Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Remains of Caylee Anthony Found?; Interview With Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.; New Video of San Diego Fighter Jet Crash
Aired December 12, 2008 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Here is what is making news right now: The heat is on. Jesse Jackson Jr.-- more damaging reports suggesting a link to what some call blog-o-gate.
REP. JESSE JACKSON JR. (D), ILLINOIS: So, if everyone would be patient with it, I would appreciate it. OK?
SANCHEZ: Don Lemon has an exclusive interview. You will see it in just minutes.
RON GETTELFINGER, PRESIDENT, UNITED AUTO WORKERS: We should not accept the effort by the Senate GOP Caucus.
SANCHEZ: The head of the UAW blasts Southern Republican senators, says they are anti-union, anti-worker and pro-foreign cars. We will break it down for you.
First video taken just seconds after a fighter jet crashes into a California home, we will let you see all of it. You will see it, and I'm not editing it.
COLIN POWELL, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Governor Palin, to some extent, pushed the party more to the right, and I think she had something of a polarizing effect.
SANCHEZ: Colin Powell takes on Sarah Palin, saying she hurt his party.
What do you think? Tell me now on Twitter, on the Net, on the air. It is lunchtime in Santa Monica, 3:00 p.m. in the Bronx. Your national conversation begins right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: From the headquarters of CNN here in Atlanta, I'm Rick Sanchez.
Do expect breaking news when it comes to the case of Caylee Anthony, and we're going to have it for you. There is a couple of things I need to get to first, though.
First of all, is it possible that the feds moved in and arrested Governor Blagojevich because they feared that he was about to do something, about to give that seat vacated by Barack Obama to somebody, perhaps Jesse Jackson Jr. -- a lot of fresh reporting on this from "The Chicago Tribune," and we're going to be talking to the "Trib"'s reporters right here in just a little bit, but first this.
Do you remember when I did this interview with Michael Goldfarb? Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Can you name one other person that he hangs around who is anti-Semitic, because that is what you said?
MICHAEL GOLDFARB, FORMER FAA CHIEF OF STAFF: Look, we all know that there are people who Barack Obama has been in hot water.
SANCHEZ: Michael, I asked you to name one person, one.
GOLDFARB: Rick...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: You said he hangs around with people who are anti- Semitic. OK. We have got Khalidi on the table. Give me number two. Who is the other anti-Semitic person that he hangs with that we -- quote -- "all know about"?
GOLDFARB: Rick, we both now who number two is.
SANCHEZ: Who? Would you tell us?
GOLDFARB: No, Rick, I think we all know who we are talking about here.
SANCHEZ: Somebody who is anti-Semitic that he hangs around with?
GOLDFARB: Absolutely.
SANCHEZ: Well, say it.
GOLDFARB: I think we know who we are talking about, Rick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: So who was he talking about? Who works for number two? Remember, Austin Powers?
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: He has come out on Politico.com, given a fresh interview, has Michael Goldfarb, where he has revealed who number two was and why he could not tell me that day who it was, new information that is coming into us, and we are turning it around for you, so we will have that interview, so you can see it in its entirety.
This is the big story though that everyone is talking about in central Florida, though, the story Caylee Anthony. It does appear -- tentatively is the word that is being used -- that those remains that we told you about that were found yesterday may indeed belong to her. Why? Well, the first ones who dropped the hints or the clues, interestingly enough, were Casey Anthony's lawyers. That is right. The woman who is in prison accused of the killing of her own daughter, her lawyers come down from as far as New Jersey to say this to reporters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have qualified people, the best in the business, reviewing this evidence. So, we will be able to actually verify it independently. And that is all we are asking for, nothing more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right. That is just a part of it.
We are joined by two experts who have been following this case as well as anybody, Mike Brooks, obviously, our law enforcement analyst who is going to be taking us through the case. And then we have got Larry Kobilinsky. He is joining us from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He's an expert in forensics.
Let me begin with you, Larry. Good to see you again, by the way.
DR. LAWRENCE KOBILINSKY, PROFESSOR OF FORENSIC SCIENCE, JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Pleasure.
SANCHEZ: Hey, break some news for us. Is this her remains?
KOBILINSKY: Well, the preliminary results indicate that there are issues -- elements, I should say, that are consistent with Caylee. I mean, we won't know for sure until we have DNA results coming back, and that may take several days.
But the preliminary results make it appear that this may be the child. There are some indications of biometric analysis. Some measurements were made. It is a young child, and it is consistent with Caylee.
