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Americans Arrested in Pakistan, Senate Leaders Waiting for Price Tag, Tiger Woods Announces Break; CNN/YouTube Debate; Intense Exercise Cuts Stroke Risks; Woods Legal Obstacles; Tiger's Rise and Fall
Aired December 12, 2009 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We got a lot on tap today.
Starting with new information now on the five Americans arrested in Pakistan. Police there are telling the "Associated Press" that the men say that they were on a mission to the martyrs and they had contacted with the Taliban. Local law enforcement are questioning the men, today. But, back home in Virginia, people from their mosque are not quite ready to believe the worst.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over):: At a small ranch- style house just yards away from a strip of suburban sprawl outside Washington, worshippers arrive for Friday prayers. This house, converted to a mosque. The place where five young man, arrested in Pakistan, prayed bonded and according to leaders here, who know them, acted like a lot of guys their age.
MUSTAFA ABU MARYAM, ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF N AMERICA: They were wholesome kids, very goofy, you know, talked about, you know, girls, you know?
TODD (on camera): Maryam says, in his dealings with them, he found them more interested in basketball, swimming, helping out at mosque functions, never in conflict or politics. He says he never suspected they would harm anyone.
(voice-over): But, in an interrogation report, Pakistani officials say the five "were of the opinion that a jihad must be waged" against so-called infidels who commit atrocity against Muslims, that they planned to go to Afghanistan and that one of them, Ahmed Abdullah Minni, went online to praise attacks against Americans.
None has been charged, but they remain detained in Pakistan. It was from this community that Minni and the four went missing late last month. We pressed mosque leaders on whether they may have been radicalized at this place.
ASHRAF NUBANI, ATTY FOR ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF N AMERICA: I think that the community, this mosque especially, has been very vigilant in taking it upon themselves to look into this and find out where the radicalization was coming from, if indeed there was radicalization in this situation. But, certainly, it doesn't come from the mosque.
TODD: Mosque attorney Ashraf Nubani says U.S. law enforcement backs him up on that. Radical is not a word local Muslim leader Mahdi Bray would use to describe one of the men, Ramy Zamzam, who Bray said he saw at several functions.
MAHDI BRAY, MUSLIM AMERICAN SOCIETY: I thought he was very articulate. I also thought that he had leadership potentials and things of that nature.
TODD: The man who mentored Zamzam and his friends says he still is in shock.
MARYAM: I have always known these kids as fun-loving, career- focused children that had a bright future for themselves. You know, I hope all of this is not true. I hope it's not what it seems to be.
TODD: Masque leaders said that the families of these young men were not yet ready to speak publicly. They say that while the law enforcement investigation proceeds, they will conduct their own internal probe to make sure that this mosque is not connected to any kind of extremism.
Brian Todd, CNN, Alexandria, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And then to a government offensive in one part of Pakistan. The Pakistani army says they wrapped up their nearly three- month offensive against Taliban fighters in South Waziristan, but it's believed many militants fled to other areas along the border with Afghanistan. Pakistan's government is now considering other options. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked about Pakistan's mission and the need to keep up the pressure on terror groups in the border region.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), US SECRETARY OF STATE: The Pakistani military has taken on the fight against the Pakistani Taliban and the United States has increased our efforts to help. But there are other terrorist groups who have set up camp in Pakistan where they are plotting global attacks and waging war against the troops from 42 nations who comprise the international security assistance forces in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has a critical role and an abiding interest in helping this international effort. And we will continue to encourage the Pakistani government to take affirmative steps toward the goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating al Qaeda and the other terrorist groups responsible for so much suffering in Pakistan and around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: A part of President Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan includes working with Pakistan on anti-terror efforts.
All right, President Obama is urging Republicans to support his latest jobs strategy. The president wants to use leftover money from the bank bailout kitty to spur job growth. Republicans are demanding the crash actually go toward the deficit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA (D), UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: The difficult steps we've taken since January have helped to break our fall and begin to get us back on our feet. The economy is growing again, the flood of job losses we saw at the beginning of this year, slowed to a relatively trickle last month. These are all good signs for the future, but they're little comfort to all our neighbor who remain out of a job. And my solemn commitment to work every day, in every way that I can, to push this recovery forward and build a new foundation for our lasting growth and prosperity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And at a White House meeting with congressional leaders this week, one Republican aide says the president bluntly accused Republican lawmakers of "rooting against a recovery."
