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Rod Blagojevich Sentenced; Canadian Prime Minister in DC; Interview With Texas Congressman Ron Paul; President Presses Congress to Pass Payroll Tax Cut Extension; Sandusky Arrested Again
Aired December 07, 2011 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Let's take you live to the White House where President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper are expected to talk any moment.
We heard about the president talking about this yesterday in Osawatomie, Kansas. Again, today, talking economy. We're going to keep an eye on that event for you.
Also, our own Wolf Blitzer interviewing not just one, but two presidential candidates today including the apparent GOP frontrunner. We are getting some sound turn around very, very quickly for you from Wolf's sit down both with Newt Gingrich and with Rick Perry as soon as we get that, you will hear it here on CNN.
Also, I will be interviewing Congressman Ron Paul, White House hopeful live in just about a minute. He's the only candidate, by the way, who was not invited to the Republican event in D.C. happening today.
So all of that coming up, but first this -- a couple stories we're looking at for you.
First, Jerry Sandusky arrested again. No charges will be filed against a former Syracuse assistant basketball coach. The man they call Blago learns his fate today.
And a big development in the fight over Plan B.
Time the play "Reporter Roulette" here.
I want to begin with Ted Rowlands in Chicago.
Ted, we know Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years. He spoke a moment ago. What do you know?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, 14 years in federal prison for Rod Blagojevich. He was hoping for around three to five. The prosecution was hoping for 15 to 20, so the judge obviously siding with the prosecution.
Blagojevich just came down from the courtroom about 10 minutes ago and addressed the media very briefly, made a statement, didn't take any questions, said essentially that he is going home to be with his two daughters, explain to them where they were going from here and he said he will be -- quote -- "fighting on." So expect an appeal in this case.
One thing to note, he doesn't have to report until February 16 to the Bureau of Prisons. So he does have this time to spend with his family, but the former governor of Illinois will spend 14 years -- or will be sentenced to 14 years in prison.
BALDWIN: And, Ted, I'm just curious, since he does get to go home for those 90 days, as we heard the sound a moment ago, try to explain this to his kids, why is that? Why does he get that 90-day break?
ROWLANDS: Well, it's up to the judge's discretion whether in a case he allows a defendant to go away, to be basically out on bond during the period of where the Bureau of Prisons figures out where that inmate is going.
Typically, an inmate is remanded into custody. In Illinois here, before Blagojevich, George Ryan was sentenced in the same manner and he was allowed to go home. The prevailing thought was that this was going to be the case. And indeed the judge gave him this opportunity to spend the next month-plus with his family.
BALDWIN: OK. Ted Rowlands in Chicago, Ted, thank you.
Next here on "Reporter Roulette," a stunning development today in the sex abuse case against former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine. The news today, no charges. No charges are being filed against this man.
Gary Tuchman is on the phone with me from Syracuse.
We know Bernie Fine was fired. Why won't he be facing charges?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Brooke, no charges, but -- and there's a huge but here -- the district attorney here in Onondaga County, New York, Bill Fitzpatrick, says he has no doubt criminal charges would be filed against Bernie Fine if there wasn't a statute of limitations.
He says he totally believes the two accusers, Bobby Davis and Mike Lang. They are step-brothers. He apologized to both of them for their allegations not being taken more seriously years ago. And he absolutely says, if there wasn't a five year statute of limitations in this county, Bernie Fine's case would be brought to the grand jury and the prosecutor believes that this case would have gone to trial.
BALDWIN: So if I'm hearing you correctly, this is a statute of limitations in the county, but let's talk about the federal case. There's still an investigation under way there, correct?
TUCHMAN: Right. There is certainly still a federal investigation. There have been at least two other accusers who have gone forward. However, the district attorney here in Onondaga County says at this point, there's no other accusations that are credible.
But the two accusations that have been made by Mike Lang and by Bobby Davis, and we interviewed Mike Lang last week, he says those are very credible and he believes every word they say about what happened to them with Bernie Fine.
BALDWIN: Gary Tuchman, keep us posted there for us from Syracuse. Thank you so much.
Next on "Reporter Roulette," the nation's health secretary is overruling this recommendation by the FDA on Plan B One-Step, the so- called morning after bill.
Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here to explain, as we have been following the developments too today.