SANCHEZ: We are going to come back to ask you a little deeper into what you were exactly talking about, because we can break this down for the folks at home.
KOBILINSKY: Sure.
SANCHEZ: But let me bring Mike into the conversation, if we can.
The fact that her lawyers get on a plane to fly down the Florida to hold a news conference to talk to reporters, what does that tell you?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Yes. They brought in Linda Kenney Baden, who we have seen at the O.J. trial, very, very well- known. And her husband, Michael Baden, a well-known pathologist.
But they were saying, just like Koby (ph) just said, that the anthropological measurements and the hair color match those of Caylee Anthony.
They're coming down. And yesterday, when Jose Baez put out that emergency motion to preserve and inspect evidence, that says to me they said...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Both sides are feeling like they have got something here.
BROOKS: Absolutely.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Larry, let me bring you back into this. I'm a little confused.
Explain to the viewers what they are looking for and what process they used to look for it without getting too heady on us, so we don't understand it.
KOBILINSKY: Sure.
Well, what they are doing is checking the alignment of the teeth on the skull that they have and trying to determine if it is consistent with photographs that they have of the child.
The hair color, obviously, is an important issue. There is a lot of features you can see visually and microscopically. Some preliminary comparisons can be made. Everything appears to be consistent. But, again, we won't know for sure until the DNA results come back.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
Larry, are you still with the case? Are you -- you doing some consulting work for the -- Casey Anthony's defense, right?
KOBILINSKY: Yes.
Yes, I am working for the defense, explaining the science. As you heard Mr. Baez just indicate, he wants to get advisement from his experts, his scientists to determine independently if these tests are reliable and the conclusions are trustworthy.
SANCHEZ: Right.
All right. We are going to leave it at that. Obviously, we will continue to follow this.
There is a good -- there's reason to believe that even within this hour, right, Mike, we could get some information or some further determination, especially the way this case moves.
(CROSSTALK)
BROOKS: Because deputies took the evidence up Quantico, the FBI lab, last night. The evidence is there in the lab. They are analyzing it right now.
And we heard the sheriff yesterday said that the technicians are going to work on it through the weekend, if they have to, to try to make sure -- the determination, but it looks like all the remains were there at Quantico.
SANCHEZ: There's so much to get to. Stick around. I know you have got some work to do tonight because you are on Headline News as well.
If there is any turn on this case, any new information coming out of Florida, obviously we will bring it to you, but it's starting to look like they're this close from making what would be a confirmation that in fact it is the remains. We will be all over it.
In the meantime, John McCain bleeped last night. It is amazing to listen to it. We are going to let you hear exactly what he told David Letterman.
And then, of course, the story of the day is Don Lemon has just gotten an exclusive interview with Jesse Jackson Jr. Does he have some explaining to do, based on what is being reported today in "The Chicago Tribune"? We are going to take you through the setup, all the way up to the actual exclusive interview with Jesse Jackson Jr. You will only see it right here on CNN.
Stay with us. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Oh, and, also, don't forget to go to CNN.com/ricksanchez every time you get a chance, because we have got some incredible blogs there for you. We want you to read them.
In the meantime, let's take this tweet, if we can, Robert. This is a story that we are going to be focusing on in just a moment. And we are getting a lot of response on this.
"J.J. Jr.," Jesse Jackson Jr., "is a good apple caught up in a bunch of bad apples. It is sad that a good apple can't unspoil the bunch."
This is what we are going to be dealing with in just a little bit. But, first, guess who had to be bleeped last night on "David Letterman"?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": After a campaign like this -- and it consumed two years and probably more, really -- what do you do? What has your life been like since? You go from going 1,000 miles an hour to a much slower pace.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I don't want to talk about the bleeping campaign, understand.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
MCCAIN: If you think that I'm going to go back to that bleeping situation, then bleep you.
LETTERMAN: OK. Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
LETTERMAN: Whoa.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Nothing like taking a timely shot, huh?
All right, this is the story that he is really referring to, or intimating. It is the story that is going on with Governor Blagojevich in the state of Illinois.
And, now, there is yet another hammer that has fallen in the case. It is the attorney general, Madigan, asking the Supreme Court of state of Illinois -- You're following me here? -- to step in and not allow this governor, if he doesn't quit, to step in and at least stop him from naming a senator to replace the vacated position that was left by Barack Obama. You got all that?