All right, the Senate is taking a time-out on health care today, working instead on a key spending bill. As you look at live pictures, right now. What's the next step for reform? CNN deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser is in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Fred, the battle over health care reform take as backseat on Capitol Hill, this weekend, but the action is far from over.
(voice-over): Senate leaders are waiting for the price tag on a new agreement and that agreement would drop the public option. Republicans and even some Democrats are opposed to a government-run health care plan that would compete with private insurance. So instead, 10 Senate Democrats, this past week, came up with a different plan, which would allow private insurance companies to offer nonprofit coverage run by the government. And they called for expanding Medicare by allowing people as young as 55 to buy into the government- run system.
(on camera): Once the non-partisan congressional budget office prices the plan, the Senate could vote as early as next week on a final health care bill. Here's the problem, though. Let's say that bill passes, it would have to be merged way House bill that's already passed. And that House bill has a public option. But, as our senior congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, points out, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now seems to be opening the door to a final bill that doesn't have a public option.
Will all of this get done by the end of the year? It's possible, but doubtful. What's much more likely is that any final health care reform bill that comes out of Congress would reach the president's desk early next year. So what do Americans think about that Senate bill? Eighty-five percent of people we questioned in a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey say they think their taxes would go up if the bill became law, and nearly eight in 10 say the bill would increase the budget deficit. That's a problem for Democrats and those are some of the arguments Republicans are using to try to defeat the bill.
Our survey also indicates Americans are split on which party is more trustworthy when it comes to health care reform. Our poll was taken the news of the deal to drop the public option -- Fred.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Paul. Appreciate that.
Well, activists swarmed the streets of Copenhagen today demanding world leaders act now to slow climate change.
Well, the demonstration outside the U.N. Climate Conference took on a carnival-like atmosphere, as you see right there. Police do estimate that 25,000 people actually took part. Activists are upset, a draft agreements circulating now doesn't set firm numbers on cutting green house gases or how to pay for it.
More than 100 world leaders will be in Copenhagen next week for the final round of negotiations.
All right, back here at home, an unexpected bogey from Tiger Woods. The pro-golf sensation says he's taking a break from the game days after his highly publicized personal indiscretions came to light. And this morning, we just learned that Gillette says it will limit his role in marketing its products, at least for now. Woods first called them "transgressions," talking about his behavior, but now is admitting his infidelity in his latest statement, that was actually posted online and he is asking for forgiveness from his fans, plus some privacy. Well, CNN's Randi Kaye breaks down the trouble facing the billion dollar golfer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It wasn't exactly sudden death, but Tiger Woods seems to have lost this round.
His troubles began the day after Thanksgiving with a mysterious one-car crash at 2:30 in the morning. Just feet from his own driveway, he hit a tree and a fire hydrant. His wife used a golf club to free him from his badly mangled SUV. A neighbor called 911.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: OK. Are you able to tell if he's breathing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I can't tell right now.
911 OPERATOR: OK. All right. We do have help on the way. What color is his car, too?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a black Escalade.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
KAYE: Tiger seemed to hope silence would make the story go away. It didn't work.
Days later, he released a statement, apologizing for "transgressions" in very carefully worded comments on his Web site that never mentioned the word affair. That statement was released the same day this cover story in "Us Weekly" magazine hit newsstands.
In it, Las Vegas cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs alleged a nearly three-year affair with the golfer. She told the magazine they met in a nightclub when Woods tapped her on the shoulder and that he recently left her a voicemail warning her that his wife may be calling.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, GOLFER: Hey, it's Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
KAYE: It didn't end there. More women came forward, cocktail waitresses, a lingerie model, even former porn stars, all alleging to have had a relationship with Tiger Woods.
But the golfer stayed silent until tonight, when he admitted his "infidelities" in a statement.
(on camera): Earlier this year, Woods hit the billion-dollar mark, earning an unprecedented amount of money in his career, including endorsements, appearances and business relationships with companies like Nike, which pays him an estimated $20 million a year to add his name to their line of golf gear.
"Sports Illustrated" reported, Woods earned $105 million from sponsorship deals in 2008.
(voice-over): Through it all, Woods' major sponsors have stood by him. Nike released a statement saying: "Nike supports Tiger and his family. Our relationship remains unchanged."
Gatorade offered its support in a statement, too: "Tiger and his family have our support as they work through this private matter."
