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Woman Who Confronted Fort Hood Shooter Recovering in Hospital; House of Representatives Meeting for a Rare Saturday Vote on Health Care Reform; Navy Ship Made Partially of Steel from World Trade Center Ruins to be Commissioned

Aired November 07, 2009 - 10:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everybody. From the CNN Center, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. It is Saturday, November 7th. Good morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes. It is 10:00 a.m. in Atlanta where we sit, 7:00 a.m. out in Seattle, 9:00 a.m. in Ft. Hood.

We have a lot coming up from Fort Hood this hour, including a lot about the woman they're calling a hero in that Fort Hood shooting. Her name is Officer Kimberly Munley. She confronted the alleged gunman and shot him four times, Nidal Malik Hasan.

Coming up we'll talk to one of her friends who actually just visited her in the hospital. We'll hear how she's doing.

NGUYEN: Plus, not everyone is denouncing the Fort Hood shooting.

HOLMES: Yes.

NGUYEN: Really? We're going to show you what some people are actually saying about it.

HOLMES: Some folks right here in New York City are saying about it -- kind of shocking stuff.

Also the president headed to Capitol Hill today to meet with Congress face to face. That is not video. That is live, a special Saturday session, Democrats trying to hammer out the health care bill. It is really heating up, an extraordinary day in Washington today.

NGUYEN: And this is something that you just absolutely have to see -- a Navy ship built from the rubble of 9/11. We are going to be showing you that live, also going to show you the commencing ceremony that would begin at 11:00 eastern today.

HOLMES: Just about an hour from now.

NGUYEN: Looking forward to that.

All right, let's start with the top story, that being the shooting tragedy at Fort Hood. Here is what we know -- investigators say Major Nidal Hasan fired more than 100 rounds from two handguns on Thursday. Two dozen of the 38 people wounded do remain hospitalized at this hour, and 13 people were killed in that shooting. Hasan, who was shot four times by a police officer, has been taken to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio. He is in critical but stable condition and is under heavy guard.

The flag-draped remains of the 12 soldiers and one civilian kill on Thursday were flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware last night. Autopsies will be done there.

Well, Fort Hood police officer Kimberly Munley, you're going to be hearing a lot about her because she is being hailed a hero for responding quickly and helping stop the shooter. Our Sean Callebs joins me now with the latest on Officer Munley. How is she doing?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, she's in stable condition, Betty. That's the latest information that we've had. She was shot in both thighs and she was also shot in the right wrist while she was returning fire.

So, while holding her nine millimeter, aiming it at the suspect, she was actually shot at the wrist but didn't drop her weapon. So I think that speaks a lot about what kind of law enforcement officer she is and the kind of dedication she has to her force.

And we're joined by somebody who knows her very well, Sergeant Major Marticia Williams. To you, she's Kim, she's not Kimberly. You talked to her about 20 minutes ago. How is she doing? What is she telling you? Is she in pain? Is she coming to grips with what unfolded?

SGT. MAJ. MARTICIA WILLIAMS, PROVOST SGT. MAJOR FOR FORT HOOD: Well, she's doing really well. She's in good spirits. She's being who she always is.

CALLEBS: Now, when you arrived at the scene, because you were one of the first responders, you're an MP here. You're the top enlisted law enforcement officer at Fort Hood, which is really something. When you got here and you saw your friend on a stretcher and all that chaos, what went through your mind?

WILLIAMS: Well, I'm very familiar with Officer Munley, and I'm always used to seeing her with a smile on her face. And so when I saw her in that condition, it was very hard.

But I just maintained my focus on everything that's going on around her, and I was -- I was more than confident that she was being taken care of.

CALLEBS: What kind of spirits do you think she's in? Does she realize the attention that the country is focusing on her now?

WILLIAMS: I'm not sure she realizes that. And I'll tell you, she's humble. And I don't think she's really paying attention to that. She's still focused on others.

CALLEBS: Quickly, I want to point out, there were a lot of heroes as well. There were people who returned fire besides her.

WILLIAMS: Definitely, definitely. And there were other officers as well ready to do the same exact thing.

CALLEBS: Sergeant Major, thanks very much for joining us.

WILLIAMS: Thank you. Thank you, sir.

CALLEBS: Appreciate it.

Of course, we'll keep track of her. She's one of about two dozen people who were wounded during that shooting who remain in the hospital.

