Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
American Arrested in Cuba; Obama and the Banks
Aired December 12, 2009 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Developing tonight, an American government contractor held in Cuba, a new response from his company as the U.S. government wants a meeting with him in Havana.
A loophole in the new health care proposal that you need to know about. The White House is now scrambling to fix it.
And this time of year, keep in mind not everyone will be home for Christmas. But you can make a difference in a military family's life. We're going to tell you how this hour.
And he is no Adam Sandler.
(MUSIC)
LEMON: But one Mormon senator is paying tribute to Hanukkah and you definitely want to see it.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
CNN has confirmed a U.S. citizen was arrested in Cuba one week ago. It is not clear what the alleged offense is, but U.S. diplomats in Cuba are trying to get to the bottom of it. "New York Times" reports a man was acting as a U.S. government contractor in distributing cell phones and laptops.
CNN contacted the suburban Washington company that employs him, Development Alternatives Inc. In a statement to CNN, the president and the CEO, his name James Boomgard, said his company had a contract with the USAID, a branch of the State Department. Boomgard says the contract was to help the U.S. government, quote, "implement activities in support of the rule of law and human rights, political competition, and consensus building, and to strengthen civil society in support of just and democratic governance in Cuba."
Despite the arrested man's contractor status, a State Department says he is not a government employee.
We'll speak to a Cuba expert at 10:00 p.m. Eastern tonight about this very unusual case, and what it might mean for relations between the two countries.
Five American -- young American men allegedly on a mission to be martyred. We're following new developments on this story out of Pakistan this hour. The men were questioned by local police today for their suspected terror links. A Pakistani official says the Muslim students made contact with the Taliban recruiter in an effort to join insurgents there.
All five were picked up this week in the town of Sarghoda, but this morning, they were shifted to the eastern city of Lahore. The men are all in their late teens and early 20s, residents of D.C. suburbs.
That's where the leader of their mosque is struggling to come to terms with these allegations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ESSAM TELLAWI, MOSQUE LEADER: We love for things to go back to the way they were. We were very happy community. I still imagine -- I still, you know, when I see them just walking in the mosque and praying with us, and I want -- I want them to come back and pray with us. And for things to go back to normal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: FBI agents have been granted access to the men, and officials in the U.S. and Pakistan expect them to be deported home. But Pakistan could hold them while prosecutors here prepare charges.
An American member of al Qaeda says the group has been framed for a string of bombings in Pakistan that have killed hundreds of citizens. Adam Gadahn, known as the "Azzam the American" offers condolences to the victims' families in a new online video. He claims al Qaeda is not responsible for the attacks, which have killed 500 people since October. He says American and Pakistani forces are to blame. Gadahn is on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists.
Some serious backtracking this weekend in Washington. The Obama administration says it will work to close a controversial loophole that popped up this week in the Senate health care reform bill. The provision would allow insurance companies to place caps on annual benefits. It was added by someone, it's not clear who, during a meeting of Democrats in Majority Leader Harry Reid's office. The White House got involved yesterday following reports on CNN and criticism by cancer patient advocates.
Almost every weekend seems to bring new bank closures and this weekend certainly is no exception. Regulators closed the Republic Federal Bank, NA, based in Miami. Also closed, the Solutions Bank based in Overland Park, Kansas. And the Valley Capital Bank, NA, in Mesa, Arizona.
Bank customers can continue to use checks, ATMs and debit cards to access their accounts and the closed banks will reopen Monday as branches of other banks. A total of 133 banks, have failed so far this year -- the highest number since 1992.
After last year's financial meltdown, many U.S. banks pulled back on lending. Now, President Obama is pressing the banks to start making loans again.
CNN's Kate Bolduan has details -- Kate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, by government estimates small businesses have created 65 percent of new jobs in the past 15 year, but this sector has been hit hard by the economy, and President Obama is trying to show he's on their side, taking the message directly to the banks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: See you soon. Take care. Bye.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Andy Shallal has a rare story and tough economic times. His businesses, bookstore restaurants around Washington, are thriving.
ANDY SHALLAL, OWNER, BUSBOYS AND POETS: Washington is a political town, it's a literary town. That's a town that really needs this kind of a place, and I think it's been very successful because of that.
BOLDUAN: Shallal is looking to expand and add about 40 employees. But despite good business, the economy is still holding him back. He can't get a loan.
SHALLAL: I am a growing business. I have a track record. I've been in this business for a long time. I have good assets, great cash flow, great credit, and yet, I still have a hard time trying to get enough money to be able to grow my business.
BOLDUAN: The harsh reality many small businesses face -- and something President Obama is now promising to tackle.
White House officials tell CNN, Mr. Obama will meet Monday with chief executives of some of the nation's biggest banks, including Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. His message...
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, you have a responsibility now -- now that we have pulled you back from the brink to help make sure that Main Street is actually getting the kinds of loans that it needs.