What is going on?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: This is actually a relatively bizarre situation. Let me just sort of paint the picture here.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: So, Plan B, what a woman takes after unprotected intercourse for the 72 hours afterwards, you can get it if you're over 17. You can just waltz into a drugstore and get it. If you're under 17, you have to get a doctor's prescription. So that's obviously a pretty big barrier towards getting it.
Today the Department of Health and Human services said, no, we're not going to let younger women just waltz in and get it. They will still need a prescription.
BALDWIN: So Kathleen Sebelius coming forward and saying no?
COHEN: Coming in and saying, but...
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: Here's where the weirdness is.
BALDWIN: OK.
COHEN: The weirdness is that her own agency, the Food and Drug Administration, said, yes, we think women under 17 should be able to waltz in and get it off the shelves in the same way that you can get let's say a condom. So it was Kathleen Sebelius disagreeing with her own people.
BALDWIN: So potentially politics at play or we don't know?
COHEN: You have to guess.
BALDWIN: You have to wonder.
COHEN: I have to say you rarely, rarely see this.
BALDWIN: Does this affect then all women?
COHEN: It does in a way, because right now if a woman over 17 wants to get this drug, they have to go to the pharmacist and the pharmacist has to get it from behind the shelves. You don't need a prescription, but you have to go and ask for it and they have to go and get it. And that's because they don't want young teenagers to just go and get it. Does that make sense?
BALDWIN: Yes.
COHEN: So they keep it behind...
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: You still have to ask.
COHEN: You still have to ask for it.
But if the government said, yes, anybody can get it, then they would put it out on the shelves along with the condoms and everything else. If this had happened differently today, then Plan B would have been on the shelves and you could have just waltzed in, grabbed it off the shelf and bought it. But now...
BALDWIN: That's not the case?
COHEN: That's not the case. Even if you're over 17, you will still have to ask a pharmacist for it. And they will have to sort of go back and get it. And that's a barrier for some women.
BALDWIN: Got it.
Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.
COHEN: Thanks.
BALDWIN: And that's your "Reporter Roulette" here for, what's today, Wednesday.
COHEN: Today is Wednesday.
BALDWIN: Thank you, ma'am.
Still ahead, this is tremendous here today, a stunning development in the killing of a 7-year-old girl in Georgia. Police finally making an arrest of a man who worked at the apartment complex where this little girl lives.
Plus, first you had Fast and Furious. Now another headache for the Obama administration involving drug cartels. This time, federal agents are accused of laundering money.
Also, suddenly, according to these new polls, Newt Gingrich is the clear front-runner in the Republican presidential race. One of his opponents not wasting any time attacking him. He is Congressman Ron Paul. He's going to join me live.
We will ask him about Gingrich. We're going to ask him about Donald Trump and why he was left out of this major Republican event happening today in Washington. Why is he not there? More next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWS BREAK)
BALDWIN: Jason Carroll with more on Jerry Sandusky here.
Tell me about these additional charges and these alleged victims.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he's facing multiple counts, four counts of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, in addition, Brooke, two counts of unlawful contact with a minor.
Let me just take a step back here and explain to some of those what is going on here. You remember the previous grand jury report that had outlined eight alleged victims who Sandusky had allegedly sexually assaulted. Now we have two new additional victims.
They are identified as victim number nine and victim number 10 in this new grand jury report, again, some of the similar allegations that we heard before, prosecutors saying that Sandusky followed a similar pattern of grooming these young boys whose were around ages 11 and 12 when the abuse allegedly happened, grooming them by giving them gifts, giving them money, gaining their trust, according to prosecutors, and then sexually assaulting them.
When this arrest happened, Brooke, this afternoon, at the same time this was going on, one of our CNN producers just happened to be speaking with Sandusky's attorney, Joe Amendola, and when all this was happening. His BlackBerry started going off and the calls started coming into his office when all of this was going on. And as you can imagine, Amendola was very upset, very angry that he was not given the heads-up that this was happening.
But, once again, Jerry Sandusky now has been arrested again for new allegations of sexually abusing young boys -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: Here's my question, Jason Carroll. You were in the weeds on this story. You knew every detail.
Remember that judge -- it was the judge who granted the bond to Jerry Sandusky after this whole report came out, and she came under fire and it also came out that she had some ties to his charity, The Second Mile. Do we know if she is still in her post, A., and, B., if she is, would she be overseeing this hearing?
CARROLL: Not this particular hearing. And this particular situation, we are hearing that for this first arraignment, that he is now -- bond has been set at $250,000 in this particular case. We will have to see what happens with that.
