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Avoiding An Asteroid Armageddon; Child Rapper's Video Catches Eye Of Internet Viewers; Child Protection Authorities; Honey Boo Boo Making Bigger International Splash Than John Kerry?

Aired February 26, 2013 - 14:30   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: But here's what I want to tell you now. What if I were to tell you there is a team of scientists actually planning to do precisely that? Their mission is this, to slam a spacecraft into a near earth asteroid. Remember this? This teeny-weeny dot. Looks teeny-weeny to you and me. Blink and you missed it. It was two Fridays ago we watched this live. That was the nearest the world came to being hit by an asteroid of its size.

So our own space guru Chad Myers joining me here. And we also have Miles O'Brien, a science correspondent for PBS "Newshour." He's with me.

And so, Miles, let me just begin with you, because I just want you to explain the theory behind this. I mean flying a perfectly good spacecraft, presumably unmanned, into an asteroid? Why?

MILES O'BRIEN, PBS "NEWSHOUR": I would not volunteer for that mission. That is for sure.

BALDWIN: Yes.

O'BRIEN: You know, anybody who's played a little bit of pool or snookers or billiards understands what's going on here.

You hit it and presumably the ball will head in another direction. In this case the asteroid. It is a small moon, but the idea is to send two spacecraft out there, one would plow into this tiny little moon, which orbits around the asteroid, which is about 8/10 of a kilometer in diameter.

And then the second spacecraft would see what happens. Did it change the orbit, or change it in just enough of a way that if it were headed for earth and we should underscore the point that this particular asteroid is only going to come 6 million miles away from us, if it were headed for earth, could we nudge it out of harm's way. That's the idea.

BALDWIN: That's the point, could we nudge it so we don't end up getting hit. We know this group. Chad and I were joking, everything the government always has an acronym, so it's the asteroid impact in deflection assessment mission or AIDA is the acronym. They decided on this asteroid target. Tell me about this particular asteroid.

O'BRIEN: As I say, it is really just -- it is two rocks, one big one, one smaller one. They won't hit the big rock because the changes that they might perceive would be a little too subtle. They'll hit the little one, which is kind of like a little moon around it if you will. It's a binary system to use the term of art in space.

And they'll see how much they can move it. Now, one of the important things to think about is if we did, in fact, have a big rock headed our way, the kilometer or bigger, it could cause a really bad day for all of us, what would you do? How big a rock would you have to send? Would you send a nuclear bomb and blow it up nearby?

What happens if in the process of trying to nudge it, you blast it to smithereens and you create all these additional rocks? You might have just as much of a problem if not more so --

BALDWIN: Listen, these are a lot of ifs.

O'BRIEN: We need Bruce Willis is what we need.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: If I'm going to take you back to Monty Python, a two ounce sparrow cannot carry a one pound coconut. This is a giant rock and you're going to hit it with a little spaceship. It is like a mosquito hitting your windshield. That doesn't slow your car down.

O'BRIEN: Ever so slightly it does.

MYERS: Ever so slightly.

O'BRIEN: A lot of mosquitoes in theory would in fact do that. The idea is if you spotted an asteroid, headed our way, headed to Cleveland, let's say, I just picked that out of my --

BALDWIN: Cleveland?

O'BRIEN: Don't worry, Cleveland. You have 50 years to do something. You could send something up to ding it out of the way, or you could plant a rocket with a thruster on it and with a little thrust could send it ever so slightly away from earth. You have a chance. Unlike the dinosaurs, we have the ability to look out there, see something and do something about it.

BALDWIN: Yes, bye-bye dinosaurs. We know how that went with them and the big old asteroid many a moon ago. Miles O'Brien, thank you very much. He's an official asteroid hunter, astronaut.

MYERS: Ten years away.

BALDWIN: Yes, we'll see. Chad, thank you.

Coming up next, it is here, the hot topic face-off. Have you heard about this 9-year-old -- 9, 10, I've seen two different ages -- blowing up the Internet? Now his parents are making news because they're being investigated. We'll show you part of the rap video.