BOLDUAN: But the banks say it's much more complicated than that -- at a time when Congress is considering sweeping changes to the banking regulatory system.
Scott Talbott represents some of the country's largest financial firms.
SCOTT TALBOTT, THE FINANCIAL SERVICES ROUNDTABLE: Banks are lending to small businesses but there are two challenges here. One, the small business aren't borrowing as much as they used to. They're holding back. Second of all, you see an increase or tightening of the credit standards. So, banks are cautious now about lending in terms of who the borrowers. We're looking to make good, solid loans that can be repaid.
BOLDUAN: The Obama administration has also proposed redirecting unused TARP funds to help increase lending to small businesses. Andy Shallal says, whatever the solution, he just hopes to start feeling the ripple-effect soon.
SHALLAL: You need to really give that money back to that -- the source that is going to provide the most amount of jobs, the most amount of economic stimulus for the economy, which is small businesses.
BOLDUAN (on camera): When the president meets with bank executives Monday, the official White House schedule says they will discuss their shared interest in economic recovery, the need to increase lending to small businesses, and financial regulatory reform.
White House officials, though, are a little more blunt, telling CNN, the president will pretty much lay it out, saying the banks were saved for the greater good, not for their own profit margins and it's time to pitch in -- Don.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Kate, thank you very much.
Dirty tap water -- there's a possibility yours is contaminated. An environmental group says drinking water in 45 states and the District of Columbia has been contaminated with unregulated chemicals and it is for this reason. One of our guests decided to create his own community with its own water treatment facility. We'll hear from him in about four minutes. A very interesting story.
One of Tiger Woods major sponsors Gillette says it is phasing him out of advertising to support his goal of privacy as he works on his personal life. Woods announced yesterday he is taking an indefinite leave from golf to try to rescue his marriage, and for the first time, he acknowledged infidelity. Gillette says this does not mean it is severing ties with Woods altogether but he will be phased out of its ads and public appearances. Gillette declined to say when those ties would be renewed.
Well, some other Woods sponsors are considering their options as well, including AT&T and Accenture. Nike and Gatorade have issued statements of support.
Some of Tiger Woods biggest sponsors standing by him, but with him taking a break from golf, they're changing their advertising plans. We'll talk about that.
And on the verge of making political history, a possible first for a major U.S. city and it's just a few hours from happening. It could be. We'll talk about that as well.
Also, I want to hear from you -- your tweets and comments, everything on Facebook. It's been very interesting so far. We want more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. So, a new environmental report shows dirty tap water in most states. That and other environmental concerns are why Steve Nygren founded -- what is it called? Serenbe? STEVE NYGREN, FOUNDER, SERENBE: Serenbe.
LEMON: Serenbe. OK, just want to make sure, Serenbe.
So, what is it? (INAUDIBLE) community, right?
NYGREN: That's correct.
LEMON: In Palmetto, Georgia. Homes, restaurants, even an inn, right? So, in lieu of the new report, when you hear about the quality of the nation's drinking water, is what you do even more important? And can everybody do what you did? Explain to us.
NYGREN: Everyone can do what we're doing. Number one is, we're living cleaner. So we're not bringing pesticides into our yards, into our gardens. And anything that comes from the streets, we are sending all the storm water into bio-retention.
LEMON: But where does your water come from? It doesn't come from the city. Does it come from the city?
NYGREN: Our drinking water comes from the city.
LEMON: OK.
NYGREN: But what we're demonstrating is a better way to handle the water so that if everyone did what we're doing, we wouldn't have some of the drinking water problems we have.
LEMON: So, your drinking water comes from the city and then what do you do with it?
NYGREN: We wanted initially to set up our own system because of the issues with large public utilities.
LEMON: OK.
NYGREN: We were not able to do that. So, now, we take the water and we have home filters on all of it.
LEMON: OK. So, this isn't coming from a well, because you can't get well water here. One of my neighbors has a well. I realized Serenbe is a new community here in Atlanta with the modern homes and what- have-you.
NYGREN: That's right. That's right. Right on the edge of Atlanta.
LEMON: Yes, right on the edge of Atlanta.
NYGREN: It's actually in the new town of Chattahoochee Hill Country.
LEMON: So, listen -- so, you treat the water that comes from the city.
NYGREN: That's right. Now, our inn is on well. So we have a 19-room inn. And that is totally well. And the water is incredible. LEMON: Is it cost effective? And how -- I mean, can anyone go in and treat it the way that you do because do you use chemical in order to do it?
NYGREN: We do not. We use natural filters. And so, that's a simple thing to do.
But the real issue is how we treat our base water that is coming in so we don't have this problem. And that's where Serenbe really demonstrates because we have water conservation. We use 30 percent water in our houses that normal households do because of the many things we do.