There is the video. Here is the sound bite.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA MADIGAN, ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL: I have asked the Supreme Court to appoint the lieutenant governor as the acting governor, pursuant to the Succession Act. I recognize that this is an extraordinary request, but these are extraordinary circumstances.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Here is the point, though. And I think this is the big part of the story now, because now it involves another player who is also extremely prominent in our national politics, certainly in Chicago politics. It's is Jesse Jackson Jr. Was he about to be named by Governor Blagojevich?
And is that the reason that Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney, jumped into this case and stopped it in any way that he could? We have got a graphic that we put together that kind of represents how this thing has come along, because we have been doing a lot of research on this today. I want to take you back now to October 31, all right? A Jackson family business partner discussed raising million dollars for Blagojevich, right? Now let's go to this last Saturday, all right? Now, it is last Saturday, just several days ago. A Jackson business partner held a fund-raiser for Blagojevich attended by the governor and Jackson's brother, Jonathan, this again reported in "The Chicago Tribune."
Monday, Jackson meets with Blagojevich to discuss the Senate seat. Tuesday, Blagojevich is roused from his home. Surprisingly, he is cuffed and he is taken away.
So, the question that we are left with is this. Was there something going on there? Is that the reason that the feds stepped in?
Joining us now is David Kidwell with "The Chicago Tribune," who helped to write those stories, breaking some news as it were in this case.
Let me show you something else, because this is maybe what puts this whole thing together.
Dan or Roger, let's put up that graphic. This is the one from the charging document that explains exactly what was going on: "We were approached to pay to play, that, you know, he would raise me 500 grand," says the governor on the tapes, according to police. "An emissary" -- interesting choice of words there -- "came. And the other guy would raise a million if I made Senate candidate number five a senator."
Senate candidate five is Jesse Jackson Jr., which leaves us with this question, the first part of it is. This guy you guys were referring to today, this Nayak guy, was he the emissary who was speaking on behalf of the Jackson camp?
DAVID KIDWELL, "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE": We don't know, but there are certainly indications that the wheels were in motion to help raise money for the governor on behalf -- from some of these prominent Indian business people for that purpose.
I guess our thinking was that the name of the emissary -- it could have been anyone -- is less important than the fact that things were happening, as recently as Saturday.
SANCHEZ: When you say that things were happening, given what you have reported and what you have learned so far, some deal was about to be structured, whether legal or illegal, for Jesse Jackson Jr. to step into the role vacated by Barack Obama?
KIDWELL: All we know is that there were private discussions at this October 31 planning luncheon where that possibility was discussed.
What happened after that, we have no idea. But there's a series of circumstantial events that certainly are parallel to what is in that criminal complaint.
SANCHEZ: Yes, they certainly are, especially when you follow the steps there, just as we broke them down, after reading your material today.
Here is what is interesting about this, because, you know, I have covered cop beat stuff for many years and watched the feds, how they act. They rarely jump into a case like this. It seems curious that, all of a sudden, they would just go there and arouse a politician practically from his home, in his jogging suit, almost as if they were trying to stop something.
Is it possible, as our own Jeffrey Toobin has suggested in some of his questioning, that they were trying to stop the governor from appointing Jesse Jackson Jr. to Barack Obama's seat?
KIDWELL: Well, I think it's clear that they were going to try to stop him from appointing whoever he was going to appoint.
And they have publicly said that is the reason why they moved so quickly. That is clear. Whether it was Senator Jackson, I mean, we let people draw their own conclusions. I mean, whether it was Congressman Jackson, we will let people draw their own conclusions. But as you saw in the paper today, there are certainly circumstantial evidence that perhaps that that was true.
SANCHEZ: Yes, there is.
And I guess people -- I would invite people to read "The Chicago Tribune." There's some fine reporting that you have guys done on this, and it certainly leads one to believe that there was something going on there in regards to Jesse Jackson.
Here is the crucial part of the story. We have now acquired an interview with Jesse Jackson Jr. You are going to be seeing it here probably in about 10 minutes. Our own Don Lemon has got an exclusive interview with him. And we will be asking him some of these questions about this. So, you will see unfold right here during this hour.
In the meantime -- and my thanks, by the way, to David Kidwell. Excellent reporting. We thank you for sharing some of it with us.