But commercials featuring Tiger Woods disappeared from prime-time TV. The last one that aired was a Gillette ad on November 29. On late-night TV, his personal pain became a parody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE")
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Earlier today, I had an unfortunate incident with my golf clubs.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I was putting them away in the closet, and one of them dropped on top of me.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: It may all have become too much.
What else would drive the world's greatest golfer away from the game and the glory he's enjoyed for so many years?
Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: So, analysts expect that the ripple effect from Tiger Woods exit from the links will be quick and they suggest that Tiger's time-out will likely mean a tune out for the sports television audience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you imagine the game without him?
DAVID DUSEK, GOLF.COM: You know, it's unbelievable. So much of what people think about professional golf is all around Tiger Woods. People tune in to Tiger Woods, you know, when he's playing. If he's not playing in a tournament, the ratings on television go down dramatically. You know, so for him 20 take an extended hiatus, whatever that's going to mean, will be tremendously damaging both to the television value of the sport to the general buzz that he creates wherever he goes.
I mean, if you think that, you know, the least watched U.S. Open in the history, since they started marketing these things, was in 2006, which was actually in a great television market, here in New York City, at Wing Foot. Tiger Woods missed the cut. You know, two years ago when Anthony Kim wins the AT&T National Congressional, an up and coming star player here in the United States, draws a three share over Fourth of July weekend on television. This year Tiger Woods wins it, triple the ratings, goes to an 11 share. That's the power of him as brand and what he brings. And he if out for an extended period of time, then it's going to have a tremendous effect across, certainly, golf and the sport in general.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So, this is the statement from Tiger Woods, the latest statement that kind of precipitated that kind of conversation. He said, "I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask for forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.
That latest statement now, coming from Tiger Woods. So, the PGA has also responded as a result of what's being said by Tiger, in a written way, saying that, the PGA will continue to back him, "We fully support Tiger's decision to step away from competitive golf to focus on his family. His priorities are where they need to be and we will continue to respect and honor his family's request for privacy. We look forward to Tiger's return to the PGA tour when he determines the time is right for him." That statement coming from the PGA.
So, the blizzard, we're talking now, not the blizzard of conversation about Tiger Woods, but literally weather terms, the blizzard may be over, but the forecast for snow, it remains. We'll tell you where they are keeping the shovels handy.
And Casey Anthony back in court. Our legal eagles will discuss the validity of her latest bid.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, 'tis the season. Look at those flurries, but, yeah, that's kind of a headache, as well, and very dangerous. That's upstate New York right now. And it's the last thing that you actually want to see around Buffalo, no less. Here's why, more than 100 motorists had been rescued from their vehicles after the incredible snowfall and that was Thursday. The drifts forced the closing of the New York throughway from Buffalo all the way to Pennsylvania to the state line, there. Wow, that's pretty incredible.
Reynolds Wolf, we usually see snow like this in Buffalo, however. The people there, they're very tough, they're rugged, they get used to that stuff, but when you see a pileup like that, nobody welcomes that kind of snow.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, I know, I mean, it's the sheer shocker of seeing all that snowfall, it's such a quick rave (ph) and pileup. And it brings the freeways to a standstill, especially in parts of 390.
(WEATHER REPORT)
Back to you.
WHITFIELD: Reynolds, you're sounding under the weather, like you've been in deep snow or something like that.
WOLF: Absolutely. Yeah, sure sounds like that.
WHITFIELD: That's all you're going to say.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: OK, but you are roughing it, too, just like the folks in buffalo do. All right, try and take care of yourself. Get some hot tea or something. All right Reynolds, appreciate it. All right, another look at the top stories, right now. It's the time out heard around the world. Golfer, Tiger Woods, announcing that he's taking an indefinite break from the game so he can focus attention on his family. Woods has been embroiled in a controversy since a series of extramarital relationships have come to light in a very big way. One of his sponsors, Gillette, announcing plans to phase him out of ads while he takes time off. That's according to the "Associated Press," today.
All right, President Obama in his weekly radio and Internet address to praise the House of Representatives for their passage yesterday of tough new rules governing Wall Street. The Senate isn't expected to act on what the president calls common science reforms until next year.
And then there were 133, as in the number of banks that have failed so far in the United States this year alone. Regulators in Arizona, Florida, Kansas each seizing a failed financial institution, on Friday, putting the FDIC's deposit insurance fund in the red for the first time since 1991.