Plus dozens of Republicans, they pulled this about face on gay marriage. What does it mean for the conservative movement? And John Kerry is overseas, but so is Honey Boo Boo and she's getting all the attention. Panelists are standing by. They will be revealed on the other side of the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: And welcome back. I'm Brooke Baldwin. For the next 20 minutes we will be tackling the hot stories you'll be chatting about around the dinner table. And we begin with this pint sized rapper raising all kinds of eyebrows and some concerns. Check him out.

His name, here we go, his name is Lil' Poopy, this Massachusetts rapper whose actual name is Louie Rivera Jr., singing about Coke isn't a bad word. Not entirely sure which coke he's referring to. I heard him say Coca-Cola. I don't know.

It's actually one of his tamer videos. There are all kinds of videos posted on YouTube. You see this 10-year-old flashing cash, making it rain, rapping in a nightclub, even smacking the back side of a woman, yes.

The adult nature of the video caught the attention of the State Child Welfare Authorities. They're now looking into this father saying this could be neglect, could be possibly abuse. They're investigating, but his lawyer says, hang on, this is free speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH KROWSKI, ATTORNEY FOR LUIS RIVERA: He's got a first amendment legal right to sing the rap he's singing. I would absolutely let one of my children participate in the videos.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let me bring in today's hot topics panel. Jacque Reid, radio and TV personality, Jawn Murray, editor-in-chief of alwaysalist.com, Lauren Ashburn, editor-in-chief of dailydownload.com and actor and comedian, Hal Sparks.

Hal Sparks, let me just begin with you. I don't know where to begin. You've seen this video. What do you think?

HAL SPARKS, ACTOR/POLITICAL COMEDIAN: Well, first of all, I would like to make sure that everyone is clear that it is not Lil' Poopy. We must pronounce the apostrophe and capitalize it.

Here's the thing, if filling your kids' head with crap was illegal, the whole site would be shut down. Secondly, if they haven't picked up the West Borough Baptist church kids, they are not going to grab him.

But I feel bad for rappers because how bad must they feel that a 9-year-old can do their job as well as they can.

BALDWIN: He's some part of some big rapping circle.

SPARKS: They're huge. Who? BALDWIN: Jackie, what do you think?

JACQUE REID, RADIO AND TELEVISION PERSONALITY: Well, I mean, you know, there was Lil' Bow Wow and Lil' Romeo, before there was Lil Wayne. This one is hanging out with Diddy. Listen, if you're going to bring his father up on charges, you might want to look at those moms on dance moms as well with their behavior, not saying there is anything wrong with what they're doing, but we don't know there is --

JAWN MURRAY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ALWAYSALIST.COM: Honey Boo Boo, sorry.

BALDWIN: We'll go there later.

LAUREN ASHBURN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DAILYDOWLOAD.COM: Jacque, there is one thing this is good for and it is good publicity for him and it is raining money on him and his father. He even tweeted, he had 5,300 Twitter followers, he tweeted, I told my mother I would not spend a day in prison. I have eight different ways to make $8 million.

BALDWIN: Let me read what dad says. Quote, "I love my son, I adore my son. He's not doing anything wrong. He's not doing drugs or drinking alcohol. There are other kids out there killing kids, doing drugs, molesting, he's just singing hooks. He's not hurting anyone." So you always sort of jumping on the bandwagon, which is nothing to nefarious here?

MURRAY: I dressed up as Elvis Presley when I was 8 years old and we all know how he turned out. I think at a certain point -- Brooke, I'll play the voice of reason. Lil' Poopy's parents are full of crap and the pun is intended.

There is a line that says, I should be signed to Disney. That's where a 9-year-old should be signed. He should not be smacking women with donkey booties on their butt. He should not be in the club where people are popping bottles.

This is the height of inappropriate parenting and I'm glad people are taking a look at it. This is the worst example of a --

BALDWIN: Is this a legitimate case of child neglect based upon the superficial reading we have seen of it?

MURRAY: If anybody else had their kids in a club where people were popping bottles and shaking their donkey booties, they would be arrested. The club would be shut down.

REID: It is entertainment. I think he understands it. I think his parents understand it and they'll make a lot of money because we're all talking about it.

MURRAY: Bow Wow, Lil' Romeo and Diggy never did this.