LEMON: And how is that? How do you use 30 percent? Because -- I mean, the water -- we know the water bills in Atlanta because of the resources and they're redoing it. So, water and sewers are tied together and water is very -- your water bill is very expensive, mine is.
NYGREN: Right. So, for instance, at Serenbe, because we have our own waste water treatment center, we only have a water bill and we don't have a sewer bill.
And our water usage is 30 percent, because number one, we do not allow lawns. Any irrigation is we re-treat our waste water for any irrigation. We have water sense appliances. We recommend not to have garbage disposals. And all -- and we educate all of our residents on all of these issues.
So, everything together, we use 30 percent of what most people do.
LEMON: You know, everybody is watching and (INAUDIBLE) going, what? You know, we can't do all of that. But, you know, it's -- water is in many areas. It's getting more expensive and anything that you can do to help is a good idea. But I don't know - we'd have to go in depth more and figure out.
How can people -- do you have a Web site or anything where people...
NYGREN: We do.
LEMON: ... can see what you're doing?
NYGREN: Www.Serenbe.com.
LEMON: OK. Steve Nygren, thank you very much. It's good concept, especially on the same day that this water report is coming out. Best of luck to you. Nice to meet you.
NYGREN: Thank you. Come see us.
LEMON: I will. I certainly will. I'll come. Actually, I looked at a property when I first moved here. Too far, though. I'm always late.
NYGREN: Winter storm wallops the northeast. Check out these pictures, the weather in the country can be summed up in just a few words, frigid and brrr.
And more on the water report we have been telling you about and discussing here. Here is a look at the cities with the best and worst drinking water as ranked by the Environmental Working Group. Make sure you go to EWG.org to see how your city ranks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Jacqui Jeras, it's cold. It's winter.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIS: Yes.
LEMON: We've got snow some places. And we have some freezing rain either right now or it's going to happen overnight or tomorrow?
JERAS: Yes. Couple of different spots, actually, have some of that freezing rain. We'll get to that in just a second, but I can't wait to show you this video, Don, because seriously, this is one of the best iReports I've ever seen or heard. Listen.
(VIDEO CLIP, IREPORT)
JERAS: That is some howling wind there in the Buffalo area. Brandon Sparks sent us this. Lake-effect snows have been churning for the first time and, boy, it was a doozy. Some areas saw as much as 40 inches. Brandon said he had a foot to a foot and a half but the snow reached about five feet and blizzard conditions lasted for hours. People were stranded in their cars on the New York throughway because they had to shut down that interstate. So, really nasty conditions there.
Thank you to Brandon, by the way.
Send us your iReports but always stay safe. And I love troopers, like Brandon, who actually get out in the snow to take those pictures. CNNiReport.com is the place.
Now, the Pacific is another area we're watching for some of that snow. We've got some pictures actually from yesterday I want to show you. In California, in the Blue Canyon area, where rain fell in the valley; snow into the higher elevations. And yesterday, not that big of a deal compared to what we have today. This latest storm is much stronger.
There you can see them putting the chains on the tires. You definitely need that and I really wouldn't advise travel in these areas tonight and into tomorrow.
Things look a little better tomorrow morning. But we're getting rain in the valleys, another concern here, in southern California, is the potential for flooding and some of the burn areas.
And you can see in our radar map that moisture is on the move. It's heading towards the east now. And we're going to continue to see some of this wet and snowy weather across parts of the west. Let's talk a little bit about some of the freezing rain issues that you were talking about. We've got a weak disturbance moving across the upper Midwest. And you can see here up towards the Chicagoland area into northern Illinois, we've got some freezing rain advisories extending up towards the Milwaukee area and this is because this moisture, warmer in the upper levels, freezing then down at the surface. And so, that causes some very icy conditions.
We also have some advisories in effect across the Appalachians and up into parts of Pennsylvania as that moisture from the south begins to move on in. For the most part, this is just rain in the southeast. But you can see up into the higher elevation, we're getting that mix and could have a little ice here. So, lots of areas getting in on some light freezing rain.
But as you know, it doesn't take a whole lot to cause some very major travel problems. Bridges and overpasses always freeze first. So keep that in mind if you're going to be out there traveling.
Here is the map for you tomorrow, lots of snow across parts of the west. The nation's midsection probably the best location in the nation, but you got to deal with those freezing temperatures -- Don.
LEMON: All right. Jacqui, thank you very much. You should pay attention to the next story. I know you're going to like it, Jacqui.
JERAS: OK.
LEMON: So, stick around and our viewers as well.
So, free Christmas trees for America's soldiers all in the spirit of sprucing up the holidays for our military families. The "Trees for Troops" program plans to give out 16,000 trees this year at home, and also abroad.
So, joining us live from Tampa, we have Sergeant Terry Montrose. He's a tree recipient. Hello to you.