Americans arrested in Pakistan, all being held in connection with a terror probe. Our legal guys outlines the legal questions on this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: I'm sure there was a story that you saw on any one of my shows that makes you want to comment. Well, we've made it really easy for to you do so. Just go to my blog at CNN.com/Fredricka, you can comment on anything you see and you can also go to my Facebook page at FredrickaWhitfieldCNN, and there's yet another way. You can pick up the phone and call this number 877-742-5760. Some of your comments will actually be used on-air.
All right. We've got a lot of legal cases on tap beginning with the five Americans arrested in Pakistan. What happens next for them, what are the charges, and might they be facing some of those charges here on U.S. soil? We'll turn to our legal guys, right now. Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor joining us from Cleveland.
Good to see you.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Richard Herman is a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor.
Good to see you, as well.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Hey, Fred, welcome back.
WHITFIELD: All right guys, where do we begin? Thank you so much. Glad to be back and happy holidays. FRIEDMAN: You, too.
WHITFIELD: All right, so where do we begin with these guys, Avery? I mean, here they are in Pakistan, possibly facing charges about corruption, and perhaps even being part of organized crime, but the U.S. is looking at them for some other reasons, other charges that they may be facing.
FRIEDMAN: Oh, sure, material support to the enemy, conspiracy. Look, Fredricka, we're looking at these five young Americans, they'll be back soon and they will essentially be looking at a kind of -- the typical terrorist trials that we have seen. Why? Because, No. 1, there really was very little planning, here. I mean, these guy were so bad that even the Taliban wasn't interested in picking them up.
The powerful thing here is that we now have developed a consciousness about the extent, well, not the extent, but the existence of home-grown terrorists. And you know what's interesting? It was one of the fathers, Fredricka, that actually went to the FBI, let them know what was going on. Those five are heading back for federal trial.
WHITFIELD: So, what's interesting here, too. Richard, now, we're also starting to see that this case and there are other cases, too, involving some young people who went to Somalia, starting to put the microscope now on what's transpiring, what's happening here in the U.S. where so many young people are being lured, trained, enticed to do exactly what these guy are charged with now doing?
HERMAN: Well, it's scary. I mean, it looks like the United States has become a breeding ground for this type of activity. But you know, Fred, in this particular case, Avery, they are not, Pakistan said they are not going to deport them and in fact they're going to charge them in Pakistan with the use of computers to organize crime. And they're going to be charged and probably go on trial in Pakistan. Now, in the United States, they do not have charges against them yet. They're still investigating and no charges have been brought against them.
WHITFIELD: What would potentially be those charges? What potentially would those charges be in the U.S.?
FRIEDMAN: Offering material support. Actually, that may be the case. I actually think they're come back here. Richard and I disagree. There clearly existing charges in Pakistan but, Fredricka, because of the cooperative efforts between the United States and Pakistan, I actually think they are coming back. We'll see what happens.
WHITFIELD: OK, well let's talk about this case, the Anthony case. Richard I know you always keep close tabs on this particular case. We're talking about the mother who is being looked at as responsible for the death of her daughter, Caylee. And so now there was a hearing. Should this be a death penalty case? We're talking about homicide, not first-degree murder charges. How does that further complicate matters? HERMAN: Well, what's happening here is that the defense is arguing they do not want a death panel jury to take the panel in this particular case, because death juries usually come back, percentage wise, with higher convictions than a normal jury would, in any type of murder case, and what they're saying is that the government is not prosecuting this as a death penalty case in good faith, because they don't even know exactly how the child died. And so because you need that information to get a murder conviction, especially in Florida, and they don't have it, it's improper to bring it this way.
WHITFIELD: And Avery, is it unusual, strange, they still don't know the cause of death for this little girl?
FRIEDMAN: I don't think it's unusual, because of the particular facts, here. You're going to have forensic evidence that will be introduced. I actually think it's a smart defense tactic to raise it. I think the prosecution, the D.A. is saying, look it, the facts will decide whether or not there's evidence of premeditation. Bottom line is, I appreciate what the defense is, I think the prosecution is handling it absolutely correctly.
WHITFIELD: OK, Amanda Knox.
HERMAN: Fred, they ruled it a homicide. They ruled it a homicide, Fred, but they don't know the manner, how it exactly took place.
FRIEDMAN: Exactly right.
WHITFIELD: OK, Amanda Knox case. American girl goes to study abroad in Italy.
FRIEDMAN: Man, oh, man.
WHITFIELD: Next thing found guilty, as we know, last week of killing her roommate, but her family says no matter what they're going to continue to fight on. Even though she's already serving now what, her, what, 26-year sentence? Richard, what are the options that this family has?