BALDWIN: OK.
CARROLL: But once again, this is not good news for Jerry Sandusky, Brooke, simply because already he was facing, by -- many legal analysts were say that he is facing somewhat of an uphill battle with all of these allegations coming forward.
And even his own attorney had said this afternoon that he has some concerns himself about new allegations coming to the surface. And now we have once again two new additional victims only identified in this new grand jury report as victim number nine and victim number 10.
BALDWIN: And still he denies the allegations as we heard him speaking with that reporter from The "New York Times" over the weekend.
Jason Carroll, stay on it for us. We appreciate you very much.
Coming up, most all of the GOP presidential candidates are in Washington, D.C., today courting the Jewish voters. We're going to talk with Jim Acosta about the hammering they are giving the White House.
And, by the way, the only GOP candidate not there, Ron Paul, but he is joining me in 15 minutes.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Want to break away from the break to take you now live to the White House.
You see him, President Obama. He has a visitor, Canadian Prime Stephen Harper, talking economy.
Let's listen.
(BEGIN LIVE SPEECH)
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have got a trusted partner, and I think he will agree that perhaps no two nations match up more closely together or are woven together more deeply economically, culturally, than the United States and Canada.
And that deep sense of interconnection, our shared values, our shared interests infuse the work that we have done today, from supporting a resolution to the Eurozone crisis to moving ahead with the transition in Afghanistan, from deepening security cooperation here in the Americas, to supporting reform and democratic transitions in the Middle East and North Africa.
Our focus today, however, is on our highest priority and my top priority as president. And that's creating a jobs faster and growing the economy faster. And in this mission, Canada has a special role to play.
As most of you know, Canada is our single largest trading partner, our top export market. And those exports, from cars to food, support some 1.7 million good-paying American jobs. Canada, in turn, is one of the top foreign investors in the United States, and that creates even more jobs and prosperity.
And the prime minister and I are determined not just to sustain this trade, but to expand it, to grow it even faster, so we're creating even more jobs and more opportunity for our people.
Canada is key to achieving my goal of doubling American exports and putting folks back to work. And the two important initiatives that we agreed to today will help us do just that.
First, we're agreeing to a series of concrete steps to bring our economies even closer and to improve the security of our citizens, not just along our shared border, but beyond that border. Put simply, we're going to make it easier to conduct the trade and travel that creates jobs, and we're going to make it harder for those who would do us harm and threaten our security.
For example, some 90 percent of all our trade, more than $1 billion in trade every single day, passes through our roads, our bridges, and our ports. But because of old systems and heavy congestion, it still takes too many products too long to cross our borders.
And for every business, either Canadian or American, time is money. So we're going to improve our infrastructure. We're going to introduce new technologies. We're going to improve cargo security and screening, all designed to make it easier for our companies to do business and create jobs. And that, by the way, includes our small businesses, which create most of the new jobs here in America.
And when they look to export typically, Canada is one of the most likely places they are to start getting a foothold in a global economy. So it's hugely important for our small and medium-size businesses.
Last year, more than 100 million people crossed our shared border, including lots of Canadians who, I would note, spend more money in the United States than any other visitors.
So, I want to make a pitch. We want even more Canadians visiting the United States. And, please, spend more money here. We want to make it easier for frequent travelers and our businesspeople to travel, and we're going to create a simplified entry-exit system.
I would add that along with better screening and sharing more information, this will help us be even smarter about our joint security, concentrating our resources where they're needed most, identifying real threats to our security before they reach our shores.
The second thing we're doing is, we're ramping up our effort to get rid of outdated, unjustified regulations that stifle trade and job creation. This is especially important in sectors like the auto industry, where so many cars and products are built on both sides of the border.
But sometimes that is slowed down by regulations and paperwork that frankly just doesn't make sense. So we're going to strike a better balance with sensible regulations that unleash trade and job creation, while still protecting public health and safety.
And this builds on the efforts that we have here in the United States, led by Cass Sunstein at OIRA, where we're eliminating billions of dollars costs from regulations.
Now our two nations are going to be going further, streamlining, eliminating and coordinating regulations, slashing red tape. And we're going to focus on several key sectors, including autos, agriculture, and health care. So this can be a win/win situation, where not only are we making our regulatory systems more efficient in our respective countries, but we're also seeing greater convergence between our two countries.