TERRY MONTROSE, "TREES FOR TROOPS" RECEPIENT: Hello, sir. Thank you.
LEMON: Hello, sir.
And right here in Atlanta -- I like your energy -- right here in Atlanta, I'm joined by Jimmy Livaditis. He is a tree donor and co- owner of Big John's Christmas Trees.
So -- and that was started by your dad, your dad is Big John, you're Big Jim.
JIMMY LIVADITIS, BIG JOHN'S CHRISTMAS TREE: Big Jim. And my brother Lee and I took over.
LEMON: All right. We're going to go to Tampa now. Let's start with the Sergeant Montrose.
So, what is it like to receive one of these trees? MONTROSE: Sir, I think it's just a wonderful tribute, that someone actually took the time to sit there and think about us, the military who is fighting abroad. I think it's just awesome, the emotions that someone goes through trying to come up with their little niche in the world to make our lives a little better during Christmas.
LEMON: Very good. You know, we thought about this and we said, you know, oh, everybody is talking about being home for the holidays, spending time with families. But not everybody gets to spend time with their families, some of our men and women are overseas. So, to get a tree from someone is probably amazing.
And there you go -- you see some of the video of the "Troops for Trees" program.
Let's go here to Jimmy.
So, Jimmy, how did you get involved in this? How did -- how do you pick the recipients here?
LIVADITIS: Well, we're involved through the National Christmas Tree Association and the Christmas Spirit Foundation, started the program in 2005 and 2006. We jumped on and it was just our way of wanting to give back. So, the last four years we've been involved and we donate some trees that will be picked up by FedEx trailer and they're taken and distributed to the bases they designate.
LEMON: So, they designate. You don't get to decide who gets them or what have you?
LIVADITIS; We think we get to maybe distribute them to Fort Benning or some place in Georgia, but my understanding is that they went down to Fort MacDill in Tampa.
LEMON: You don't actually get to see their reaction when...
LIVADITIS: We get to see -- at the end of the season, when see some of the video. We get to see that, but not the one on one.
LEMON: What do you think of that when you see that? It's got to make you feel good to do that.
LIVADITIS: It does. And some of the interviews I've seen, it's just -- they -- it's very overwhelming to see how happy they are to get that.
LEMON: What does your tree look like, Sergeant? Do you have pictures of it?
MONTROSE: I don't have pictures of it with me here. But it's probably five to six-foot tall, maybe even seven feet tall. It's a beautiful tree. It really is. I really expected something a little less but it is a first class tree.
LEMON: Yes, it is. So, would you have bought a tree anyway? MONTROSE: Maybe, probably so. I really like the live trees. We have a plastic tree that we ship with us from base to base, a little more portable. I really do like the live trees.
LEMON: And what are the reactions? What was your reaction when someone brought you? Did you know they were going to bring it?
MONTROSE: It's funny you say that, because I just got here in MacDill a couple of months ago and I heard about this two or three weeks ago that someone was coming to bring trees to MacDill Air Force Base to give them away. I thought, wow, what a wonderful gesture.
LEMON: Yes. And then you got a tree.
MONTROSE: Absolutely. Absolutely.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: And you get one of them.
So, Jimmy, what kind of -- you know, the response that you get? I imagine people in the community like that you do this, does it cost you? Do you -- do you even -- are you even concerned about that when you're talking about our men and women who are fighting for us?
LIVADITIS: Cost is not a concern. Some of our suppliers are on board, too. And there's a gentleman in North Carolina, Wayne Ayers (ph), who also helped us and gave us a good price on the trees that we -- that we've donated. So, just the community when they -- and the tight economy, it still good to see some people who want to also send a tree to the troops.
LEMON: I already know we're going to get lots of reaction from viewers. Do you know how they can help if they want to become part of this program?
LIVADITIS: Well, they can go to the Christmas Spirit Foundation. They have a Web site and they can check them out. And right now, the program is over. But they can still contribute to the Christmas Spirit Foundation and I think they will -- they can make sure that whatever they send can get sent there.
LEMON: Well, Sergeant, I'll give you the last word since you are sergeant in the military. Tell our viewers what this means to military families, especially this time of year to have someone -- to have the nation really thinking about them.
MONTROSE: I really think I'm lucky to have my family with me this Christmas. But I really think those families that receive the trees that they have a loved one deployed, it can't replace the loved one -- but, boy, does it really let them know someone is caring about them and thinking about them. I think that's a big deal.
LEMON: Oh, thank you. Sergeant Montrose, appreciate it. Merry Christmas to you.
MONTROSE: Merry Christmas, sir. Thank you.
LEMON: Happy Holidays. Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas to you, Jimmy and your family.
LIVADITIS: My pleasure.
LEMON: You're doing a great thing. Thank you very much.
LIVADITIS: Very much my pleasure.
