rick, if you remember, ten years ago, the wildfires down here in 1998, everybody is remembering those, and hoping we don't have a replay of the same. But these conditions sure feel like it.
SANCHEZ: I also remember some of the accidents that can be caused when that smoke suddenly goes over I-95. And you get those multi-car collisions as a result. I know that that's what firefighters are trying to avoid. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Hope that the I-95 corridor is not shut down tomorrow morning, because that would be a mess, as you know, for the State of Florida.
Go ahead, Bob. We're down to about 10 seconds. Do you want to finish up?
KEALING: Yes, I was just going to say, Rick, that Florida highway patrol is actually going to make a decision on whether to open or close the road based on those conditions early tomorrow morning. SANCHEZ: All right, Bob, thanks so much for that report. We appreciate it. We'll be checking back as we continue to follow the story. There is something else I want to show you now, Roge (ph).
If you can get this shot over to the side. This is the telestrator that we often use. Do you see that video? Do you recognize that? That's that video that you have been seeing out of Philadelphia. We're going to break this down for you and tell you straight what the police officers are doing with our own security analysts. And we're also going to be joined by the Reverend Al Sharpton. So that's going to be coming up in just a bit.
Also, the next primary is in West Virginia. Here's where this gets weird. Hillary Clinton should win there, according to the polls, big. We've got the governor of West Virginia. He's coming up next.
Also, the death of the D.C. Madam. Why did she leave two suicide notes? Was she being followed? Well, this is what conspiracy theorists have been writing about in a big way on the blogs and on the Internet. So we're going to check out the facts. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rick Sanchez. The race for the White House heads to West Virginia, Tuesday, and we've got the governor of that state tonight. 28 Democratic delegates are up for grabs in that state's primary. I asked Governor Joe Manchin just how does his state matter at this point in the political process?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. JOE MANCHIN (D), WEST VIRGINIA: Well, let me just tell you. It matters in West Virginia. We're excited. We are excited about being part of this. It has been 48 years since West Virginia has had any input and felt that they were part of this Democratic process through a primary. And we're all excited. And this is going to be a great turnout. This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for West Virginians to get involved.
SANCHEZ: But why should it matter to the rest of the country who are sitting here, listening to the governor of that state right now? How would you convince them that this should matter?
MANCHIN: Well, let me just tell you. Here's a little state that's always had challenges. And in the last three-and-a-half years, working together, we have done so well. We are in great shape, financially. Our markets are the strongest they have ever been. We've sustained the lowest unemployment, but this gas prices and really the uncertainty of the national economy and the world economy scares all of us, so we want to be involved. We want to be heard.
SANCHEZ: Can you conceive of a scenario, governor, where even after she wins your state, handily, as she is expected to, that she could somehow end up with more delegates or win this thing out right?
MANCHIN: I think it's now basically is going to be based on, I would say from a strategic standpoint, depending on what side you're on, where the is popular vote? And I would think that that would be the whole claim that President Bill Clinton and, of course, Senator Hillary Clinton, and their strategic team is looking at right now.
SANCHEZ: Well, you are a superdelegate. Do you buy that? That it should now be based on the popular vote?
MANCHIN: Well, you know, my superdelegate -- being a superdelegate is basically with my state. I've always felt very strong about that. I'm watching and wanting them to be involved. I am totally uncommitted right now and I've been uncommitted. But I want this to have a flavor to where I have not tried to support anyone's direction. And when it's said and done, we'll be able to exit. We'll talk to them. We'll find out why did they think this is the person or more electable or what was their reasons. From that standpoint, these are hard-working people, extremely patriotic, so you've got to salt the earth right here in West Virginia. I can assure you.
SANCHEZ: Why would the people of your state, which seem to be whiter, and somewhat older, and somewhat less educated not vote for Barack Obama?