Michael Goldfarb, he was the one who came on this show and would not say who was number two. Who else was close to Barack Obama and was either discriminatory, bigoted, racist? Well, he has spoken about this for the very first time, and we will share it with you when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: That was a cool move. Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
This thing only got about, what, one million hits on YouTube after we did this interview. It is Michael Goldfarb denying some things or strangely enough just not saying anything. Watch it first, and then we will give you the new part. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Can you name one other person that he hangs around who is anti-Semitic, because that is what you said?
GOLDFARB: Look, we all know that there are people who Barack Obama has been in hot water.
SANCHEZ: Michael, I asked you to name one person, one.
GOLDFARB: Rick...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: You said he hangs around with people who are anti- Semitic. OK. We have got Khalidi on the table. Give me number two. Who is the other anti-Semitic person that he hangs with that we -- quote -- "all know about"?
GOLDFARB: Rick, we both now who number two is.
SANCHEZ: Who? Would you tell us?
GOLDFARB: No, Rick, I think we all know who we are talking about here.
SANCHEZ: Somebody who is anti-Semitic that he hangs around with?
GOLDFARB: Absolutely.
SANCHEZ: Well, say it.
GOLDFARB: I think we know who we are talking about, Rick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Well, apparently, he couldn't talk about it.
And here is his explanation now of not just who it was, but why he couldn't tell me that day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLDFARB: When you are in the bunker sometimes, you forget how things will play outside.
And the problem with this was, I sort of -- I blame the press, but obviously your job as a spokesman is to get across a point very clearly. And this was something cathartic. This was more cathartic for the campaign than actually productive, I suppose.
But, no, it was obviously Jeremiah Wright. I am shocked that any supporter of Obama's could really believe that he has not -- tolerated sort of anti-Semitic and the anti-American statements from Jeremiah Wright over the last 20 years.
(CROSSTALK)
BEN SMITH, SENIOR POLITICAL WRITER, "POLITICO": There was a rule against your mentioning it, essentially, right?
GOLDFARB: Well, we were prevented from mentioning it. And that was very frustrating to a lot of people on the campaign. So, on the one hand, you wanted to honor John McCain's intentions. On the other hand, you wanted to -- everybody wanted to go in that direction, besides John McCain, I think.
And this was a moment -- I mean, the people in the campaign got a real kick out of it, but it -- and, frankly, it had some of the effect I had hoped for. The next afternoon, on CNN, we got three hours of Jeremiah Wright coverage. And that was not a bad thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Our thanks to Ben Smith from Politico.com for re-asking those questions, and finally getting the bottom line on this. We thank him.
Home video of a plane crash. This is a fighter jet that goes into San Diego. Remember, we have been telling you about this story. For the first time, we are seeing what is it like just seconds after it happened. Take a look at this. What we are doing is preparing this video for you. And we will let you see it unedited and actually hear the sounds as they come down, as it happens.
And then Southern Republicans being accused by the UAW of being anti-American worker, or are they just protecting Nissan? UAW says they have a secret memo. They share it with us. You will hear it when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: I want to let you hear now what the head of the UAW had to say today. It is Ron Gettelfinger, as you probably have come to know. And he says that Southern Republicans in particular are trying to block American workers from getting what they deserve. But he goes further.
He says they have been trying to block this deal from the beginning, and he says he has a memo that proves it. Here's some of that information now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GETTELFINGER: "Today, at noon, Senators Ensign, Shelby, Coburn, and DeMint will hold a press conference in the Senate Radio TV Gallery. They would appreciate through messaging and attending the press conference, if possible.
The message they want us to deliver is, one, this is the Democrats' first opportunity to pay off organized labor after the election. This is a precursor to card check and other items. Republicans should stand firm and take their first shot against organized labor, instead of taking their first blow from it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: By the way, we invited Senators Corker and McConnell and Shelby from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama to join us today. They weren't able to accept our invitation.
Here is another piece of sound we want you to hear. The argument has been that some of these companies in the South, like Toyota and Nissan, and et cetera, have not gotten government help to be successful. Well, Gettelfinger says that is not true. And here is how he says it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GETTELFINGER: In addition to the $253 million, they trained the workers, they cleared the land, they put in the utilities, they agreed the buy 2,500 automobiles, and, on top of all of that, they gave them land worth the value of the plant that they were going to be building.
So, these are just numbers we know. So, I think -- I think enough said on that. It is pretty clear to us what is going on here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Again, he is referring to the plants for Toyota, Nissan and some of other companies that have sprung up throughout the South in parts of Georgia and Alabama and Tennessee and Kentucky, et cetera.