Some good news, Betty. We knew her husband, who is stationed at Fort Bragg as well as her parents are by her side now. She also has two children, a 14-year-old and I believe a four-year-old, and they've all been reunited as well. Certainly that will help the healing process quite a bit -- Betty.

NGUYEN: What a story, and we do wish her a speedy recovery. Sean, thank you so much for that.

We're also learning more about the victim and this massacre among them. Twenty-two-year-old specialist Jason Dean Hunt, of Tipton, Oklahoma, J.D., as a lot of people called him, his sister spoke to our Larry King.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Leila, you can expect somebody who goes in the army, goes to Iraq, OK, you're hardened for the worst. But you certainly never expected him to die at his base.

LEILA WILLINGHAM, SISTER OF JASON HUNT: I just want to say that, you know, because it didn't happen overseas or it didn't happen in a combat situation doesn't make him any less a hero, because my brother was the kind of person to jump in front of a bullet for somebody.

And I really feel like, you know, I don't know the details but I know my brother and I know he was very brave in this situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Just heart wrenching. Hunt served a tour of duty in Iraq and reenlisted during his time overseas.

HOLMES: Also 62-year-old Michael Grant Cahill. He was the lone civilian killed in this rampage. Cahill was a physician's assistant.

He actually suffered a heart attack about two weeks ago. A family member says he loved his job so much he returned to work after only taking a week off. His sister talked about how she learned of his death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARILYN ATTERBERY, SISTER OF MIKE CAHILL: I got the call that he was dead, but they didn't know any particulars. And then about 40 minutes later, my little sister, Becky, called from Oregon and said he had been shot and he is gone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Also President Obama devoted his Saturday radio and web address to the Fort Hood shootings. We're going to turn to CNN's Elaine Quijano, who's at the White House for us this morning. And Elaine, is it just kind of just a matter of time before we see the president down at Fort Hood?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a matter of time. It's really not a question, T.J., of if the president is going to be attending a memorial service in Texas. It's really just a question of when.

At last word, aides here at the White House hadn't yet received a definitive timeframe on when such a memorial service might take place. But as you know, as commander in chief, the president has already ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of those who died.

In his radio address this morning, the president extended condolences to the Fort Hood community. He praised the soldiers and civilians who came to the aid of the wounded.

And the president also pledged to stay on top of the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On Friday, I met with FBI Director Mueller, Defense Secretary Gates, and representatives of the relevant agencies to discuss their investigation into what led to this terrible crime. And I'll continue to be in close contact with them as new information comes in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, again, on a possible memorial service, aides are saying that the president is going to tailor his schedule to whatever fits in, whatever works, basically, T.J., for the families of those victims.

That could mean, depending on when the families decide that they're ready to hold a memorial service, possibly delaying a planned trip that the president has, a planned trip to Asia. That was supposed to be a midweek departure for the president. Obviously, that could be pushed back.

But still no word yet on when such a memorial service might take place. But again, T.J., bottom line here, the aides are saying that the president is going to be attending. It's just a question of when -- T.J.

HOLMES: Elaine Quijano for us at the White House today. Thank you so much.

And you just heard Elaine there play a little bit from the president about the Fort Hood shootings. Well, a little later you will hear that weekly address, his entire address. You will see it at the half hour. We'll play the whole thing for you, his entire weekly address.

And the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, of course, changed the lives of everybody involved there. And tonight we have a CNN primetime special, "Searching for Answers." It will talk about post, the suspect, and also the wounded, a special investigation inside the Fort Hood shooting tonight.

NGUYEN: The Orlando shooting suspect was in court this morning for arraignment. As you recall, five people were injured, one was killed in that shootout.

And what we understand, during that arraignment a lot did take place. He does face first-degree murder charges. We're poring over that tape right now and we'll bring you the latest from that as soon as we get it.

But Jason Rodriguez is his name, and he is accused of opening fire at an engineering firm. And we're also told that Rodriguez was in fact let go from his job back in 2007.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Why did you do it? Why did you do it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They left me to rot.

QUESTION: They left you to rot? You're mad at your employers? Who left you to rot?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: There you're hearing from Rodriguez saying "They left me to rot." They, well, we're trying to figure that out, but police say Rodriguez does blame his firm for some of his money problems, and at this point, that could possibly be a motive behind the shooting.