HERMAN: You know, Fred, it's always that knee-jerk reaction. We're going to take an appeal. We're going to appeal it. We're going to give our daughter some sort of hope, here. This was a one-year trial and she got convicted on grounds that in the United States it's inconceivable and impossible to get a criminal conviction for what she allegedly did, here.
WHITFIELD: And you're saying because there was not any evidence. Because that was the case, right? There was no hard core evidence that linked her to the crime or the crime scene.
HERMAN: Oh, among other things -- to the crime scene. To the crime scene, even at the time of the death. So, because of that, it never would have happened, here. So, it's hard for us to speculate on what possible grounds for appeal there could be. I mean, Avery mentioned last week that the prosecutor has allegations for corruption against him right now, but I don't think that's going to do it. I don't know. I think it's lost cause for this family. But they've got to fight on.
(CROSSTALK)
FRIEDMAN: Oh, come on. Come on. You know what? I actually am very optimistic about what's going to happen in the court of appeals. I'm actually surprised to hear my friend say that.
WHITFIELD: Why are you optimistic?
FRIEDMAN: Well, because there are so many reasons why I think the Italian appeals courts will reverse or at very least, Fredricka, count on this, modify the sentence, but I think there are probably 14 separate grounds that would warrant a reversal. I'm very optimistic for the family.
WHITFIELD: So the family was even . . .
FRIEDMAN: In the United States.
WHITFIELD: Yes, the family was even hoping that perhaps her sentence could be commuted to the U.S. and maybe she would serve her time here.
FRIEDMAN: Nah.
WHITFIELD: Fat chance? No way, huh?
FRIEDMAN: No, not going to happen. Although the thing is, she made a statement to the Christian Science Monitor that she thought she was treated fairly at the trial. Amanda, keep it down. Let the appellate process move forward.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, we're going to talk to you guys again. We're going to talk about two sets of very public lives and they wanted them to be private, but no (INAUDIBLE). And the common denominator, extramarital affairs, right?
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: We're going to delve into that later.
FRIEDMAN: That's it.
WHITFIELD: I know some folks already know what we're talking about.
FRIEDMAN: Sure.
WHITFIELD: We may surprise you with the second one. You know the first.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: All right, Richard, Avery, thank you. FRIEDMAN: See you.
WHITFIELD: All right, the controversy over climate change. It's your chance to weigh in and we'll tell you how you can join in on the debate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, it was a huge hit during the election season an now we've brought it back in a very new way. The CNN/YouTube debate. This one is all about climate change. And you can have your voice actually heard worldwide. Of course, Josh Levs has the great explanation as to how you do it.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's the setup. Yes, it is really neat. And this one's a little bit different in several ways. First of all, as you said, what it's focusing on.
Let me show you this video, which gives you the basic idea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Copenhagen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's your question for world climate leaders?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you know, what you plan on leaving for my generation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Submit now through video at www.youtube.com/cop15.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: So that's what's happening. People all over the world are submitting these YouTube videos. And on December 15th, you will be able to watch this debate among experts and you will see whether your video, or even if you just want to type out a question, is used. I took a look at some of the questions that have been submitted so far. Here's some examples.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Question. Will you allow nuclear power to be counted as a part in a clean energy mix?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Global warming has been around for thousands of years. It can't be controlled. It could possibly be changed. But it can't be terminated. So I have to ask, I mean, aren't there more important things to fund?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Global warming, (INAUDIBLE), these are all truly from the mental issues for which people should have a vote. Why don't you let us decide?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: Just a few of the examples there. And so the way it works, let's zoom into this screen here, it's at youtube.com/cop15. And you can take a look at some of the questions and all sorts of categories and then you can vote and decide which questions should be used, which videos should be shown. So even if you don't want to submit your own, you can help decide which ones are shown. All there at that YouTube site.
And I want to end with this, a video that I found pretty striking. It's from someone who says, hey, we keep hearing we should walk more and drive less. In some places, nothing's being done to make that possible. Take a look.
(INSERT VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: This is a group in Thailand that went for a walk. He's pushing for a foot path and is saying, look, we walked around the city. There's no way to do it. And then they put up this sign here that says, foot path, please. Very interesting stuff.
We have posted links to all of this for you up at the blog. Also Facebook and Twitter can show that page. It's at cnn.com/josh. It's also at Facebook and Twitter, joshlevscnn. So, Fred, already thousands of submissions and all of it will lead up to the big event on Tuesday morning. It will be live on cnn.com at 8:00 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday.