MANCHIN: Well, I can tell you, just from what I have observed and heard, senator -- President Bill Clinton is an extremely popular ex-president in West Virginia. They love him and he still comes around and they get exited when he comes. And they've been involved in West Virginia for a long, long time. So there is a comfort level there. And people get comfortable and sometimes they stay in that comfort zone. And I think that's where you're seeing and what you might be seeing right now as you are looking and maybe polling or whatever you do. But I'm telling you, it's still yet. They are excited about the process.
SANCHEZ: You are still, by the way, uncommitted? You've made that statement moments ago.
MANCHIN: Absolutely.
SANCHEZ: What is your standard? At what point do you, governor, say that is it, I have enough information, I'm ready to go? Will it be when all of the primaries are over? Will you wait until it goes to the convention?
MANCHIN: Well, the bottom line is, I will make that decision after my primary, which is next Tuesday. I am totally committed and I really believe this from the bottom of my heart, that Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama will be the next president. I believe that. I'm going to work for that.
And, you know, something, they might not have the same philosophical beliefs on personal issues, whether it's the guns or whether it's the pro-life or pro-choice or any of those issues, and some of our areas have been very dominant. But with that, I'm looking at health care, I'm looking at the economy, I'm looking at the security of this nation, I'm looking at education that will compete in the 21st century. And I'm telling you, I'm committed and convince it will be a Democrat that will change this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Let's talk to some people now who are real smart and follow politics pretty much for a living. Renee Amore is a Republican strategist. That is her there on the left with a beautiful smile. And E. Steven Collins, one of Philadelphia's best-known radio talk show host.
My thanks to both of you for being with us. Let's leave aside now some of the comments that were made by the governor of West Virginia and go right at the chase here and that is this news about Hillary Clinton losing her superdelegate lead which we lead this newscast with.
Renee, start us off. How significant do you think that is?
RENEE AMORE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think it's very significant. But I still think that Hillary Clinton is a fighter, Rick. She's going to hang in there and do what she has to do. So, you know, I'm loving it, again, as usual. And you know, Republicans will just go back into the White House.
SANCHEZ: Well, let me put this in perspective as we did when we first started the newscast again. Is this any more significant because she has lost the lead in less than two weeks. By our account, 21 in two weeks. 21 superdelegates.
Steven, do you?
E. STEVEN COLLINS, RADIO HOST, "PHILLY SPEAKS": I think that Governor Manchin is right. I think it's going to come down to the popular vote. And I think that as we play this out at the right moment, Hillary Clinton will make a graceful departure and will go ahead and give the endorsement to Senator Barack Obama for a variety of reasons.
Principally, I don't think that she -- as much as been talked about race, really has intentionally used that. I think that that is unfortunate as a part of what has come out.
SANCHEZ: Well, that's interesting. Let me stop you both there. I want you to listen to this. This is the comment that caught fire in the news media this week. It was a comment that was made by Senator Clinton when she was talking to some of her supporters in West Virginia. Roger, roll it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There was just an AP article posted that found how Senator Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: Should she have said that? Anyone of you, go.
AMORE: I don't think she should have said it. And I disagree with E. as usual and I continue to do that. First of all, the Clintons have played the race card, they continue to play the race card, and they love playing the race card and that has help them over the hump and (INAUDIBLE). E. should know that.
COLLINS: I think that she shouldn't have said that and I think they have used race at different times. But their legacy, Bill Clinton took on old conservative racism in Arkansas, and who he is --
AMORE: Please, the real color is coming out right now. That's the bottom line. They want to win and they will do whatever they have to do.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Hey, let me ask you guys something as African- Americans. When she says working -- hard-working white voters, is she saying that whites work harder than blacks?
COLLINS: She is essentially saying that and that's why I think a lot of African-American people felt. Again, turned off by what she is saying. But again, she is at that point where she is again realizing that she is not taking Barack Obama seriously from the beginning and this whole entitlement keeps coming up.
AMORE: They shall do whatever is necessary and that's why she is playing the race card and they will keep doing that. And they're going to try to swing those superdelegates to them so that the popular vote won't matter.
SANCHEZ: Two strong opinions. Two great guests. We thank you as usual for being with us. You guys are delightful. I appreciate it. Coming up.