Even as we pursue these two new initiatives, the prime minister and I discussed our broader economic relationship. I am pleased that Canada has expressed an interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Many of you accompanied me to the APEC meeting, where you know that this has generated a great deal of interest.
So we look forward to consulting with Canada, as well as our TPP partners and others about how all of us can meet the high standards demanded by this trade agreement. And it can be, I think, a real model not only for the region, but for the world.
We did discuss the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which is very important to Canada. And I think the prime minister and our Canadian friends understand that it is important for us to make sure that all the questions regarding the project are properly understood, especially its impact on our environment and the health and safety of the American people.
And I assured him that we will have a very rigorous process to work through that issue. So, we're going to continue to work as partners and as friends.
And, Stephen, on this day and in all the discussions that we have, I want to thank you again for your candor, your sense of common purpose, what you bring and your team brings to this partnership. It has been extraordinary. And I want to personally thank you for the progress that our teams made in these two very important announcements that we made today.
I am confident, by the way, that we are going to implement them diligently. We have folks like Secretary Napolitano from Department of Homeland Security and Cass Sunstein who are going to be heading up our team and making sure that these things go into effect in a way that benefits both the Canadian people and the American people.
And so, Stephen, to all the people of Canada, thank you. To you, thank you.
And I wish everybody a wonderful holiday season.
STEPHEN HARPER, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you, Barack.
Thank you for, first of all, our candid conversation today. As always, we always appreciate that. We appreciate all work that has been done on this. I did mention Bob Hamilton, Simon Kennedy working on our side, but do I want to thank all the officials on both sides who have been working over very many months to do what is a very important initiative.
And, of course, I do want to thank you for your friendship, not just personally, Barack, but I know the friendship you feel for the entire nation of Canada. And we all do appreciate it.
Today, we are pleased to announce ambitious agreements on perimeter security and economic competitiveness, as well as on regulatory cooperation.
These agreements create a new modern order for a new century. Together, they represent the most significant steps forward in Canada- U.S. cooperation since the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The first agreement merges U.S. and Canadian security concerns.
(END LIVE SPEECH)
BALDWIN: All right. We are going to pull away. But I think you got the gist of what the president there and the Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, were essentially saying, thanking one another for this win-win partnership, this relationship, very good friends, Canada and the U.S. talking about extending and expanding trade, essentially the president saying, pitch to Canadians, please come to the U.S., please spend more money.
So they there are, speaking today, meeting today in the White House.
Also, staying in Washington, a couple of the men who would like to have the president's job, President Obama's job, just sat down with Wolf Blitzer. Wait until you hear what Newt Gingrich said about a vice presidential pick, and Rick Perry on Donald Trump. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A number of the Republican presidential candidates are in Washington today. They're at the Republican Jewish coalition essentially courting Jewish voters.
And while they're in Washington, two of them actually sat down separately with my colleague Wolf Blitzer.
First, let me tee up this sound bite. You're going to hear from Newt Gingrich and he is talking here about a possible pick for vice president. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Could you see, if you got the nomination, asking him to be your running mate?
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think there are circumstances where he would certainly be on the list. Whether he would want to or not, but he's a very confident person. This is a serious man. I could see -- I would certainly support him if he became the Republican nominee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That was Newt Gingrich.
Now I want you to hear Rick Perry, Rick Perry speaking about Donald Trump to Wolf Blitzer. Here you go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Have you made a decision on the Donald Trump debate?
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I haven't. We're right in the middle of a very, very important bus tour when that was planned and this bus tour has been on the books for a pretty good spell.
BLITZER: This bus tour is in Iowa?
PERRY: Right. It is. But...
BLITZER: Because his debate is in Iowa.
PERRY: I don't want to tell people that I promised that I'm going to be in their town doing an event with them that, hey, sorry, I have got to go run in and do -- you know, and the preparation and what have you, so we're still giving it consideration, but the people of Iowa come first.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So there you have it, just the first little bit of sound from both Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich, both of whom spoke with Wolf Blitzer today.
Obviously, you're to see a lot more of that coming up in just about half-an-hour from now on "THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER."
Coming up next here, though, Congressman Ron Paul, also someone who would love to have the president's job. There he is live for me on Capitol Hill. We're going to talk to the congressman standing by live.
But, first, let's go back to President Obama.
(BEGIN LIVE SPEECH)
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
OBAMA: And the reason is because the payroll tax cut is something that House Republicans, as well as Senate Republicans should want to do regardless of any other issues.