HOLMES: A lot of people still looking for a motive for what happened at Fort Hood. And you've seen just an outpouring of emotion and sympathy for what those people went through there.

NGUYEN: Oh, yes.

HOLMES: But we have also been seeing something a little different in the U.S. Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The man's a Jew! Disavow and make hatred and enmity between democracy, between nationalism, between secularism, and that you see Obama as the enemy he really is. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: You heard him, folks. He says, "see Obama as the enemy he really is." Our investigative reporter Drew Griffin is going to be getting their point of view. They certainly have one that the majority don't agree with, but still he's listening to them, as well.

NGUYEN: Plus a showdown on Capitol Hill in the House this weekend. Yes, they are working on a Saturday, folks. Here's a live look at that. And the president, Congress, they're all tackling the health care bill, and we'll bring you the results.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: OK. A special Saturday session in the House underway right now, folks. And the members of congress, they are debating health care, yep, on a Saturday.

HOLMES: Working on a Saturday up there, folks. You, however, have already weighed in. We asked what you think Congress should do. The majority of you said legislation should pass -- 33 percent said major changes are still needed however, 15 percent said health care should be off the table, and 24 percent said start this whole thing over.

Also in the CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll, we asked your opinion on the public option -- 55 percent of you support the public option, 44 percent say no.

NGUYEN: And finally, we asked if the Republicans in Congress are doing enough to cooperate with President Obama. Here you go -- 67 percent said no, 31 percent said yes.

HOLMES: And let's take a look. This is not video, folks. This is not tape. This is the real deal. This is live. They are working on a Saturday, the House in the middle of a rare Saturday session. They're debating the Democratic health care reform plan.

House leaders hoping for a final vote this weekend. It was tentatively scheduled for today. It could be pushed back, but still they have a couple of amendments and other things to deal with.

CNN's Brianna Keilar joins us from Capitol Hill. And Brianna, you cover that day in and day out, but it's not used to looking like it looks on a Saturday, this is not the Saturday look normally of the Capitol.

So set the scene. What's happening up there?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And I imagine you can kind of hear the sound echoing in the rotunda behind me. This is very, very bizarre for a Saturday. I can't even tell you how bizarre this is.

But when something is attracting this much noise and activity on a Saturday, you know something very big is happening on Capitol Hill. And this vote on the House Democrats' health care reform bill is scheduled for today.

The Democratic leaders are obviously hopeful that they have the votes to push this through. At this point we're awaiting president Obama. He is going to be coming up here to the Hill here in about the next hour and a half.

I spoke with one aide who really described this as "bringing in the closer," that they're really trying to get as many Democrats on board as they can to have as strong of a vote as they can later today. And so that's how they described him, as the closer.

But this has been a long haul getting to this point, getting to this vote, T.J., and we are just waiting throughout this day. We're going to be seeing a lot of debate on the pros and the cons. We're going to be hearing from Democrats and Republicans as they go back and forth today.

So that is why we are anxiously awaiting this vote today, and that's what we are here on Capitol Hill to see all day, T.J.

HOLMES: Yes. And we talk about all the debate. It used to be a debate between Republicans and Democrats, but this is more so -- they say this comes along with the territory, of having a majority, and a good sized majority. You have so many Democrats it really is like herding cats sometimes to try to get everybody together.

And that's what they're up against, it's trying to get the Democrats to stay together to actually pass this legislation.

KEILAR: They are. And the big issue, the big stumbling block for Democratic leaders as of the last really several hours has been abortion. They kind of reached a late-night deal last night with some Democrats who are anti-abortion.

You may think of Democrats and think they're for abortion rights. There are dozens of Democrats who are anti-abortion in the House of Representatives, and they basically said, look, if any federal dollars are possibly going to go to pay for abortion in this health care reform plan, we are not going to vote for this.

And there are still some Democrats who aren't going to get on board because they feel like things haven't been taken far enough to make them happy.

So last night Democratic leaders came to an agreement with some of these other Democrats, and what we're going to be seeing today is actually a vote on a proposal that they have to really strengthen the language in this bill and make sure none of those federal bills go to pay for abortion.

This is a huge victory for anti-abortion Democrats and just for anti-abortion folks in general. And this is something that is going to make a lot of those liberals, T.J., just hopping mad.