And, once again, we have tried to contact the other side of this story from those senators who are hearing these allegations. They were not able to come on today. We will try again Monday.
Meanwhile, take a look at this. No, it is not a phone party. This is something that just suddenly happened at one of those places where they use this to put out fires. Oops.
Also, Jesse Jackson Jr., you will hear him for the very first time explaining why he had the meeting with the governor a day before he was arrested right here -- an exclusive interview with our own Don Lemon coming next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez here at the World Headquarters of CNN.
Look at this video. No, it's not a foam party in the village. This is a hanger in Long Beach, California. This is about six to 10 feet of foam. Apparently one of those fire suppression systems that they use triggered accidentally. And all the foam was suddenly spread all over the place.
All right. I want to bring you up to date now on the big story that we've been following throughout the day. It's the story about Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his apparent links now to Bagovig -- Blagojevich case.
That's the first time I haven't been able to pronounce that name out of the chute.
Here now an interview that Don Lemon has conducted.
He flew to Chicago yesterday to sit down with Jesse Jackson, Jr. to get his side of the story.
This is a CNN exclusive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACKSON: I presented him my credentials -- a notebook, which I am prepared to give anyone a copy of, that has my bio in it, legislation that I've passed, the Rasmussen Poll, the Zogby Poll, how I think I can win in 2010 and how a team of Democrats -- because this is about the top of the ticket in 2010 -- can win reelection for Democrats in 2010. That's very, very important.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No discussion at all of quid pro quo or anything like that? Was there a discussion?
JACKSON: I have nothing to offer. Nothing to offer, but my record of public service. That's how I've conducted myself for 13-and- a-half years. And I did that day, as well.
LEMON: That's all you discussed?
JACKSON: That's all we discussed.
LEMON: Do you think it's still possible for you to get this job that you want?
JACKSON: Well, let me tell you what I have been doing. Sometimes...
LEMON: Yes, you think it's still possible?
JACKSON: Well...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We hope so. We hope so.
LEMON: Well, why didn't you say yes?
JACKSON: Let me -- let me -- let me -- before you answer that, let me say that -- because I respect my wife's opinion on this. I've been fighting corruption in the State of Illinois from day one, for 13 years. The "Sun-Times," in an endorsement of me, said Congressman Jackson is the rare official who -- Democratic official who has spoken out against corruption in the state and in the city.
I'm the same person I was when the "Sun-Times" endorsed me for the November 4th general election, fighting against corruption. It has stopped businesses from coming to our state. At a time when the economy needs help and people need help, corruption in the state has been challenging.
So on this question of being in the United States Senate or not, let me be perfectly clear. While I would be honored to serve the people of this state, it is clear to me that I am in no capacity to serve them if there is a cloud over my head that seems to suggest I am involved in some unscrupulous scheme to be a United States senator or to be anything else.
And so it's very important for me to allow this process to play itself out. I need to find out and we all need to find out the truth, which is why I've encouraged everyone to fully cooperate with the United States attorney's office and provide the good men and women of our Justice Department all of the information and the data that they need.
Because when the process is over, I profoundly hope that the people will give me my name back. And right now, it's bantered about in columns and in blogs and people can say what they want to say, but when it's over, I want everyone to remember that I would like my name back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: And Don Lemon is joining us now live from Chicago -- Don, I've got to tell you, you go through this time line of events that have taken place over the last couple of weeks, and specifically over the last couple of days. He had a meeting with the governor on Monday. The governor arrested on Tuesday. His ally -- or an ally of the Jacksons apparently had gone or held a fundraiser for the governor after we hear in the transcripts that somebody -- the governor says -- had offered him -- from the Jackson camp -- $500,000 and eventually a million dollars.
When you put all that together...
LEMON: Yes...
SANCHEZ: ...it doesn't look good.
Did you sense from him that he knows he's in some kind of trouble here?
LEMON: Rick, I asked him the very same question. I said even if it's just coincidence, can't you understand how this is playing out and how it looks?
And he says absolutely.
But the -- what you're talking about is "The Chicago Tribune" investigation that they woke up to this morning in the newspaper -- we all did hear -- about two Indian businessmen who were contributors to Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s campaign and also to Rod Blagojevich's campaign.
SANCHEZ: Right.
LEMON: And there was a -- there was a meeting with them on Saturday. But what that was, was a meeting called duallah (ph). It was an Indian Day celebration and the governor showed up.