LEMON: We want to put the Web site back up there for our viewer again. Here is the Web site. It ChristmasSpiritFoundation.org -- ChristmasSpiritFoundation.org. Jimmy says it's over this year but you can always do for next year, right? We appreciate. Merry Christmas. Thank you.
LIVADITIS: Merry Christmas.
LEMON: Tiger Woods taking a break from golf and some of his sponsors taking a break from him. Sports business analyst Rick Horrow is ahead with the newest developments.
Possible first for a major U.S. city, just hours away. Why the country is watching what happens tonight in Houston, Texas?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Right now, the U.S. State Department is trying to figure out why one of its contract employees was arrested in Cuba. The man was detained December 5th. But the arrest is only just now coming to light. The company that employs him based in Bethesda, Maryland, says he was in Cuba under a U.S. government contract. "The New York Times" reports he was distributing cell phone and laptops.
We'll dig deeper to this mystery at 10:00 p.m. Eastern tonight.
Five young Americans arrested in Pakistan for their suspected terror links are being questioned by local officials as well as the FBI. They have been moved from the small town where they were arrested to Lahore, a Pakistani official says they admitted that they were on a mission to be martyred. The men all from the D.C. suburbs reportedly made contact with a Taliban recruiter. They could be extradited back to the U.S. to face charges.
The Obama administration says it will work to close a loophole in a Senate health care reform bill. The provision would allow insurance companies to place caps on annual benefits. CNN first reported the loophole yesterday. It was added by someone, not clear who, during a meeting of Democrats in majority leader Harry Reid's office.
We will soon find out if Houston is ready for an openly gay mayor. The polls close in the city's runoff election at the top of the hour. A pre-election survey showed the favorite is a city official whose sexual orientation was never really an issue until now. Take a look at what CNN Ed Lavandera reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Annise Parker is a veteran of Houston's big city politics. She served on the city council, spent the last five years as the comptroller in charge of the budget. Before politics, she worked in Houston's oil and gas industry. That's what gets the most attention. The footnote is that Parker is openly gay. She's been with her partner for 19 years and they have two adopted children.
ANNISE PARKER, HOUSTON MAYORAL CANDIDATE: I have always stood up for the fact that I am gay and as part of the resume that I bring to the table, but it's just a piece of the package.
LAVANDERA: For months leading up to Saturday's run-off election, many Houston voters considered this campaign boring. That was until it became a two-way race between Annise Parker and Gene Loch, an attorney and civil rights activist.
(on camera): In the last few weeks, conservative groups and anti-gay activists have mounted an intense campaign against Annise Parker. They've thrown their support behind Gene Loch. Parker's sexual orientation had never really been an issue in this race.
(voice-over): Houston voters haven't always been that accepting of gay political issues. Just a few years ago Houston voters rejected a plan to offer benefits to same sex partners of city workers. And 24 years ago, anti-gay candidates ran what was called the straight slate in an unsuccessful effort to unseat a mayor who backed job rights for homosexuals.
Annise Parker was a young, political activist then. She says the experience made her want to work harder. She became president of Houston's Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus.
PARKER: Houston is a multiracial, multicultural, international city, and I think my election will send a message to the world that just kind of, Houston is a city that might surprise a lot of folks.
LAVANDERA: Ed Lavandera, CNN, Houston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Make sure you join me here at the NEWSROOM at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. We're hoping to speak with Houston mayoral candidate Annise Parker tonight. We'll find out the results of that race.
He's sports' first billion dollar man in endorsements. But will Tiger Woods still be a marketing draw? That's a question these days, one day after Woods acknowledged infidelity and announced he is taking an indefinite leave from golf to try to rescue his marriage.
One of his major sponsors says it is phasing him out of its advertising to support his goal of privacy as he work on his personal life. Gillette says its decision does not mean it is severing ties with Woods altogether, but he will be phased out of its ads and public appearances. The company declined to say when the ties would be renewed.
So what's next for Tiger Woods? And can he repair his once glittering image? Now tarnished by scandal. I'm joined by sports business analyst Rick Horrow in West Palm Beach, Florida. I guess anything is possible. Can he repair it, though?
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Anything is possible. But you got to remember this guy went from being the most recognizable and accepted athlete on the face of the planet a couple of weeks ago to statements that say infidelity, profoundly sorry, asked for forgiveness, disappointment. That's huge kind of rhetoric from a guy that talked about transgressions a couple of weeks ago.
$93 million, Don, corporate America, every year, he's got a lot at stake. He's got a lot of goodwill, but EA doesn't say anything. AT&T, we're not really sure what we want to do. And Gillette says, well, we're not sure what we want to do but we're not going to do it now.
LEMON: For those of us old, you know, you have gray hair, I don't, but I mean, people are saying why is this such a big story? Why are you covering it? And we were trying to explain just what the ramifications were could possibly be and now it is coming to fruition, Rick. So for people who have been doing this for a while, sort of saw this coming.