ASHBURN: My little 9-year-old girl is still learning right from wrong. And to put a child in this situation, I'm with you. I think the parents are nuts. Is it illegal? No. BALDWIN: We'll wait and see where the investigation goes. Let me move on because coming up we're talking about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the political powerhouse, with sky high approval ratings, just got snubbed, big time, by one of the most important conservative conferences of the year. Why is he off the invite list? Could it be pictures like this? We'll go there next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: New support for gay marriage coming from Republicans. The "New York Times" is reporting 75 Republican leaders have signed this legal brief in favor of same sex marriage at least that was as of last night.

Some well known names on the list here, there photos, Jon Huntsman, Meg Whitman who recently ran for California governor at the time, supporter of Prop 8. The brief is asking the Supreme Court justices to strike down Proposition 8. That's the California initiative banning same sex marriage.

The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on it next month, as well as a case that challenges the federal defense of marriage act. Back with my panel, Lauren Ashburn, let me begin with you here, 75 prominent Republicans signing on to this. Do you think this is a sign that conservative tides are changing?

ASHBURN: Of course, it is a sea change. If you look at this, it mirrors exactly what the research is showing for the general population. One out of the five of us, one out of five actually are admitting to changing their views on gay marriage. That's according to a story from "Politico."

And the numbers have reversed from four years ago, 49 percent people, according to Pew, say they are for marriage, and 40 percent against it and that's a complete switch from four years ago. So Republicans are just acknowledging what the rest of the country is coming to believe.

BALDWIN: You're shaking your head. Why?

SPARKS: Yes, first of all, 75 Republicans who are fringe now at best and have all but been driven out, you talk about Huntsman, Whitman, these are people who lost their elections, who were easily dumped early in the primaries because they were for these kind of things, it is not a sea change in the Republicans.

As far as the public, you're right. I don't know which of the five of us have changed our minds, statistically speaking, I think, you know, I certainly have always been for it. But the idea that somehow the Republicans are now somehow on board because of this list of Republicans is absurd.

BALDWIN: Do you think --

ASHBURN: All I'm saying is that is representative.

BALDWIN: Do you think the 75 Republicans could have any kind of influence on any of the red states?

SPARKS: I hope that that's true. I don't see it happening, though. I think the problem is the entrenched congressional districts make sure you have a guarantee that there is a baseline of Republicans who are against it, just like they're against women's rights, just like they're against immigration reform, who are hard lining against it. It would be nice --

ASHBURN: It goes to a bigger issue, really. It goes to a bigger issue. Are we going to go, is the Republican Party going to go with politicians who can be elected? Or are they going to stay with their traditional values and stick with --

SPARKS: Some view it as principle, that's the issue.

ASHBURN: Exactly. Are they going to abandon this?

SPARKS: Right.

BALDWIN: Jacque, you're listening to this back and forth. What do you think?

REID: I was going to say, the Republicans, I think, that party had a huge awakening after the last presidential election and looking at the thoughts of the American people. And I think if they want to do well in the next presidential election, they better pay attention to the growing number of people that support things like gay marriage. Sure, most of the people who signed this document are not in office, but it will be interesting to see what Republicans that are in office will take a stand on.

BALDWIN: And how much the Supreme Court justices actually take this document into consideration here. Let me move on. Jawn, you get the first crack of this. We have to talk about Chris Christie because the big news, this year's CPAC is giving New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and possibly, underline possible, 2016 presidential contender Chris Christie the cold shoulder.

A source close to this Conservative Political Action Conference says organizers did not invite him to the event, which is set to happen next month near D.C. Jawn, do you think slap in the face or did he dodge a bullet?

MURRAY: You know, I do think it is a slap in the face. I mean, for them to snub him and speculation is because of his support of President Obama after hurricane -- after the hurricane that ravaged his region, if that is the case, it just goes to show these conservative organizations.

They're more concerned with propaganda, personal agenda, and recycled rhetoric and not the things that Americans are concerned about right now. They're concerned about safety. They're concerned about a politician giving up on the partisan stuff and being concerned about their well-being. And that's what Chris Christie is doing.

ASHBURN: It is suicidal for the Republicans to do this. This is a guy who has a 70 percent approval rating in New Jersey.