But those same contributors have contributed to other people's campaigns here, as well. So he says while it seems like -- you know, it may look, you know, strange or like there's something untoward going on, that it is -- there is not and it's just part of the...
SANCHEZ: Well, but "The Trib" is reporting...
LEMON: It's just part of the...
SANCHEZ: But, but...
LEMON: It's just part of the way politics are done here.
SANCHEZ: But to be -- well, what "The Trib" is reporting is not just that the governor showed up. What "The Trib" is reporting is that this was a fundraiser held on behalf of the governor to make -- to raise funds for Blagojevich by these...
LEMON: Well, that's what "The Trib"...
SANCHEZ: ...by these people who have ties to the Jacksons.
LEMON: That's what "The Trib" is reporting.
SANCHEZ: Right.
LEMON: And that is their reporting. But according to all of those involved, this was an Indian Day celebration, that the governor showed up and sort of thwarted the celebration, because any time the governor shows up, things change. People look to the governor. He becomes the center -- the center of attention.
SANCHEZ: What...
LEMON: So they're saying here that that -- that it wasn't a fundraiser. But, yes, he admits to knowing to these men and admits that they are campaign contributors, but they are contributors to other people, as well, Rick.
SANCHEZ: What was his demeanor and why was his wife there?
Some would look at that and say ploy for sympathy?
LEMON: No. Not at all. I mean if you -- and if you know Sandi Jackson -- anyone who knows, knows it's not that. It's -- honestly, she's standing by her man. And she said if she felt that her -- if her husband was hiding something or did something wrong that she wouldn't be there.
We -- you know, we got to the house an hour early. It's a funny story, because I'm still on Eastern time. It's only 11:00, so I show at up 11:00 Eastern and it's an hour before I was supposed to get there.
So she came down and talked to us and said, you know -- I said, do you want to take part in this interview?
And she said, sure, if you will allow me.
I said, are you sticking by your husband?
She said, absolutely.
So this was just a show of support by her. It wasn't -- it wasn't sympathy on his part. She did or did not have to take part in that interview.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
LEMON: But I do have to tell you -- you were mentioning Sandi Jackson. You know, Patti Blagojevich has been mentioned a lot in this -- about her mouth, calling her Lady Macbeth and Carmelo Soprano. Well, I asked Sandi Jackson about that and she talks about Patti Blagojevich, how they are friendly, how she came to visit her in the hospital when she had her children and I'll show you that...
SANCHEZ: Has she talked to her recently?
LEMON: ...portion of the interview...
SANCHEZ: Has she talked to her recently?
LEMON: She hasn't spoken to her recently. No.
SANCHEZ: Oh.
LEMON: No. She has not spoken to her recently. But I'll play that for you in "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer later on this evening.
SANCHEZ: Leftist.
You know, good stuff. You know, and you've got to respect a guy for sitting down and doing an interview, because there's a lot of tough questions that he needs to answer right now. And he's bold enough and courageous enough to sit down and answer them. And you've got to give the guy kudos for that.
LEMON: Right. And, hey, Rick?
SANCHEZ: Yes?
LEMON: I've got to tell you, you know, I said that to him. And I talked to his attorney, as well. And I said, you know, I'm not -- I don't do "got you" journalism. I'm not going to won't throw anything under the bus, but I have to ask him the tough questions...
SANCHEZ: Sure.
LEMON: Even though, you know, I knew him when he -- when I lived here in Chicago.
SANCHEZ: That's what...
LEMON: And he answered every single one of them.
SANCHEZ: That's what CNN pays us to do.
Don Lemon, my thanks to you. I appreciate that report.
LEMON: Right.
SANCHEZ: Unbelievable pictures of this FA-18 crash. Have you seen it?
Well, you saw the pictures the other day from afar. These were from right up next to the scene. Something who happened to have a camera raced to the scene. We'll show you the whole thing unedited, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
They have just released the 911 tape of the person who discovered what appears to possibly be Caylee Anthony's remains. We want you to hear it for yourself.
Let's go ahead. Roll it, Roger.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we've -- this is Orange County Utilities Emergency Dispatch. We found a human skull.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know. We've got a -- is it a meter reader?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to let you speak right now with a representative from our field services facilities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. And everything is recorded. Here he is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you doing?