The question is going to be, are they willing to vote against a proposal that ensure that Americans at a time when the recovery is still fragile don't see their taxes go up by $1,000. So it shouldn't be held hostage for any other issues that they may be concerned about.
And so my warning is not just specific to Keystone. Efforts to tie a whole bunch of other issues by something that they should be doing anyway will be rejected by me.
With respect to the politics, look, this is a big project with big consequences. We've seen Democrats and Republicans express concerns about it. And it is my job as president of the United States to make sure that a process is followed that examines all of the options, looks at all of the consequences before a decision is made.
Now, that process is moving forward. The State Department is making sure that it crosses all of its t's and dots all of its i's before making a determination. And, you know, I think it's worth noting for those who want to try to politicize size this issue that when it comes to domestic energy production, we have gone all in because our belief is that we're going to have to do a whole range of things to make sure that U.S. energy independence exists for a long time to come, U.S. energy security exists for a long time to come.
So we have boosted oil production. We are boosting natural gas production. We are looking at a lot of traditional energy sources even as we insist on transitioning to clean energy. And I think this shouldn't be a Democratic or Republican issue.
This should be an American issue, how do we make sure we have the best possible energy mix to benefit our businesses, benefit our workers, but also benefit our families to make sure that the public health and safety of the people are looked after. And that's what this process is designed to do.
(END LIVE SPEECH)
BALDWIN: We wanted to head back to that quickly because each of these men are getting one question, one question apiece. And you heard him talk energy, but off the top you heard him talk about the payroll tax. And that's what he was asked about.
And we've heard him really over the course of the last couple of days whether or not Congress will compromise and extend the payroll tax cut. The president would not only like to extend but expand it by lowering the rate, essentially giving the average American household an extra $1,000 to $1,500 in their pocket come next year. Keep in mind, that expires by the end of the years. So is it a matter of will they compromise or is it matter of how they're going to pay for it? Watch and see.
Meantime, Congressman Ron Paul on the other side of the break in 60 seconds. Be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: What a day it's been. And now we get to talk to live from Capitol Hill Representative Ron Paul, Republican running for president. Congressman, Paul, welcome. Thank you for coming back on the show.
Let me point out, you're there at Capitol Hill. You're not with your fellow candidates at this pro-Israel -- we've shown several of them speaking today. And this is because the Republican-Jewish Coalition chose to exclude you. They say that you are anti-Israel, that you are extreme.
Here's my question to you, sir. Did you at all take a moment and protest your exclusion and say -- I hear you laughing -- saying, hey, this is America, I should be heard as well?
RON PAUL, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, that's one point of view and that's a healthy point of view. And, you know, healthy discussion is a good American tradition, too. But it's a private organization, so me being very much aware of what private organizations can do, I really don't have much recourse.
But I think in public opinion, people will ask questions, why isn't he included? He doesn't say everything like everybody else, but maybe we do need a full discussion and to paint it and say, maybe he's not supportive of Israel, he's anti-Israel, that's being dismissed rather carelessly and unfairly. So I've had my chance and we've had a little bit of access to Internet to explain my position. So it may well appear here rather shortly.
BALDWIN: OK, so as it appears shortly, I also want to read something that you said not too long ago at a CNN candidate forum. You say, quote, "Why do we have this automatic commitment that we're going to send our kids and send our money endlessly to Israel? I think they are quite capable of taking care of themselves." Congressman Paul, with all due respect, that doesn't sound like a candidate who will realistically challenge the Republican nomination.
PAUL: Well, what you need to do is go and read the speech that Netanyahu gave on the House floor here a couple nights ago. He said we don't need American troops. We can take care of ourselves. That might be worth looking into.
We don't have a treaty with Israel and we should be friends with Israel and we should trade with them and do all of these things. But to commit another generation we don't even have a right to do it. And if it's necessary to be involved in a war, the president doesn't make that decision. The people do it through declaration of war in the Congress.
I don't know what is so extreme about following the rules and a little bit of decorum and being sensible about it. I worry about this senselessness of going to war any time that we want. That's my greatest problem. We're involved in too many wars and we should be careful on how we go to wars. But if Netanyahu says we don't need our troops over there, why am I not allowed to say that as well?
BALDWIN: But congressman, we've heard this from you, that we are involved in too many wars, or we could be. Is it emblematic at all of the box you find yourself in, because you certainly have some very faithful supporters, you core group of supporters. But because you are so committed, so libertarian, that you are forever unlikely to garner mass appeal?