AMORE: Thanks.
COLLINS: Thanks, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Break down the Philly police beating with our security analysts. And also we are bringing in the Reverend Al Sharpton to break this down. You can imagine what he's going to say about this.
Also, a new conspiracy theories about names, phone numbers and threats in the death of the D.C. Madam. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Break down the Philly police beating with our security analysts. And also we are bringing in the Reverend Al Sharpton to break this down. You can imagine what he's going to say about this.
There's also new conspiracy theories about names, phone numbers and threats in the death of the D.C. madam. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Is this a case where the pictures alone don't represent the entire story? I'm talking about this video. It surfaced this week of a police beating in Philadelphia. Officers kicking and punching and hitting three restrained men.
The whole country seems to be talking about it. It raises a lot of questions and nobody knows how to dissect this stuff, like CNN security analyst Mike Brooks. He's good enough to join us now.
We're going to be looking at this in different ways. First thing we should do is just, let's take a look at this video. Roger, if you would, roll the beginning of it. I'm going to stop it or stop it when we ask you to.
Concentrate on this area right here, right there on the bottom. You see that right there. That guy, right there, who seems to be doing the kicking. It looks -- that's good, Roge (ph), it looks as you look at this video, that what you're seeing is officers that seem to have an idea in their minds. They were determined to go in there and use this kind of force. The question to you is why?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: All right. Initially, they thought that these three had been involved in a shooting. Police witnessed a shooting on a drug corner in Philadelphia and gave chase and apparently when they pulled them over, this is what was happening.
Now, we don't know if they were non-compliant. We don't know exactly what they were doing or what they weren't doing. But what we did see, I mean, Rick, the first time I saw this, and I was a cop for almost 27 years, and, you know, it is disturbing. And I know the Philadelphia police, new commissioner, it's Commissioner Charles Ramsey. He just took over there in January.
SANCHEZ: Confident guy.
BROOKS: Very confident guy. In fact, I used to work directly for him with the Metropolitan Police Department in D.C. And he wants to get to the bottom of this.
SANCHEZ: Have you talked to him, by the way?
BROOKS: I've spoken to him. I've spoken also to a high-ranking law enforcement source there that tells me 13 officers have already been taken off the street because of this incident and, Rick, possibly six more could also be removed off the street.
SANCHEZ: Let's look at the video again, Roger. Give me another roll as Mike and I take a look at this. Now, let's pay attention to the top up here if we possibly can. All right. Look at that area right there on top and there's some kicking going on right there as well. Now, you were looking at that. It's hard to look at because, I mean, you've got a scene here, you've got a scene here. I mean, there's three things going on. BROOKS: There is. And what they're trying to do right now -- they're actually having this video enhanced to try to find out exactly are there more officers. As I said, 13 are already off the street, six more may be taken off the street.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you -- let me ask you a really direct question that people at home, I think, would want to ask. Is there ever a reason where a police officer needs to go in and, to subdue someone, kick them?
BROOKS: No, no, not really. You know, if he doesn't have a bat -- and in fact, I saw one of them was using a bat. They have pepper spray, they have -- you know, they have enough equipment that there's no reason for kicking. And there's nothing in their manual, not in the police training that says, yes, you can kick an individual.
SANCHEZ: So, these guys were on edge. They were worked up because one of their own had been killed. Is that right?
BROOKS: Two days prior to that. In fact, the attorneys for the three men are saying that it was a case of mistaken identity. They're saying -- the attorneys are saying that the reason they pulled them over was because one of the men in the car resembled the one who's still out and wanted, when this happened. But the police department is saying, no, that has anything to do with it.
SANCHEZ: Heaven forbid if that's the case. And it turns out that these guys are perfectly innocent. Oh, my goodness, what headache they're going to have on their hands. That's not confirmed, though?
BROOKS: No, but something else I just -- the viewers, I think, would enjoy.
SANCHEZ: You have about 30 seconds.
BROOKS: All these officers who are involved in this beating, one of their own, part of their squad, the same squad that these guys are with, he was hit and killed back in November 1st, 2007.