So we're also waiting to see today if maybe on some of -- there's procedural votes ahead of the final vote, and those are really important just as well. We're waiting to see if some of the liberal Democrats don't jump ship on some of these procedural votes.

It is a bit like herding cats. I will tell you that.

HOLMES: And also we should note that not just the activity there makes it rare, is that the president is coming, as well. So you had to go through other things, a little extra security, more so than usual as well, so Brianna Keilar, you will probably have more company than you ever would want on a Saturday at the Capitol.

Thank you so much. We'll check in with you, again, Brianna. It's good to see you.

NGUYEN: All right, so it is a sight to see. You have to check it out -- a Navy ship built from the rubble of the 9/11 tragedy. We are headed live for the commissioning of the new "USS New York."

HOLMES: And temperatures up there in New York currently in the 30s, warming up into the 50s. That's not the only thing that will be heating up. We're talking about the tropics and tropical storm Ida. We'll give you the very latest coming up in just a few moments.

You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING. See you in a few.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Top stories for right now.

We are learning more about that deadly Fort Hood shooting. Some of those wounded by the gunmen were helping others more seriously wounded.

More than two dozen of the 38 wounded do remain in the hospital at this hour. They are all in stable condition. That's the good news. And a candlelight vigil was held on post last night for the shooting victims.

More H1N1 vaccines are on the way. Health officials say they're slowly starting to catch up from the manufacturing delays. We're told that 38 million doses of the vaccine are available and more will be ready next week. The H1N1 flu is now widespread in 48 states.

OK, so, if you are keeping track of the bank failures for the year, where are we? Number 120. Yep. That is four times more failures than last year, 120 banks have failed so far.

Five banks were shut down yesterday. The biggest to fail was United Commercial bank of San Francisco.

HOLMES: Well, help is finally arriving in the aftermath of hurricane Ida. Pictures here from Nicaragua. Ida came ashore as a hurricane before losing some strength. Medical supplies are arriving there now. Thousands of people were forced from their homes along Nicaragua's eastern coast.

The storm brought nearly two feet of rain in some areas. No deaths to report at this time. (WEATHER BREAK)

HOLMES: It was a heck of an idea, and it's now come true -- take the steel from the rubble of 9/11 and use it to build a Navy ship.

NGUYEN: We are going to take you live to the commissioning of the "USS New York."

But first, what are you doing for Thanksgiving? If you're planning to be one of the millions who fly home, which I plan to do so, I better listen up, and so should you.

HOLMES: You need to listen. Our Richelle Carey tells you how to find the best deals in this week's edition of "On the Go."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHELLE CAREY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's just around the corner, one of the busiest travel days.

GENEVIEVE SHAW BROWN, TRAVELOCITY.COM: This year's Thanksgiving travel outlook is going to be different than years past. You can expect the prices will be lower this year than last, which is great news for consumers.

CAREY: In order to get a cheaper flight, travel on an off day like Thanksgiving Day.

BROWN: You can sign up for things like fare alerts, which will automatically e-mail you when the price of a flight to your destination goes down.

Using tools like Alternate Airport Search can be very effective in finding a lower fare. It allows you to see airfares into several airports in the area you're visiting rather than just one.

CAREY: And know how much to spend.

BROWN: About $300 roundtrip for a domestic ticket. That's a price point to keep in mind when you're shopping. If you're seeing something in that price range, particularly on the peak travel days, you're doing pretty well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, the "USS New York's" commissioning ceremony set to start about a half hour from now. It's a big day.

NGUYEN: Yes. The bow of the warship was built with steel from the mangled twin towers, and it is a source of pride for New York and, in fact, people all across the nation.

But a New Jersey volunteer firefighter is getting a whole lot of credit for the idea, because it was his. Scott Koen is the man, and he joins us now live.

I have to call you out on this, because your wife has gone on record and said you can't even remember where you put your car keys, yet you'll come up with such an amazing idea like this. How in the world did you come up with it?

SCOTT KOEN, RUTHERFORD, N.J. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER: Well, I was working on a memorial called Freedom Plaza, a memorial proposal for the World Trade Center. And it was supposed to be a North American bald eagle, built on the same idea of the statue of liberty, steel core. And in this case it would be the aluminum exterior.