PAUL: I think America is in a box. We're in a box with our national defense. We spend too much money policing the world, getting involved in nation building, we're going bankrupt. We have to borrow the money we're spending overseas. We are in a financial crisis. America is not in a box. I'm not in a box. I'm just telling the truth of what is going on.
BALDWIN: Do you at all feel like you've boxed yourself in and so come time for the rest of the country to vote for you, you're not going to have that support en masse?
PAUL: I think you have it backwards. I think the American people are boxed in and they want out. That's why I get support. I get twice as much support as all of the other from the military, and they're sick and tired of being boxed in too. So I would say the boxing in is the American people. The American taxpayer needs unlimited commitment in going to war on the United Nations on NATO. And Obama went into Libya and didn't even consult with the Congress. That's being really boxed in. That's what we have to deal with.
BALDWIN: Congressman, speaking of your hands-off foreign policy, we have to talk about Donald Trump. So he is out there and he's out there saying you don't give a hoot if Iran gets a nuclear weapon. Have you heard that?
PAUL: Well, yes, but he's wrong, because I give a hoot about nuclear weapons. I don't want anybody to have them. I think they are terrible. I think we should do what we can. We treated Libya differently. We talked them out of it. So what did we do to them? We bombed them and threw Gadhafi out of office.
But, yes, I care about it. I think we should have a lot less. But I don't want to be going to war on another country that doesn't have a nuclear weapon and they are not even on the verge of it, according to our own CIA agents. There's no evidence that they are on the verge of a nuclear weapon.
And this was the same war-mongering talk that we went into war against Iraq. Why don't we pay attention? The greatest threat that we face today is carelessly starting a war against Iran because of a weapon that they don't have. And even a recently retired head of the Mossad said that would be the stupidest thing in the world for us to do is start bombing Iran because they might have nuclear weapons.
BALDWIN: So moving along with foreign policy, I have to talk about this race that you're in. And here's my question. Newt Gingrich, is he the Republican front-runner now? Do you see it that way?
PAUL: He's the flavor of the week. We don't know what it will be next week.
BALDWIN: Not the front-runner then, you say?
PAUL: Well, I mean, he has to be there for more than a week, and the only thing that really counts is a month from now. And if you look at our growth in the polls, I mean, ours is steady. Nobody takes it away from me that it's not solid. People don't come and go once they support our campaign.
So I feel good about our growth. We were in high single digits six months ago, we are in high double digits now, in second and third place solidly. I say we just keep doing what we are doing now and we will have a very good showing come January.
BALDWIN: Yes, you have very solid p numbers. We've seen the polls in Iowa. But is it at all frustrating to you congressman? You've been out there, built this solid organization in Iowa, the nuts, the bolts. And then you have this man, Newt Gingrich, really no organization to speak of, have him sort of swoop in, charming the pants off these Iowans? Does that bug you?
PAUL: No, I wouldn't use that. But just remember, easy come, easy go. So we'll worry about that later on. I don't think it's all that solid. He's the fourth person to have done this. So why should you assume that the nomination is locked in?
BALDWIN: So you're not too concerned? You say "flavor of the week"? You say wait until January 3rd?
PAUL: I'm only concerned about me being able to convince people that we need to change our attitude in Washington, that the status quo won't work, that we need a new foreign policy. We need to look at the Federal Reserve. We need to balance our budget and live within the rule of law. We need to care about civil liberties. That's what I care about.
BALDWIN: Congressman Ron Paul, appreciate you being on. Thank you so much there for us on Capitol Hill.
Still to come, more breaking news on the arrest of Jerry Sandusky, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: At the top of the show we told you that former defensive coach at Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, was arrested again. We have news on that. Jason Carroll back on the phone with me. Jason, what do you know?
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, (via telephone): Well, what we're getting right now, Brooke, are some of the terms of bail that were set this afternoon. As you know, Jerry Sandusky, now $250,000 cash bail has been set. He's currently being transported to the Center County Correction facility for processing.
If Sandusky is able to post bail at a later date he'll be subject to an electronic monitoring device and house arrest, which are some of the conditions of the bail, that is, if he's able to meet bail.
And basically this is all coming -- this arrest coming after the grand jury issued a report naming two additional victims. They are identified in the grand jury report as victim number nine and victim number 10. You'll remember that previously there was another grand jury report where eight victims were identified. This would bring the number of victims to ten.