SANCHEZ: Wow. Mike Brooks, as usual, thanks for coming on.
BROOKS: Rick, always a pleasure.
SANCHEZ: Always great.
We made several calls to the Philly police department, we should tell you that. And we've asked for a comment, obviously. They're declining to comment or issue a statement at this point other than what they've said at the outset of this thing. Note this, though. The department has pulled more than a dozen officers, as Mike was alluding to moments ago, off the streets while they continue to investigate their own.
Let's do this now, the Reverend Al Sharpton has met with one of the Philadelphia men today in prison, we understand. The outspoken civil rights activist has been very busy lately with a number of hot- button causes. And we're going to cover some of those.
He was arrested earlier this week during a rally for Sean Bell, the groom to be killed by police in New York. Reverend Sharpton joins me now on the phone from Philly. As a matter of fact, he's not on the phone. There he is.
Reverend Sharpton, you look at this video that we were just breaking down with Mike Brooks. What are your thoughts?
REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: I mean, it's very disturbing. I went to the jail this morning and met with the young man who does look very much like the person that has now been arrested after this incident that we're looking at on film. He looks very much like the young man being accused of killing the policeman. There is no direct connection at all.
SANCHEZ: Wait a minute. You're saying -- we're going to like back this up because I think it gets a little confusing for the viewers. The original statement from police is that they pulled these three guys over, and Mike, you help me out here if I'm going a little off thought kilter here on this thing, but the original story from police is that these guys had nothing to do with the shooting of a police officer.
SHARPTON: Right.
You're saying now that you believe that the reason they were acting this way and that the reason they pulled them over is because they did think he may have something to do with --
SHARPTON: No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying he does look a lot like him. I don't know the reason. I don't think anyone knows the reason. I've talked to the young man. He says he was not involved in any shooting. He's still in pain. I met with him in the prison with his mother for an hour. I also met with the mayor.
And I think that it is the right thing to do to let the mayor and commissioner or Chief Ramsey do their investigation. But I think that no one could say that what we're seeing is not very disturbing. You must remember, Rick, there was no weapon or anything found in the car of these young men. So then you have to ask, what provoked this?
SANCHEZ: And that's the question I want to ask you. How do you explain police behaving this way? And I ask you that from somebody who's dealt with this kind of thing in the past. How do you put this in perspective for people? By the way, I want to say I love our police department. They do a good job most of the time. They're hard-working guys.
SHARPTON: I think that there are some police that go overboard and break the law. There are some that do not. Let me also say, we cannot have selective outrage. It is just as outrageous that three policemen have been killed in Philadelphia.
So, I don't think that one should be forgotten with the other, though I don't see a direct connection. We cannot have selective outrage. I think what we saw here appears to be very unjustified and very wrong. But at the same time, I think that we've got to let the sorting out by the mayor and the police commissioner, while many of us watch it. You can't tell the police --
SANCHEZ: That's interesting. I would have expected that you would have been a little more heated on this. I want to stop for a moment. I want to let Mike Brooks. He wants to ask you a question, Reverend.
BROOKS: Hello, Reverend. I think, yes, I think it's absolutely -- you're being very balanced on this. And, just like Rick, I thought I was going to hear more outrage from you. But what did this gentleman that you've met with today in jail, what did he say happened, kind of chain of events that put this off? What is his story?
SHARPTON: He said that he and some friends went to give their condolences to a mother of someone who was killed that they knew. And they heard some shots, they got in the car to leave the neighborhood and the next thing he knew, he thought he was being shot because they hit the window, which ended up being police.
He was dragged out. His friends were dragged out. And they were beaten, which I think is outrageous. I think that what he is saying is that he doesn't want in any way to be identified with cop-killing, or looking like that he in any way sympathizes with that.
So, I think what has happened is outrageous. He and his mother don't want to be confused that they are like in any way condoning what has happened to the police. And this has nothing to do with what happened to the police. Which is why they're saying they want this to be done in a just and fair way. And at the same time, they do not want to act as though they don't understand the crime that was going on in this city. I think they've taken a responsible view.