About 3:00 in the morning, I just woke up from a sleep and realized you could use some of the steel in a ship and call it the "USS New York." And I couldn't wait to come into work the next day. I told Bill White the idea, and he called the Navy operator up, he called Verne Clark, the chief of naval operations.

And the next thing you know they decided to go ahead and go with the idea and make the ship.

HOLMES: Now, how surprised were you, because that's something that you can wake up at 3:00 in the morning with an idea that big? But a lot of steps have to take place, you have to get a lot of OKs and people to sign off on it.

So how surprised were you with the process and that you have in fact you've come to this day?

KOEN: Well, it was a couple months later that I finally got an e-mail back saying yes, they did go through with the idea. And it was at that point I didn't really have all that much more working with it, but I was just really happy that they decided to move forward with it.

A lot of people spent a lot of time, thousands of hours from Northrop Grumman to the ship's crew itself, and I was just happy to play one small part in that whole effort. But my part was actually very minuscule compared to the parts played by many other patriotic Americans after that.

NGUYEN: Oh, and we are looking at video right now of that beautiful battleship. At least we were. And I want you to take us back to that very moment, Scott, when you first saw it, when you saw your idea in reality. Walk us through what you felt.

KOEN: As I was driving through Northrop Grumman's yard, we were going to go to the commissioning. And the hair was up on the back of my head and I was shaking. And just to actually see that ship and know how much it meant not only to me but to the nation. It's finally some of what we lost returned.

And it's very -- hopefully for the family members of everybody that lost and the rescue crews down there, it's a healing. It's finally some of what we lost returned. I hope they all feel the same way I do. HOLMES: Well, Scott Koen, it's a fitting tribute. It's amazing to see that we are to this day with this huge ship and everything that had to happen all came from you popping up at 3:00 in the morning in your bed. That's amazing to think, sir.

We know you have to run to the ceremony. but please enjoy yourself, enjoy this day, and thank you so much for taking some time out with us.

KOEN: Thank you so much for having me. I'll talk to you later.

NGUYEN: Congratulations. If you have any other ideas, Scott, give us a call at 3:00 a.m. We don't care. We'll pick up the phone.

Let's get a check now on the latest on unfortunately that Foot Hood shooting. The suspect, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, has been moved to the army's medical center in San Antonio. He was shot four times, but he is under heavy guard.

The 12 soldiers and one civilian killed in the shooting rampage, well, they have been flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. That happened last night. Autopsies will be done there.

Investigators say the chaos of the shooting in that none of the people shot were injured by so-called friendly fire, so that's good information, because shortly after the shooting there was word that friendly fire may have been involved, but we're being told that it was not.

OK, so there has been an outpouring of concern for the victims of the Foot Hood shootings. And in his weekly address this morning, President Obama talked about the shootings, pointing out how quickly soldiers rushed to help their comrades.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OBAMA: I'd like to speak a few minutes today about the tragedy that took place at Foot Hood.

This past Thursday, on a clear Texas afternoon, an army psychiatrist walked into the soldier readiness processing center and began shooting his fellow soldiers.

It's an act of violence that would have been heartbreaking had it occurred anyplace in America. It's a crime that would have horrified us had its victims been Americans of any background.

But it's all the more heartbreaking and all the more despicable because of the place where it occurred and the patriots who were its victims.

The SRP is where our men and women in uniform go before getting deployed. It's where they get their teeth checked and their medical records updated, and make sure everything is in order before getting shipped out. It was in this place on a base where our soldiers ought to feel most safe where those brave Americans who are preparing to risk their lives in defense of our nation lost their lives in a crime against our nation.

Soldiers stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world called and e-mailed loved ones at Foot Hood, all expressing the same stunned reaction -- "I'm supposed to be the one in harm's way, not you."

Thursday's shooting was one of the most devastating ever committed on an American military base. And yet even as we saw the worst of human nature on full display, we also saw the best of America. We saw soldiers and civilians alike rushing to the aid of fallen comrades, tearing off bullet-riddled clothes to treat the injured, using blouses as tourniquets, taking down the shooter even as they bore wounds themselves.

We saw soldiers bringing to bear on our own soil the skills they had been trained to use abroad, skills that have been honed through years of determined effort for one purpose and one purpose only -- to protect and defend the United States of America.

We saw the valor, selflessness, and unity of purpose that makes our servicemen and women the finest fighting force on earth, that make the United States military the best the world has ever known, and that make all of us proud to be Americans.