And what we've seen in the grand jury report are similarities, some of the things that are going to sound familiar to you. But what prosecutors are saying is that the two new victims, it was the same story. Jerry Sandusky befriended these young boys, showered them with gifts, what prosecutors call "grooming," gaining trust. And on page three of the report, something particularly chilling, if I can read to you very quickly.
BALDWIN: Yes.
CARROLL: "The victim testified" -- this is a quote -- "The victim testified that at least on one occasion he screamed for help -- screamed for help" -- this would be from Sandusky's basement -- "knowing that Sandusky's wife was upstairs but no one ever came to help him." That's a quote from page three of this grand jury report from a victim identified as victim number nine.
So more problems for Jerry Sandusky. Earlier this afternoon when all of this was going on, one of our producers was actually sitting down with Jerry Sandusky's attorney and they were just talking about some of the concerns that he had about new allegations coming forward, and then something like this happens and apparently Joe Amendola expressed his anger, Brooke, of at least not being given the heads up that these new arrests were coming down.
BALDWIN: So what I'm hearing, from the difference of when he posted bond the last time -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- it was $200,000. So now you're talking $250,000 if Sandusky posts bond. The difference is he will have an ankle monitoring device and he will be under house arrest, correct?
CARROLL: That is correct. He'll have some sort of an electronic monitoring device subject to house arrest. Other conditions include no contact with victims and of course no unsupervised contact with minors. Those will be the conditions if he's able to meet bail.
BALDWIN: If he is. Jason Carroll, thank you for picking up the phone and giving us the update. We appreciate it.
A maintenance man is arrested for what police call the planned and calculated murder of a seven-year-old girl and a warning some of these details that we have to talk about as part of this story is difficult. Jorelys Rivera was this little seven year old girl in Canton, Georgia. She disappeared from a playground at her own apartment complex on Friday. Just about three hours ago, police arrested this man, 20- year-old Ryan Brunn. Investigators say that Brunn took Jorelys to a vacant apartment in a building next to the one in which she lived, and killed her there.
Sunny Hostin is on the case. Sunny, police are giving out just a little more information about what happened to this seven-year-old. Let's watch.
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VERNON KEENAN, GBI DIRECTOR: The child was taken to a vacant apartment unit located in a building adjacent to where the child resided. We have evidence that the murder occurred in that vacant apartment. At some point, the child's body was then disposed of in the dumpster and compacted into trash.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Compacted into trash. Sunny Hostin, we know she was beaten, she was raped, she was stabbed, dumped in that trash compactor. Does this rank, as a former child sex crime prosecutor, does this rank among some of the most brutal cases that you've even heard of?
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL CORRESPONDENT: No question about it. This is the worst of the worst. And, you know, we do hear about these stranger child abductions and murders and rapes. Remember, Samantha Runnion, Jessica Lunsford. There have been many that we've covered, unfortunately. But certainly when you have a fact pattern like this, if all of these allegations are true, this certainly is one of the worst of the worst, Brooke.
BALDWIN: This 20-year-old we're watching getting taken away, does he have a criminal history?
HOSTIN: He has no prior criminal history, and that was surprising, because we know that there were sexual offenders -- registered sexual offenders living in the community, which was a shock to me, because typically they are not supposed to live near playgrounds, near schools, but apparently he was not one of them.
He moved in -- he lived there and he also worked there. He was a maintenance worker there. Apparently he started working there November 7. The police are indicating that this was a plan and really calculated murder.
And we know from experience that child predators do covet what they see, what they have access to. And so I'm sure we'll learn more about this investigation, Brooke, as to whether or not he did plan this out, whether or not he had any sort of history with this young child. But, oh, it's just probably one of the worst cases that I've seen.
BALDWIN: And we know this little girl was essentially snatched out of this playground at this apartment complex. So the mother wasn't there in that moment. And so as a result, Children's services have taken her siblings away from the mother for alleged lack of supervision. What do you make of that move?
HOSTIN: You know, she was apparently out -- this little girl was outside in the playground with a lot of other children. A teenager was supposed to be watching her. You know, you never want to blame the parent whose loss is obviously just so palpable. But the bottom line is, we have to watch our babies. We have to watch our children.
And so the fact that she was out in the playground unsupervised by an adult is problematic and certainly was problematic in this case. And so I'm sure child services wanted to make sure that the other siblings and the other children in the household were protected and supervised.