When you look at it, let's look at here, Nike - these are some of his sponsorships, Nike, Accenture, AT&T, Tag Heuer, EA Sports, Gatorade, Gillette, on and on. "Golf Digest," Net Jets, PGA, laser eye centers and it just goes on and on. And we're talking a heck of a lot of money that is on the line here.
Here is my question. I don't know if you can answer this, probably should get an attorney to answer this. I think it's a good question. If he is - everyone says - I've heard everyone says these contracts are iron clad. Of course, they have the moral clause or whatever but Tiger has these contracts and these endorsements because of how well he plays golf.
If he's no longer playing golf, do these sponsors have to continue with these contract, these endorsements?
HORROW: Well, let me put my attorney hat on and answer it the best that I possibly can to tell you that the morals clauses are written to allow the corporation to have a good bit of discretion and they can enforce them. $12 billion, Don, in corporate endorsements from corporate America to athletes. Athletes get sick, they get injured. They do an O.J. Simpson, whatever that means, a Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps, but the bottom line is the contracts today from a legal perspective are smaller. They're shorter and they're also easier to terminate.
LEMON: OK. So the PGA is sticking by him, right? I guess they realize that when - I'm sure he will return. Tiger returns, the ratings are going to be through the roof. Anything that he touches are going to be through the roof. At least initially because people are going to be interested in what he has to say.
So does he still have the same clout with the PGA and does he have the earning potential that he once had? It could be - this could actually work out for him even better. Who knows?
HORROW: Hey, if you make a billion dollars, maybe the next billion isn't as important. Remember, he's only 33 years old. He has maybe 10, 15, 20 years to win those four majors to tie and five majors to beat Jack Nicklaus. He has a lot of golf courses to design, a lot of endorsements still to do.
And listen, the PGA Tour, 50 percent reduction in earnings and viewership when he's not on. Three times as much prize money since he's been there. And a 7,000 percent increase in PGA tour millionaires. Yes, he's important to the PGA tour.
LEMON: Hey, real quickly, because we're running out of time. And I appreciate your wisdom. What's next with this story, Rick?
HORROW: Well, next is about when he comes back and does he stay quiet? Is Elin there? Does she stay with him? Is there any other surprise we have? And most important, how does corporate America react to what the fans think about this statement today. So this is a midpoint of a very long book.
LEMON: Yes. And it is still more twist and turns. It is an amazing story. Rick Horrow, appreciate it. I'll see you tomorrow, right?
HORROW: See you tomorrow in studio. I can't wait.
LEMON: OK. Have something good for me. Thank you.
HORROW: I will.
LEMON: Supposed to give presents.
HORROW: I got a lot of stuff for you.
LEMON: All right. As world leaders in Copenhagen try to hammer out a new agreement on climate change, an army of lobbyists is trying to influence a final agreement and they all have the same goal, get the other guy to pay for it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The European Union meeting in Brussels has promised more than $10 billion over three years to help developing countries meet their objectives regarding climate change. The action dove tails with the U.N.'s climate change conference now taking place in Copenhagen. The U.N. official in charge of the climate conference says delegates had made a lot of progress in key areas such as technology and preventing deforestation.
But some wealthier nations including the U.S. have criticized a draft agreement as not making enough demands on developing countries to curb green house emissions. A final agreement is expected at the end of the week.
In Copenhagen itself, massive demonstrations on the streets today overshadowed the discussions inside. Police estimate at least 40,000 people turned out to call on world leaders to stop global warming. A police report the throngs of marcher were mostly peaceful but up to 600 people were arrested after some people began throwing large rocks through office windows.
On the surface, the climate change conference is about carbon emissions, pollution, and so forth. On and on. But make no mistake about it, it is really all about money. And money has its own lingo at the conference. In a word, bingo.
CNN's Christine Romans explains what that means.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Don, thousands of groups are spending millions of dollars to either blunt change, enact change or tailor change to best suit them. It is big money. And bingo on the ground in Copenhagen.
Bingo, that's the U.N. speak for business and industrial non- governmental organizations. These are the special interests working hard to influence the climate change debate and any global agreements that bind nations to certain carbon emission targets. But the lobbying is happening on all sorts of levels. Developing countries are lobbying hard for cash assistance from big countries, cash assistance without too many strings.
Big carbon emitting industries of manufacturing and big business trade groups are lobbying against strict new rules to limit fossil fuel burning. Other businesses like Nike, Levis, Starbucks and many tech companies, frankly, they formed a coalition to lobby for limits on carbon emissions.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, some 2,224 lobbyists are devoted to the energy and natural resources sector just in this country spending some $300 million through September this year, lobbying primarily on climate change. And as the climate debate heated up heading to Copenhagen, so do the number of companies hiring lobbyists, peaking at 1,150 by the second quarter. That's according to the Senate for public integrity.