WHITFIELD: Cool stuff. That was a pretty profound message, that last one too. That foot path, please.
LEVS: Really striking. You know, to see someone actually showing her own feet as she tries to walk those streets. And where are you going to walk?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
LEVS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks, Josh. Appreciate it.
LEVS: You got it.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, voters in Houston are choosing a new mayor today and Houston could become the biggest city yet to elect an openly gay candidate, but only if people look past a new campaign aimed at making her sexuality the main issue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, another look at our top story.
Tiger Woods making a break with the game that he lovers, at least for now. As rumoring swirl about the golfer's infidelity, he's doing his best to keep his distance from it and try to save his marriage. And one of his major sponsors is distancing itself from him. Gillette plans to limit Woods' role in its advertising. The company says, "in the midst of a difficult and unfortunate situation, we respect the action Tiger is taking to restore the trust of his family, friends and fans. We fully support him stepping back from his professional career and taking the time he needs to do what matters most." And it goes on to say, "we wish him and his family the best." That statement coming from Gillette.
All right, Texas voters are going to the polls for a runoff mayoral election today. Houston could become the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor. Polls show city controller Annise Parker, who is a lesbian, leading over her challenger and former city attorney Gene Locke.
Well, can the intensity of your exercise routine protect your health? A new study examined the effects of workouts on lowering the risks of strokes. Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at the surprising findings in today's "Fit Nation" segment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it all depends on what your goals are certainly when it comes to exercise. But this is a study that's caught a lot of people's attention. What drives the most benefit in terms of reducing risk of stroke? This is what researchers are trying to figure out. They studied over 3,000 people average age 69, followed them along for 10 year. All from the New York area.
And what they found was that it really seemed to benefit men who did moderate to higher intensity exercise. If did you that, you got about a 63 percent risk reduction in stroke overall over that time period. Women, for some reason, didn't seem to get the same benefits. And either party, men or women, who did light exercise didn't seem to get much benefit in terms of stroke reduction overall.
Again, we're just talking about a very specific thing here. Reducing the risk of stroke. There's obviously lots of good reasons to exercise for both men and women at any age. In case you're curious, a lot of people are, when it comes to moderate or high intensity exercise, what they're talking about specifically is things like swimming, jogging, tennis, about 20 to 40 minutes a day and doing it three to five or most days of the week. Again, though, the message should not be that exercise is not beneficial to women at any given age.
As to why this might be, it's really unclear why men get benefit and women don't. If you look at the causes of stroke or the things that can increase your risk, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, but also something known as inflammation. Inflammation can be a big culprit here. And one of the theories is that men seem to be able to decrease their inflammation more so than women when they do exercise. So that could possibly reduce their risk of stroke. But, again, a lot more research needing to be done on that.
We're also inviting any of you at home to help us practice what we preach. We're creating something called the "Fit Nation Challenge." You can go to cnn.com/fitnation. We're going to invite five viewers from around the country to join us -- to join us for the New York City Triathlon, which is a mile swim, 26 mile bike, a 10k run. If you are chosen, we'll send trainers to your area, help you train, invite you out to New York and do the race with us, again, helping us practice what we preach, but also giving us a glimpse into your own workout routine, what works, what doesn't and what the country can learn from you.
So, again, cnn.com/fitnation. It's going to be fun. I'm going to do it myself. Back to you for now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks a lot, Sanjay. He does everything.
All right, Tiger Woods walking away from golf for now after admitting infidelity. Our legal guys will be weighing in on his potential legal troubles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Our favorite legal guys are back. Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor, and Richard Herman, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor.
All right, guys, let's talk about Tiger Woods.
OK, so, Avery, what are the legal obstacles for him?
FRIEDMAN: Well, got a bunch of them. And I want to -- speaking on behalf of my gender, Fredricka, I'd like to apologize to every woman in America for the next series, including Tiger Woods.
Number one, he did have a legal victory this week. In the U.K. he got an injunction . . .
WHITFIELD: Right.
FRIEDMAN: Blocking any videos of Tiger having sex with other people or him and the -- he in the nude. But his lawyer were asked, do you have evidence that there are such films? And they said, no, but just in case.
WHITFIELD: Just in case.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Oh, gosh. All right. Would you see that kind of -- I don't know, challenge -- or here in the states?