BALDWIN: You know, I was talking to Erin Runnion on the show just yesterday. Her daughter Samantha was taken from her in 2002 and was murdered. What's the message to parents, because you can't keep your kid, you know, under supervision 24/7, locked up in your home? So what do you do?
HOSTIN: You don't want to lock them up in your home, certainly. But I believe that you just have to supervise your children. Unfortunately in today's day and age it's just not the smart thing to do to leave your children outside at a playground or in front of your home without supervision. You've got to watch your children, because, again, child predators look for children that aren't supervised. They look for children that they can have access to. And therein lies perhaps one of the lessons that we will learn from this case. You have to supervise these children.
BALDWIN: And these predators don't look like some big scary guy that pops out of an alley. They look like anyone you live with or work with as well.
HOSTIN: That's right.
BALDWIN: Sunny, thank you.
BALDWIN: Coming up next, Wolf Blitzer will be join me fresh off his two big interviews today. We'll get a preview, next.
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BALDWIN: Wolf Blitzer, let me bring you in to preview "THE SITUATION ROOM." I just talked to Congressman Ron Paul. You talked to Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich. John King talking to Michele Bachmann. It's not a bad day for us.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Yes. They are all here in Washington. They're over at the Ronald Reagan building. I went over there. They're meeting with the Republican Jewish Coalition. By the way, a very good interview with Ron Paul, Brooke.
We've got strong interviews in the 4:00 hour, my interview with Rick Perry, the Texas governor. In the 5:00 hour, 5:00 p.m. eastern, Newt Gingrich, a very strong interview with him on a whole range of issues.
And in about five or six minutes right when my show starts we have brand-new CNN-"TIME" Magazine poll numbers just coming in. We can't tell you until exactly at 4:00 p.m. But in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida, brand new numbers where the horse race is less than four weeks before the first of the caucuses January 3rd in Iowa. I know, Brooke, you're going to want to see that. Don't say anything, though.
BALDWIN: Done. We'll see you in a couple minutes.
BLITZER: Don't tweet it.
BALDWIN: I won't. Mum's the word.
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BALDWIN: We'll see you in less six minutes, Wolf Blitzer. Thank you, sir.
In the meantime, let's talk about another candidate, Mitt Romney. What did Mitt Romney pick for his campaign song?. Here's a hint -- Kid Rock may know. That's next.
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BALDWIN: Mitt Romney has officially chosen his campaign song. Joe Johns is here with Political Pop. Joe Johns, who is it and what is it?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brooke. It's Kid Rock song, "Born Free." It's apparently going to be the theme song of Mitt Romney's campaign. This is according to a posting on Kid Rock's official website. A bunch of news organizations picking it up.
It would make sense, too, on a couple of different levels. Romney and Kid Rock have strong ties to the state of Michigan. Kid Rock was born in Romeo, Michigan. Romney is the son of Michigan governor George Romney. Good fit right there, of course.
You don't want to get too far ahead of yourselves because Romney is not even the presumptive front-runner anymore. Newt Gingrich is. But you never know what is going to happen. And this could be a song that becomes a fixture if you will in campaigns. With all those caveats, let's listen to the song.
BALDWIN: OK.
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(MUSIC)
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JOHNS: For a campaign you got to have a song with a lot of energy and "Born Free" is certainly that song. We will not have a situation at least this time where a politician starts using some artist's work and the artist complains.
Apparently Kid Rock is on board with this. This is on his Web site. They say he is a supporter of the Republican Party including people like George W. Bush. Kid Rock apparently excited about Romney using his song as the theme song. We will see where it leads.
BALDWIN: All right, "Born Free." We will have to do some digging to see what else the rest of the group will be playing at their rallies. Joe Johns, thank you so much for that Political Pop. Since I have you for about 60 more seconds, take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: December 7th, 1941, a date that will live in infamy.
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BALDWIN: That voice, that was President Franklin Roosevelt describing Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Today aging World War II vets, many of them in their 90s are in Hawaii honoring the 2,400 Americans killed that day 70 years ago. Just about 120 Pearl Harbor survivors are there in attendance. The Survivors Association though is dissolving this month. Why? Because the passing of time is taking its toll on the health of its remaining members.
And that just about does it for me. Two big interviews coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM." Wolf sat down with both Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry today. They were there in Washington. Also some big new poll numbers coming in in nine seconds from now. So without further ado, to Wolf Blitzer. "THE SITUATION ROOM" starts right now.