SANCHEZ: Reverend Al Sharpton, we're going to have to leave it there. Good to see you again. We haven't talked to you in at least a couple months. Thanks again.
SHARPTON: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: All right. She was the woman who had Washington power brokers shaking in their boots. Was the D.C. Madam's death a suicide or was there something more sinister at play? This is what conspiracy theorists have been writing about. We will check the facts.
And catching a force of nature unleashed like you've never seen it before. Take a look at this. Winds versus two tons of metal. Two tons of metal loses. Next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Tonight, we're going to dwell down on conspiracy theories surrounding the death of a woman whom thousands of men may have feared for what she knew they did that they didn't want others to know. This is why the reported suicide of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the D.C. Madam, has a lot of people asking a lot of questions.
Now, last week, she was found hanging from a nylon cord in her mother's backyard shed. She left two suicide notes. The blogs are blowing up, though, with conspiracy theories. We asked our own Josh Levs to try and separate the truth from fiction on this.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there, Rick. One of the most prominent blogs taking a look at this is right here, it's called prisonplanet.com. And they've been talking about this very frequently at times, everyday.
They have, for example, this one piece that says her friends said that that's not her signature on the suicide note. Let me scroll down a little bit and show you the kind of things that are going on online. They're putting together a signature that they've seen from her rather -- a piece of handwriting they've seen of her before and her handwriting on her suicide note. They're saying, was she forced to do this? Is it even really hers?
Also, this same site at another point talks about look, they say, even "The Washington Post" said that after she went to jail, she would have been able to make all this money. She would have been famous. There would have been book deals, movies. Why would she possibly do this? So these are the kinds of things people were batting back and forth in saying hey, does it even make sense that she would have committed suicide?
SANCHEZ: Well, you know, when it comes to handwriting, I can tell you just from some of the studies that we've done in the past say there is no actual definitive way of breaking down what somebody's handwriting looks like. But let me ask you about something else. I've been reading a lot about it and that is that she's a woman and she hanged herself and that's uncommon. Women usually don't hang themselves. True or not true?
LEVS: Right. Well, actually, the numbers are about the same. Let's take a look at this. We put together this list here because that actually is one of the big arguments we're seeing.
We put together some of the big arguments people have for why -- in this site, why they think she did not commit suicide. One of the first one that they are saying is look, powerful people wanted her silent. They know that and that's a fact.
Another one is that that women rarely hang themselves. And that she allegedly hanged herself and so did a woman who allegedly once worked for her. So I pulled up those statistics that you're asking me about. This right here is from the National Institute of Health. And what it shows is that when it comes to suicide, men and women hang themselves at about the same rate. 23 percent for men and 20 percent for women.
It is true overall that most women who commit suicide don't choose to do it by hanging but it's not that big a difference from men at all. So that in of itself is not, you know, a very super striking element. SANCHEZ: Here's another one though that I've got to hit you with because we've been reading a lot about this. There's a condo director down in Orlando who says he had talked to her several times. And that she told him that she was concerned because -- and let me get the right verbiage here -- someone had been following her.
LEVS: Right. Yes and I'm glad you said that actually, because when we look at where the other big arguments are that's one right there. The suggestion in a report out of Florida that she had been followed and that she was being concerned -- she was concern that she was being followed. And also, there's this in addition to that. Rick, I'll show you one more big one that she once said she would not commit suicide. In fact, we can hear her say it. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBORAH JEANE PALFREY, D.C. MADAM: No. I'm not planning to commit suicide. I'm planning to go into court on April 7th, if indeed we do have the trial, and I plan on defending myself vigorously and I plan on exposing the government in ways that, you know, I do not think they want me to expose them. I want them to explain to me in open court why they came after me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: That's from Alex Jones radio show. And in fact, this is his blog right here. Now, obviously, that is one of the big arguments we are hearing. I will tell you to balance it all out, someone that you are familiar with, that you'll be speaking with right here. This is a "Time" magazine article in which author, Dan Moldea, says you know what, she did say that she would commit suicide before going to prison.