FRIEDMAN: Well, probably. Although in the states . . .
WHITFIELD: Can you kind of do that preemptively? I didn't know you could do that in this country?
FRIEDMAN: You -- no, you can't. Not in American courts. WHITFIELD: OK. Just checking.
FRIEDMAN: But at least he pulled it off in Britain.
WHITFIELD: OK. All right. Very good.
So, meantime, what has become very public is, there's a private, I guess, underpinnings of their relationship. I'm talking about Elin and, of course, Tiger. The pre-nup. I'm hearing figures like $25 million, $75 million. Another two years, seven years, et cetera. For now, at least here in the states, that's really the only kind of legal case that we're talking about with Tiger Woods, right, Richard?
RICHARD HERMAN, NEW YORK CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: You know, Fred, what was that Michael Jackson song with the force -- don't stop until you get enough. I mean, I didn't realize this guy was such a Michael Jackson fan. He's out of control, Tiger. Back getting back to your question here. Getting to your question.
Avery, he doesn't need you to apologize for him. This is a billionaire, OK.
FRIEDMAN: Sure he does. I want to apologize for all these guys, Richard.
HERMAN: He just -- he just added $55 million to his Swedish nanny. I mean, I don't know what's up with that? That sounds sort of like maybe some of the girls he was seeing he was paying for. But the bottom line is this, Fred, the pre-nup, unless there was fraud or duress or misrepresentation of his assets, that's solid as rock.
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
HERMAN: She's not going anywhere. I mean, can you imagine the text messages that just came out? If Tiger Woods did not have money, do you think she'd stay with him?
FRIEDMAN: Oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
WHITFIELD: Well you're not waiting (ph) for me to answer that question.
FRIEDMAN: Look, it's about sponsorships and there is an inverse proportionality between sponsor loyalty and the growing bimbo list. That's what this is about.
HERMAN: Well, here's the thing.
WHITFIELD: OK, but -- and won't ultimately this . . .
HERMAN: Listen to me. This is great . . .
WHITFIELD: Go ahead.
HERMAN: Fred, his great hiatus from golf, isn't it amazing that it's occurring at the exact time that the pro golf tour is on hiatus. And, trust me, he's never going to miss a major tournament. This is the greatest golfer in the history of golf.
WHITFIELD: Really?
FRIEDMAN: He's mistreated (ph) golf.
HERMAN: He's (INAUDIBLE) stoppable (ph).
FRIEDMAN: He's missing the Tiger Woods tournament.
WHITFIELD: Oh, I read that, indefinitely. That's pretty ominous and that really says . . .
FRIEDMAN: Yes, let's see if he can put it back together is really what I think they should be looking at.
WHITFIELD: Well, you know, one other thing I wonder, though. OK, so if reportedly, you know, Elin buys this $2 million home in Sweden and decides to -- if she hasn't already -- take the kids there and stays there, talk to me about what potentially could take place or what kind of legal agreement there would have to be? You know, we so often hear cases of someone taking their child abroad without the consent of the spouse and then it, you know, blossoms into something very terrible. Are we potentially heading down that road, or, Richard, do you think Elin and Tiger will forever stay together and this is just kind of an, I guess, an escape home or a vacation home?
HERMAN: Well, if she has any self-pride, they're not going to stay together. If she's only in it for the money, she's going to stay with him. But she cannot take those children to Sweden right now. Those children are staying in the United States. There will be some sort of joint custody resolution here.
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
HERMAN: And if she goes, it's going to be on a short spurt to take them to her native country for a little while and she'll have to bring them back. There will be court orders to that effect.
But, Fred, you raise a good point. This happens all the time and the people don't come back. That guy's still fighting in Brazil to see his children. It's just incredible.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: It's going to get worked out in that respect, though, I would imagine.
WHITFIELD: And then potentially this is kind of a little departure from the family you know, the potential legal wranglings involving the family, the husband and wife. But I wonder, when you talk about all these very rich, huge endorsements and they talk about, you know, we went out for him because he stands for morality, or whatever label that they, you know, attached to Tiger Woods or he attached to himself, might any of these companies be able to say, you know what, our end of the deal has been --or your end the deal has been broken and so now you've got to pay us. Might that be a potential legal problem?
FRIEDMAN: That's a very important legal issue because in every one of those contracts, Fredricka, there is a provision that says, if you bring disrepute upon yourself, you actually jeopardize the existence of a contract. The problem here is that he is so popular, that the best you're going to see is what we saw from Gillette today. They're going to back off a little bit. Hopefully the storm will clear. They're going to be back strong.