On Friday, I met with FBI Director Mueller, Defense Secretary Gates, and representatives of the relevant agencies to discuss their ongoing investigation into what led to this terrible crime, and I'll continue to be in close contact with them as new information comes in.

We can't fully know what leads a man to do such a thing, but what we do know is that our thoughts are with every single one of the men and women injured at Foot Hood. Our thoughts are with all the families who lost a loved one in this national tragedy.

And our thoughts are with all Americans who wear or have worn the proud uniform of the United States of America, our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen, and the military families who love and support them.

In tribute to those who fell at Foot Hood, I've ordered flags flying over the White House and other federal buildings to be lowered to half-staff from now until Veterans Day next Wednesday.

Veterans Day is our chance to honor those American who is served on the battlefields from Lexington to Antietam, Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Khe San, Ramadi to Kandahar. They are Americans of every race, faith, and station. They're Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers. They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves.

They reflect the diversity that makes this America. What they share is a patriotism like no other. What they share is a commitment to country that has been tested and proved worthy.

What they share is the same unflinching courage, unblinking compassion, and uncommon camaraderie that soldiers and civilians of Foot Hood showed America and showed the world.

These are the men and women we honor today. These are the men and women we honor on Veterans Day. And these are the men and women we shall honor every day in times of war, in times of peace so, long as our nation endures.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, the shootings at Foot Hood, Texas, have changed the lives of dozens of families. Tonight a CNN primetime special continues for "The Search for Answers," the post, suspect, the wounded, all in a special CNN investigation inside the Fort Hood shootings. That is tonight, 8:00 eastern.

HOLMES: And the shootings at Foot Hood raising a lot of questions these days, raising a lot about possible enemies right here in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Koran commands that you disavow and make hatred and enmity between democracy, between nationalism, between secularism, and that you see Obama as the enemy he really is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: "Obama as the enemy he really is." This is not video and sound of people somewhere in some foreign land. These folks are right here in the U.S.

Our CNN investigative reporter Drew Griffin finds a fringe group on the streets of New York.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Checking top stories for you right now.

The suspect in the Orlando office shooting just appeared in court for the first time. Jason Rodriguez opened fire at the engineering company where he used to work on Friday. One person was killed, five others were wounded.

Here's what the judge had to say just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The court has had an opportunity to review the affidavits submitted in this court file and finds that there is probable cause and reasonable belief there's a basis for your arrest and for this particular case.

You are no-bond status, being arrested under first-degree murder statute, and you'll be detained under that statute, that provision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Here's we'll switch to another shooting we saw on Thursday, the one at Foot Hood. We want to take a look now and show you the names and faces of some of the people who died that day.

Private First Class Michael Pearson from Bolingbrook, Illinois, 21 years old. He enlisted in the military just a year ago, and he did so because he wanted to find a way to pay for college.

Also Private First Class Aaron Thomas Nemelka from West Jordan, Utah, 19 years old, the youngest of four children. He was set to deploy to Afghanistan in January.

Also Specialist Jason Dean Hunt from Tipton, Oklahoma, 22 years old. He was recently married and he was about to head out on his second deployment to Iraq.

Also Amy Krueger, Sergeant Amy Krueger from Kehoe, Wisconsin, high school athlete, and joined the military after the September 11th attacks.

And then there's Francesca Velez from Chicago, 21 years old, and she was three months pregnant.

Also Michael Grant Cahill, 62-year-old. He was the civilian, the lone civilian killed. He was assisting with physicals for soldiers who were getting ready for deployment. He actually had just had a heart attack just two weeks ago. Only took a week off to recover from that heart attack, and he was right back at work.

Also Private First Class Kham Xiong, who was 23 years old, was getting ready for his first deployment.

NGUYEN: We are hearing from relatives of Nidal Hasan, the suspect in the Fort Hood shootings.

HOLMES: Yes, a cousin in the West Bank trying to make sense of the massacre, and our Paula Hancock asked him about it in Ramallah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMAD MUNIF ABDULLAH HASAN, COUSIN OF SUSPECTED SHOOTER (via translator): From what I know, most of the American public thinks of the Arabs and Palestinians in particular are terrorists or that they allow killing in their religion.