Also on all these fronts, Rick, everything we've talked about, the suggestion that she was followed, questions about handwriting, all of these, I spoke today with CNN's law enforcement expert here. A law enforcement analyst, Mike Brooks, and here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: You know, the first time I heard it, Josh, I said, is there something sinister here? But after looking at the suicide notes, looking at as what the police department said, they looked at other investigative avenues, because I think they also were thinking it could possibly mean something sinister, but after looking at all the evidence, there is nothing to say that this was anything but suicide by hanging.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: And Rick, I spoke with the police in Florida. They said there is absolutely no suggestion of foul play at all. There's nothing -- quote -- "There's nothing to suggest it was anything other than suicide." So while there are these elements the bloggers are talking about. The authorities are saying, look, they don't have anything substantive to back that up. SANCHEZ: Josh, thanks so much. Always good to look at the facts and break them down for us.
Here's what else we're going to be breaking down for you tonight. The very latest pictures coming in of the storms that have been battering the country. You know, you always see these things after it happens. What's it look like during the storm? Unbelievable pictures that we're going to be sharing with you as it happens. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: And we welcome you back. And what my staff has got "Rick's Picks." That would be me. I want to start with a candid clip that says as much about the man as just about anything else. And I've interviewed former President Clinton and I can tell you a couple things about him. He's at his best when he's challenged and he never walks away from an argument, like this one with a heckler at a campaign speech Thursday.
This is No. 3.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Every time you make a health insurance premium, you are contributing -- what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How much health care was there when you were president?
CLINTON: And do you know why I was defeated?
Wait a minute. Are you -- wait, wait, wait.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).
CLINTON: Wait, wait, wait a minute Ma'am. We had rallies all over this country. She worked 40 --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before the election and after the election.
CLINTON: No, you're wrong. You're wrong. Wait a minute. I can't believe you're saying this. There are millions of pages of documents that we have released showing the exhausting work that was done. The tens of thousands of people that were consulted. The rallies and movements we had all over the country. Now, wait a minute. I listened to you. You interrupted my speech. You let me talk. Will you?
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
You interrupted my speech. You interrupted my speech. Wait a minute. This is one of the problems -- one of the problems of this whole presidential campaign is how many things that people have said that are flat untrue. She worked her -- she worked her fingers to the bone. I worked my fingers to the bone. (END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: President Clinton just can't pass it up.
No. 2. Have you ever wondered after a storm, when we show you the destructive video, how cars end up on top of houses or on top of other cars? Well, here it is. Unbelievable video. This is Friday at Layton, Alabama (ph). Security cameras catch this F2 tornado tossing cars nearly 40 feet in the air in some cases. Tons of metal flipping over like match boxes.
But the most compelling image tonight is this. This is Rick's Pick No. 1.
This is Beirut, Lebanon, where Hezbollah and government forces fight in the streets, where more than 30 people have already been killed. You can see there the expression of the older man, he was holding his grandson. And you could see the woman just behind them there.
I'm sorry -- this is a little bit different than we thought (INAUDIBLE). You could see the panic in his face and wonder what she was saying. The power of a picture.
Parts of Florida on fire as we speak. We're going to see where the fight against this blaze stands when we come back.
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SANCHEZ: Let's go back to that situation in Florida we've been telling you about. If you could, Roger, let's look at some of those pictures once again. This is in that situation that we've been telling you about in the central part of the state.
The big problem here is, there are some homes that are near these fires. The other problem is, if they don't have this thing at least somewhat contained by tomorrow morning, they're going to have to shut down I-95 there. It's just south of Cape Canaveral. It's east of Orlando, as you look at it. You can imagine on a Monday morning if I- 95 -- if it's shut down, the problems that that might cause. We'll be following this for you. We'll be right back.
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SANCHEZ: As promised, we will stay on top of the situation in Florida. Meanwhile, I'm Rick Sanchez. Thanks so much for being with us. We'll see you next weekend.