A skull from the -- that we believe is human.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's the location, please?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's right off of Suburban and Chickasaw in the Caylee Anthony area...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right by the (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have a specific address for me or not?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. It's right by the school. If you take it...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Suburban and Golden (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, Suburban and Chickasaw.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chickasaw. I'm sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. And the school is right there. I can't think of the name of the school, but just go right straight down and it dead ends right into the woods. It will be on the east side of Chickasaw and Suburban.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: East side of Chickasaw.
And what is your party's name that we're going to meet with?
He's not touching this, I hope.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he's a...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a meter reader.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A meter reader?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. And I'll just tell him to stay at that location and just stay away from everything.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
And, if you can, try to stress to him to please not draw attention to the area.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that would be great, just in case it is something. It may be nothing, but just in case.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you're from what department?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Utilities customer service.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Utilities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And if you need any information, my phone number is...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go ahead and send a call up for a deputy to meet with him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we'll see you there very shortly.
What type of vehicle is he going to be in?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably a Colorado -- a small Colorado -- white...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: White?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will have Orange County -- it will have an Orange County insignia on it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. White Colorado...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A Chevy Tahoe...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And with Orange County markings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Orange County markings.
OK. We'll see you there very shortly, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.
Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bye-bye.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bye.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Once again, just to bring you up to date on the latest information that's been released on this, it's this -- that the remains found a half mile from the home have been -- and I'm using this word very carefully -- tentatively identified as belonging to the girl. That's according to the attorneys that are representing the girl's mother, who is right now in jail, being held on suspicion of killing her.
So that's where the story is. It's interesting -- as interesting as you might imagine.
Meanwhile, as sad as this is, there's something else that we need to let you know that we recognize and talk about every day here when we have our editorial meetings for our show around 8:30 in the morning. Go ahead and give me this shot over here.
This is Facebook, by the way. This is Matthew John, who's thinking about this. And he says: "You know what, Rick? The Caylee case is sad, indeed. But you know what, it's just a news story fueled by the media. What about the countless children all over the world that are killed everyday? Just because they happen to be poor and live in Ethiopia, the world does not care."
Sad, indeed.
Interesting -- interesting thought process there, isn't it?
And trust me, we talk about this daily in our editorial meetings.
Colin Powell comes out critical of Sarah Palin, saying she's hurting the Republican Party -- Colin Powell. Not the guy you usually hear say something like this. We've got it for you. You're going to hear it yourself, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dr. Yvonne Sanders Butler is principal here at Browns Hill Elementary School in Lithonia, Georgia -- a place where preventing obesity is as important as reading, writing and arithmetic.
YVONNE SANDERS BUTLER, PRINCIPAL BROWNS HILL ELEMENTARY: Our children get 60 minutes of physical activity each and every day. We start the school day dancing.
GUPTA: Ten years ago, before it was the popular thing to do, she even got rid of soda machines and banned birthday cupcakes.
SANDERS: One of the first things that I heard from some of my peers, that if you go and you change the menu, that you're probably going to lose your job. And I'm saying that if we don't do something, that we're talking about children that are probably going to lose their life.
GUPTA: Ten years later, she's still employed and the school wide program has shown results.
SANDERS: The amount of discipline that we were seeing referred by teachers, it went down by 23 percent. And the first year that we did standardized test scores, they went up 15 percent.
GUPTA: And her local solution is getting some international attention. Dr. Butler's program was honored at a global diabetes summit in Belgium just last month.
DR. KEN MORITSUGU, JOHNSON & JOHNSON DIABETES INSTITUTE: Here is a great example of how a person in the local community saw the issue, saw the problem and said I'm going to help be part of the solution. GUPTA: Dr. Butler says she wouldn't have it any other way.
SANDERS: Childhood obesity is our tsunami. It's our Katrina. It's Wall Street today. And so if we are really thinking about the interests of the young people that we deal with each and every day, then we will take a stand.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You recall the story we told you earlier this week. It was breaking news of an FA-18 that crashed into a house in San Diego. It actually destroyed some three houses.
Well, you're about to see it as it happened. Someone got to the scene with a video camera. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A guy parachuted out. He's sitting in a tree somewhere over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) 21.