On the continue tear, killing to us is immoral according to our religion. And Nidal was peaceful and lovable. Even his own neighbors were surprised by the incident. I think what happened is a personal issue and not related to politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Well, reaching out to radicals -- on the streets of New York there is a rift in the Muslim community. Those who preach nonviolence are up against others who preach death.

CNN special investigative correspondent Drew Griffin has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: For 20 years the Muslim faithful have been drawn to this gleaming mosque in the heart of New York. It is time for afternoon prayers. American Muslims and Muslims from overseas, as many as 4,000 visit here every day. They come to praise Allah, give thanks, and pray for peace.

The Imam Shamsi Ali preaches against terror here, against the violence that right now sweeps many Muslim countries. But just outside the gates to his mosque, radical Muslims are preaching a very different view.

GRIFFIN (on camera): How big a threat are these people who come here, maybe here today, and try to reach your congregation?

IMAM SHAMSI ALI, 96TH STREET MOSQUE: Islam is about peace, Islam is about moderation, Islam is about friendship. Islam is opposed to any kind of hatred against anybody.

GRIFFIN: These are the brothers of revolution Muslim.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We tell you Muslims to rise up.

GRIFFIN: They are recruiting just outside New York's 96th Street mosque.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Koran commands that you disavow and make hatred and enmity between democracy, between nationalism, between secularism, and that you see Obama as the enemy he really is, that you see the United States as the enemy it really is.

GRIFFIN: Josef al-Kata, a Jew who lived in Israel and abruptly converted to Islam, and Younes Abdullah Mohammed, also a convert, both born and raised in the United States, a country whose way of life they say they hate.

And if you are not a Muslim they count you as a disbeliever. Their mission -- to terrorize you.

YOUNES ABDULLAH MOHAMMED: We're commanded to terrorize the disbelievers, and this is a religion, like I said.

GRIFFIN: You're commanded to terrorize the disbelievers?

MOHAMMED: The Koran says very clearly in the Arabic language, terrorize them. It's a command from Allah.

GRIFFIN: So you're commanded to terrorize anybody...

MOHAMMED: It doesn't mean -- you define terrorism as going and killing an innocent civilian.

GRIFFIN: How do you...

MOHAMMED: I define terrorism as making them fearful so they think twice before they go rape your mother or kill your brother or go onto your land and try to steal your resources.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): It is that jihadist version of Islam which allows them to conclude the killing of American soldiers overseas is justified, that the attack of 9/11 was also justified, and that an attack on almost any American is justified.

MOHAMMED: Americans will always be a target until America changes its nature in the international arena.

GRIFFIN: In separate and disturbing interviews, both looked to one man as the true living model of Islam -- Osama bin Laden.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love Osama bin Laden. I love him. I love him, oh, like -- I can't begin to tell you, because I haven't seen that he's really done anything wrong from the Sharia. I love him more than I love myself.

GRIFFIN: What they want is U.S. forces to be defeated, for a Muslim holy land, stretching from China to Rome. And, yes, they yearn for the day Israel will vanish.

GRIFFIN (on camera): So you would like Israel to be bombed, Jews to ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think that's -- do you think that's a rational ...

GRIFFIN: I'm asking you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to see Israel wiped off the map. I would like to see a mushroom cloud over it.

But before that, I'd like to see the people guided and I'd like them to go back to their original countries where is they're from.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): They may seem crazy to you, but you are not their target audience. The FBI has assigned agents to watch them, to monitor their Web site, and perhaps more importantly, watch those who are viewing and listening.

Like Neil Bryant Venus, a young New Yorker who has pled guilty in a plot to blow up the Long Island railroad. He met with and admired Kata.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just know he was a good Muslim brother and that was it.

GRIFFIN: Kata claims friendship with Tariq Mehanna and Daniel Maldonado. Maldonado was arrested and pled guilty in Texas to receiving military training with Somali terrorists. Tariq Mehanna was just indicted in Boston, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. The Revolution Muslim Partners says they do not fight themselves and do not incite others to fight. But make no mistake, they want you to become a Muslim. They want Americans to die.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would not do it myself. That's what I say. Is Obama a murder, a tyrant, a scumbag? Absolutely he is. If they killed him, would I shed a tear? Absolutely I would not. Would I incite his murder? That's not what we -- we don't preach that.

GRIFFIN: The mosques have tried to prevent that kind of hatred from being preached by calling police. But there is police or even the FBI can do to stop these radicalizers. They are protected by legal rights given in the country they detest.