WHITFIELD: OK.
HERMAN: Hey, Fred, they're going to back off. They're not terminating. They're backing off.
FRIEDMAN: Right. They're going to back off.
HERMAN: Let me remind you of something.
WHITFIELD: Phasing out is the language supplied (ph).
FRIEDMAN: That's exactly right.
WHITFIELD: So he could maybe, you know, there could be a redemption in your view.
HERMAN: And, Fred, let me remind you, Avery and I . . .
FRIEDMAN: If it was (INAUDIBLE), the hiatus of the sponsorship, as well as hiatus of Tiger.
WHITFIELD: OK. And, you know what, we're out of time because we spent so much time on Tiger.
HERMAN: Yes, Fred . . .
WHITFIELD: But real, real quick, because there was one other case, and I promised there were two cases, something common. We're talking about the extramarital affairs. Now Jenny Sanford, wife of the governor of South Carolina, says divorce, splitzville. Both of you have already agreed before we hit air that, you know, no case. OK, fine, cut and dry, bye-bye.
FRIEDMAN: Right. Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: Nothing there. All right.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: Nothing there beyond (INAUDIBLE).
HERMAN: There's no Tammy Wynette.
FRIEDMAN: Nothing there.
WHITFIELD: All right, Richard, Avery, thanks so much. Good to see you guys. I know we'll be talking again soon. FRIEDMAN: Nice to see you. Take care.
WHITFIELD: Have a great holiday weekend.
FRIEDMAN: Likewise.
HERMAN: Take care.
WHITFIELD: And holiday in general.
All right. A meteoric rise to fame can make a fall from grace a very tough ride. The ups and downs of Tiger Woods, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. The 33 -year-old Tiger Woods has had a magnificent career since being a junior golfer. CNN's Erica Hill looks at his rise to fame before the fall.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tiger Woods. The biggest sports star on the planet. The greatest golfer of his time. His talent obvious from a very early age. That is Tiger Woods, just two years old on "The Mike Douglas Show."
Born in California in 1975 to an African-American father and Thai mother, he was a prodigy and there would be no stopping him. At 15, Tiger Woods won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. He won it again the next year. In 1996, at age 20, after attending Stamford University, he turned pro. Tiger was the PGA Rookie of the Year.
And then in 1997, more records. At the age of 21, winning the Masters tournament by 12 strokes, becoming the first African-American to win in Masters history. And it was just the beginning.
Since then, Tiger has won 93 tournaments. He has the most victories among active players. Titles alone have earned him nearly $100 million. In an interview with "60 Minutes," he talked about his extraordinary career.
TIGER WOODS: I love to play golf. And that's my arena. And you can characterize it and describe it however you want, but I have a love and a passion for getting that ball in the hole and beating those guys.
HILL: In 2004, he married Elin Nordegren, a Swedish model and former nanny, tells "60 Minutes," she brought joy and balance to his life.
WOODS: I have found a life partner. A best friend. You know, Elin's been incredible for me.
HILL: Then in 2006, tragedy. Tiger's father and mentor, Earl Woods, succumbed to cancer. Tiger mourned and then resumed playing. In 2007, the couple had their first child, a daughter, and then a son was born earlier this year. Woods told "60 Minutes," family was his biggest priority.
WOODS: Family always comes first. Always has been in my life and always will.
HILL: But that was before the scandal, before the confessions of transgressions and infidelity. Before his world fell apart. Now the most famous golfer in history is stepping away from the sport he loves. The sport he led and changed. A very public fall from grace for a man who won so much and who now could lose everything.
Erica Hill, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Some of our top stories right now.
The Democratic controlled Senate has squashed a Republican filibuster of a more than $1 trillion spending bill. The measure would give most federal agencies increases far exceeding inflation. A vote is now expected for tomorrow.
And a 98-year-old Massachusetts woman, accused of murder, was indicted yesterday. Prosecutors say she strangled her 100-year-old nursing home roommate after arguing about the placement of a table. The victim was found dead in September with a plastic shopping bag tied around her head.
And tens of thousands of Islamic clerics are filling the streets across Iran in support of the country's supreme leader. The state sponsored rails are being held to denounce the student protesters who burned photos of the Ayatollah Khomeini last week.
Stay with CNN throughout the day for the latest breaking news. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "Your Money" starts right now.