Now, from food companies worried that taxing emission will raise their costs to battery operated vehicle and green technology companies who see opportunity, to oil and gas companies, power companies, coal companies, they face the biggest change of countries agreed to dramatically cut carbon emissions.
U.N. climate scientists and proponents of climate change initiatives agree that, you know the cost of doing nothing is too high. Still there is a scramble to shape whatever comes out of Copenhagen or Congress and there's intense lobbing over who will pay for it. Don.
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much, Christine. Christine Romans, New York. Now be sure you join Christine and co-host, Ali Velshi, every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern for "Your Money." This week the case for climate change. Christine has a very special documentary coming up on money and the church and that will be next week right here on CNN.
We'll tell you a little bit more about that. Get ready to add some major star power to your fa la la las. She can probably sing it a lot better than I just said it. The hottest singers are gearing up for the Christmas in Washington concert as part of our own company, "TNT's Christmas in Washington Special."
VIPs will be in the audience and on stage. You see her right there, she always looks gorgeous, Mary J. Blige.
MARY J. BLIGE, SINGER: Thank you.
LEMON: She's talking to us live about the extravaganza. Hold that thought. We'll talk to you right after the break. Mary J.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. Listen, your neighborhood Christmas carolers can take a break. The pros are hitting the stage in D.C. tomorrow. Mary J. Blige, Usher, Neil Diamond, just some of the stars that will be belting out the holiday favorites for the taping of the Christmas in Washington concert. It actually airs - let's see, on TNT, December 20th, 8:00 p.m. Eastern. So you can check that out.
So joining us now from Washington, there she is, Mary J. Blige. We call had R&B star. She's just a music star with a great voice. By the way, you did a great national anthem, I was like, wow, Mary, go for it.
BLIGE: Wow, thank you.
LEMON: Ye.
BLIGE: Thank you.
LEMON: Merry Christmas to you, by the way.
BLIGE: Merry Christmas to you. Thank you.
LEMON: How did you get involved with this event?
BLIGE: Christmas in Washington, I got involved with this event through management. You know how it goes. They give you the call, and, of course, you know, why wouldn't I want to be here with the president and the first lady and all these wonderful people that are going to be here. And sing my favorite Christmas songs, you know?
LEMON: What is your favorite Christmas song?
BLIGE: I have two of them. Chestnuts, I think it is chestnuts. And "O Holy Night." LEMON: That's actually the Christmas song, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, yes.
BLIGE: Yes, yes.
LEMON: I would ask you to sing, but I know you would probably yell at me if I did that.
BLIGE: I need to save my voice for tomorrow.
LEMON: So, listen, this is a very, very high profile audience. You mentioned the president and the first lady, they're going to be there tomorrow. Are you nervous about that? Or is it -- does that pump you up to make you perform even better?
BLIGE: I'm not really nervous about tomorrow. I'm just really excited. I mean, I will be nervous come tomorrow. Right now I'm just really, really excited. And the fact that I'm here and I have the opportunity to be here will just make all my nerves go away.
LEMON: What are you going to sing, Mary, do you know at this point?
BLIGE: I'm singing "Chestnuts" -
LEMON: Oh, you are going to sing -
BLIGE: -- tomorrow and "O Holy Night," yes.
LEMON: OK. So it is going to air on the 20th. Before that we're going to talk a little bit more about this. But I want to talk about what you're doing, Mary, and I also know that you have an album that is coming out on December 21st. And people always look forward to your albums because there's always a message behind it. It is called "Stronger with Each Tear." Again, it is out December 21st, which is what the day after this special airs. So what can we expect from we expect with this CD?
BLIGE: I mean, you can basically expect the strength that comes with the, you know, the title. I mean, through each trial we go through, we get stronger. I mean, while we are in the trials we are crying wondering if we are ever going to get out. And once we get out, through all those tears there is strength. So I mean that is the blessing of the title of the album.
It's the fact that, you know, not make people sad or sulking, I'm able to relate to everyone and have people dance and still rejoice through lyrics and have people sit and have moments where they think through lyrics and not, you know, just a mixture of what life is. Life is not all sad. Life is not all happy. Life is not all, you know, just one thing. So, but at the same time keep it relative to where people are right now in the world. And that's what this album is about.
LEMON: You are doing that with your center, you have a women's center in your hometown of Yonkers. It is called the Mary J. Blige Center for Women and this is through your foundation called FAWN?
BLIGE: Yes.
LEMON: Why do that?
BLIGE: Well, FAWN is the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now. I wanted to come up with this foundation because of the abuse that I have seen women suffer through when I was a child. And my friend Steve Style and business partner asked me a year ago what I was most passionate about. I said helping women and helping save their lives. Because I have seen them suffer so much and you know, beaten and abused and abused themselves and even their children.