What you got? Is this an emergency?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a plane crash down. A military plane went down and the parachutes were deployed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And right behind us, it's the canyon and it's the house. Right now I see helicopters and Army airplanes going around the house. And it's all black smoke and the house is on fire and other houses (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire and Medical 221. (INAUDIBLE)
What's your emergency?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I just saw a military plane go down and two parachutes deploy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) on fire?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's definitely black smoke.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. We're on our way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
Bye-bye.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) of a man parachute out of the plane. So the driver of the plane I saw parachute and he was (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've been hearing explosions, lots of black smoke. You've finally got a helicopter overhead. I assume you've been told.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Take a fire extinguisher with you. (INAUDIBLE).
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Take a fire extinguisher with you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. (INAUDIBLE).
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, there's two houses. There's another one, too that...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, there's three. It was a whole airplane -- a whole freaking airplane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a plane down -- a plane crashed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw something (INAUDIBLE). Then I saw something fall out of the sky. I just wasn't sure that that's what I was really seeing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I saw the plane come in low. I think I saw the pilot eject. I heard some funny noises. And then I heard it hit and explode. And that's all -- and a big fireball.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How you are doing, man?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good. How are you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm nervous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I saw that. I was in my room and I saw the wing.
You know how close this could have happened to us?
(voice-over): Exactly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank God the wind is blowing the other way. And they've got to get some -- they've got to get the fire engines in now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now! UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) those guys need to get in here before this spreads.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, boys, come over here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: It's amazing. And to hear people reacting and seeing it just as it happened and getting so close to the fire, no less, with all that jet fuel around. Wow! what a camera can do in a moment of breaking news.
Let's go to Wolf Blitzer now. He's standing by to bring us the latest on "THE SITUATION ROOM" today.
What you got -- Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: What a tragic story, too, Rick.
Thanks very much.
The White House now stepping in to keep the Big Three automakers from going under. The next step -- where the money will come from and what really happens if the car companies don't survive -- why it's important to all of you. We'll have details.
And the Illinois attorney general taking steps to remove the governor from office, even as new information is coming in about his alleged plot to sell Barack Obama's open Senate seat.
And a CNN exclusive -- dangers for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, but not from battle. The toxic trash -- the toxic trash pit that one widow says was responsible for her husband's death. We'll have that gripping story and what the U.S. military, Rick, is saying about it.
All that coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
SANCHEZ: All right, Wolf Blitzer. Thanks so much.
All right, take a look at this video that we have for you right here. This is one of those things that happens once in awhile. Whoa! That wasn't the only one, by the way. You'll see that in what we missed this week.
Plus, I will sing to you. Yes, I will. Michael, tell them. It's true. I will sing, right? Yes. It will happen right here.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (voice-over): If it didn't start with Blagojevich, we probably didn't have time for it. So much happens in the world when we're focused on more pressing issues, we could really do two, three, 10 newscasts at the same time.
This happened this week and you did not see it here.
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded this week to -- please don't make me pronounce this. He used to be president of Finland and worked hard to end conflicts in Northern Ireland, Indonesia and Kosovo.
The Hajj -- it ended this week in Saudi Arabia. Three million observant Muslims made that trek to Mecca this year. No incidents, nobody reported hurt. Only three million journeys of faith.
In the United States, winter crashed into the West and Western drivers crashed into each other. In Santa Fe, 22 cars wiped out on icy highways. One smashed this cameraman's news truck. Hey, let's be careful out there.
Brian Nichols still waiting a sentence for killing a judge in his courtroom and three other people in Atlanta. A life or death sentence was expected this week. The jury couldn't make it unanimous, so they'll keep deliberating.
(VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: More than 100 red light runners in Orlando got tickets this week from police dressed as Santa's elves and the Grinch.
Sense of justice?
Yes.
Sense of humor?
Sure. Merry Christmas and drive carefully.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: DJ Solid Dread (ph) just sent me a tweet. He says: "Give me your track. I'll make sure it gets played out in some of the clubs out there."
Oh, boy.
Susan is standing by to bring us the end of the -- did you hear my singing, by the way?
Oh, it's Stephanie Elam. Sorry, Steph.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I was going to say, I dyed my hair. I'm no longer a redhead today, among other things.
SANCHEZ: Did you hear my sultry tones, though?
Wasn't that good?
ELAM: That was pretty good, if you do say so yourself, yes.
SANCHEZ (SINGING): You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
ELAM: Oh, the Grinch is good.
SANCHEZ: All right.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
SANCHEZ: All right, thanks so much.
I just got this e-mail, by the way, from Ashley Banfield, suggesting they may be closer on the Caylee Anthony case.
Let's go now to Wolf Blitzer and "THE SITUATION ROOM."
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Rick.