Drew Griffin, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: That is quite a story there.

HOLMES: That's the beautiful thing about this country, that we have laws set up, freedom of speech. You can set up and spew about the country you say you hate, but it's giving you a right to stand there and do it. It's a beautiful thing about this country.

NGUYEN: And ironic.

HOLMES: It is.

So let's move on to this call for the overhaul of the nation's education system. That's coming from, who else, the president of the United States.

NGUYEN: Yes. In that call at least one educator says it is about time. Who is that educator? That guy right there who doesn't know he's on TV but now he does. Hello, Steve Perry. We're calling you out, and I know you have plenty to say.

HOLMES: Get yourself together.

STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: I was looking at T.J.'s hair is the problem.

NGUYEN: It's growing out. We've been talking about it all morning long.

HOLMES: We'll discuss that later.

PERRY: T.J., let it go, brother. I don't know what it is but let it go.

HOLMES: Can't wait to talk to you after the break. Hang tight, we'll talk to Steve right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: All right. We've been talking a lot about education. That's always a big something to talk about. And the president of the United States, President Obama, he's tackling it right now as well. He's got some new ideas he was talking about this week.

Let's bring in our CNN education contributor, Steve Perry. My man joins us. Good to see you. Where is he? Not going to be on the screen here. I'll talk to him right here then. Hello. I have a couple the technical issues I'm working out.

PERRY: What's up?

HOLMES: Good morning to you. It's interesting to hear you say, because you're critical of a lot of stuff out there in education, but to hear you say that the president knocked this one out of the park, why do you say that.

PERRY: Because he made the point that we need to raise standards. But one of the parts that is most important about what he said is he said teach teachers' performance needs to be tied to children's result, and that's really important. That's a fundamental shift in anything we've seen so far.

It's not so different from what George Bush was saying. He just seems to have a better chance of getting it across.

PERRY: Why does he have a better chance? It sounds like what we've heard before. So what's different?

PERRY: Because his people are the teachers' unions. He and the teachers' union seem to have a pretty good relationship. So maybe they'll listen to him because they wouldn't listen to anybody else.

HOLMES: There's always some kind of pushback oftentimes when you're trying to raise the accountability of teachers oftentimes. So how is this going to work this time around if you're directly correlating this to teacher performance?

PERRY: What I'm hoping that it does is that it trickles down into the negotiation between school districts and the teachers' unions, so, the teachers' unions will make a fine commitment to ensure that the best teachers are in the classroom, because they need to understand that they are judged by the least among them.

HOLMES: This Race to the Top is the name of this program he was talking about this week. This is going to put -- I mean, will school districts be battling it out with each other because they want these federal dollars? We're talking about $4 billion plus is going to be handed out in grants, but the schools got to show something.

PERRY: Right. And what's really impressive about this is that it changes -- it's a paradigm shift. It's not just about politics, at least on paper as usual whereby a state gets the money because of the number of poor or disadvantaged or African-American, whatever. They have to prove that they have a better plan than the other folks.

That's a very interesting concept, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that looks out.

HOLMES: Well, it's interesting to hear you say, and we're going to let you go, but it's interesting to hear you say it's not much different from what we saw with President Bush the previous eight years. It's just that this president has more good will.

PERRY: No, it's not. It's not.

I believe so, because Rod Paige and George Bush had a lot of good ideas as it came down to No Child Left Behind. A lot of educators talked about how they don't like No Child Left Behind, but No Child Left Behind essentially says this -- if you don't educate children, all children at the same level, we're taking away your opportunity to continue to do so.

HOLMES: Interesting to hear, and interesting to see what happens this time around. Just a different president, maybe different results, and maybe that's all that was needed, some would say including our Steve Perry. Good to see you as always. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

PERRY: Take it easy, and cut your hair.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: All right. He had to get that in.

NGUYEN: T.J., you say you're going to let it grow out for months on end, right? We'll see about that.

In the meantime, some news for you. A floating memorial born from the destruction of 9/11. Take a look. The Navy officially welcomes a new member to the team with the commissioning of the new "USS New York." We're going to show it to you live next hour.

Then at noon eastern, a news conference about those injured in the Foot Hood attack. We'll bring you that live from Temple, Texas, so don't go anywhere.

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