I couldn't go the next part of any journey without doing something to save lives. And that is what FAWN is about. It's, you know, about the education and empowerment and encouragement of women. I didn't get a lot of that when I was a child. So I just want to let people know that I understand what they are going through and I go through it as well. And that is what FAWN is about. It's about showing everyone that we are all the same no matter how much money, no matter how much money we don't have. We all suffer through the same.
LEMON: We are all the same.
BLIGE: Exactly.
LEMON: Money doesn't make suffering go away.
BLIGE: Right.
LEMON: I want to ask you this. It's sort of an unrelated subject, Mary, you co-executive produce the soundtrack for "Precious," which is I mean, tearing up the box office. Critical acclaim. Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. We heard about Tyler's mother earlier this week passing. Anything you want to say to him? I reached out to him. I haven't heard anything, anything you would like to say to Tyler Perry?
BLIGE: Yes. I just want to say to my friend Tyler Perry. We are all praying for you, that you would keep your head up. We are holding you up, Tyler, the way you held us up when no one else would even pay attention to us. We love you. We got you back and just know god is real and you'll be fine.
LEMON: Mary J. Blige. Merry Christmas to you. This airs on Sunday, December 20 at 8:00 p.m. on TNT. They tape it tomorrow "Christmas in Washington." Always a pleasure and again merry Christmas, Mary J. Blige.
BLIGE: Thank you, guys. Merry Christmas to you, too.
LEMON: We're going to move on now. And talk about Adam Sandler. Adam Sandler did it. So did the author of the "Dradle Song," right. Remember that? But this musical match up is something else. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
I don't know if it is in the category of miracles but having a Mormon member of the United States Senate add to the Hanukkah song collection is certainly right up there with the unexpected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Orrin Hatch takes to the floor with his Hanukkah song and we're tuning in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Taking some of your viewer feedback. Now, we'll get to that in just a moment. But when it comes to holiday songs we got Christmas carols galore. By comparison, the Hanukkah play list looks a little thin. This year there is at least one new song. Thanks to senator/composer Orrin Hatch.
Our Jessica Yellin shows us. The Mormon lawmaker is in harmony with the Jewish festival of lights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Move over dradle, dradle, dradle. Here comes Orrin Hatch.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come let's celebrate tonight.
YELLIN: It's a new Hanukkah song, written by the senior senator from Utah. Yes. Hatch is Mormon but says he always felt close to the Jewish community.
SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R), UTAH: We love the Jewish people. We revere what they've been through. We suffered with them.
YELLIN: So how did this happen? The conservative Republican likes to write spirituals and love songs. When a Jewish reporter suggested he try his hand at this. He decided to tell the story of Hannukah.
HATCH: This is a menorah. They filled with oil. But they really didn't have enough oil to really keep it going.
YELLIN: The song explains what Jews call a miracle when in ancient times one day's worth of oil stretched for eight days.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
YELLIN: Others have tried their hand at Hanukkah songs.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
YELLIN: Of course, there is Adam Sandler.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put on your yom ka. It is time for Hanukkah.
YELLIN: But the Utah senator's tune is winning raves from his peers. REP. ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK: I don't know if it is a category of miracles but having a Mormon member of the United States Senate add to the Hanukkah song collection is certainly right up there with the unexpected.
HATCH: Well, I've had people say they just love it. I've been stopped as I've walked through the halls.
YELLIN: We can think of two Jewish singers he would like to perform the song.
HATCH: I wouldn't mind Madonna sing it. She is a convert to Judaism. She is a great performer and a great singer.
YELLIN: And his favorite, Barbra Streisand.
HATCH: Barbra Streisand has the most beautiful clear voice I've ever heard. She probably hates my guts because I'm a conservative Republican.
YELLIN: Jessica Yellin, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Good stuff. I do like the Hanukkah song from Adam Sandler. It's very funny. OK. Time now for your feedback. Let's see, True love says Don LEMON:, thanks for Mary J. as guest. Great inspiration from her. Happy holidays to you both.
Happy holidays to you.
Let's see (INAUDIBLE) golf found a savior in Tiger Woods. It is an otherwise boring sport. He is gone so is the sport from a marketing perspective. JP6882 says can you please ask Mary when she is coming to Albany, New York. My girlfriend loves her, please ask her that question. I can't ask her now.
OK. So watching CNN, Mary J. Blige at Don Lemon. Glad you are watching. Thank you so much. Twitter, Facebook, myspace, I- report.com.
We want to tell you about a story that we're working on tonight, an American contractor arrested in Cuba. We are going to bring you the very latest on that, and talk to you about what is happening and how the government is trying to meet with him in Havana. And what's going on with that. So make sure you join us as 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. The HBO documentary "Terror in Mumbai" narrated by CNN's Fareed Zakaria begin right now. See you at 10:00.