SPARKS: But approval rating because of things they're opposed to. That's the issue. CPAC is not indicative of the overall conservative message of the country.

ASHBURN: They have Sarah Palin coming. They have Mitt Romney coming.

BALDWIN: Giuliani in 2007.

ASHBURN: What was the question?

BALDWIN: I said CPAC said no to Giuliani in 2007, but at the same time, as we point out, he's running for re-election in a blue state. At the same time, perhaps it doesn't give Democrats as much fodder for ads.

SPARKS: It will come back to haunt him if he did go.

BALDWIN: Maybe conservatives are still irked at him based upon what he said to John Boehner when they tabled that --

REID: This is the big argument in the Republican Party, Brooke. Right now, do you go with people who can get elected? Do you stand behind them or do you go with people who are close to the values, the values that the core Republicans want. That's why you see Karl Rove who is advocating for the elected route, starting his own PAC, to try and get people who can get elected --

MURRAY: Karl Rove is in the game of marketing, not politics. He's in the -- his job is winning elections, not governing and --

REID: But he wants to win. You can't govern if you don't win.

MURRAY: Chris Christie actually is in the business of governing right now and the CPAC conference is all about people who are not considered in governing, just on either winning or showing off their bonafidas as their new ilk.

BALDWIN: We have to move on. Laurie Ashburn brings up this word values. What values? Who do you want representing America? Secretary of State John Kerry or Honey Boo Boo child? That's right. She is going global and it begs the question, which defines America more to our allies? Is it our politics or our pop culture? We're talking about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Two Americans are making big headlines overseas today. The first, the Vietnam veteran, former senator, newly minted U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Germany. The second stop on his premiere diplomatic tour, visiting nine countries over the course of 11 days.

To our allies, John Kerry is the new face of U.S. foreign policy. So, who could possibly be making a bigger splash internationally than our new secretary of state?

Yes, Honey Boo Boo. News today that her reality show will air in Europe, in Australia, in Latin America. According to TLC, the show already has huge ratings abroad. It is number three in Poland in terms of viewers. So, Jacque, begs the question, who is more important, pop culture or politics?

REID: We know politics is far more important, but people love pop culture and they love Honey Boo Boo. She's already popular in the countries where this show is playing. It is really unfortunate that something like, you know, a diplomatic visit by John Kerry is, you know, not even getting coverage the way Honey Boo Boo coming to your country is.

ASHBURN: I think Europeans are smart. They understand the difference between American entertainment and they understand the difference between that and John Kerry coming. And, also, the difference between Dennis Rodman showing up in North Korea, what is that all about?

SPARKS: I love -- the political -- yes.

BALDWIN: Go ahead.

SPARKS: Go ahead, sorry, yes. I was saying, I think we're overlooking the political ramifications of the Honey Boo Boo strike. Essentially what we're looking at here is they send Gangnam style, we send Honey Boo Boo. They launch a nuclear missile, we send Dennis Rodman. I think there is an escalation going on here we need to be concerned about.

BALDWIN: Are we not fearful that they think Honey Boo Boo is reflective of us as a American --

ASHBURN: No. We send Lincoln and then we send dude where's my car, right?

SPARKS: I beg your pardon! We didn't send it, they asked for it.

MURRAY: For years, African-Americans hated the images of us that Europeans have seen. I was once in Japan, and the kids there looked like they had rummaged through the boys in the hood closet wearing all Fubu and rock a wear and stuff like that.

BALDWIN: I kept thinking, if you have seen clips of the show and they have to use subtitles for some of what they're saying. How do you translate that to Spanish? I don't know.

REID: They're providing --

MURRAY: They're putting a dictionary out. They're putting a dictionary out. Yes.

ASHBURN: No.

MURRAY: Yes, online.

ASHBURN: I also happen to think there is some silver ling in all of this, that Honey Boo Boo's ratings for Halloween were 3.1 million or 3.8 depending on the stats you look at and they're falling. The next special after that was 2.1. So maybe we're not going to be saddled with Honey Boo Boo for as long as we think.

BALDWIN: Thank you, guys, so much for coming on. Little rappers and Honey Boo Boo and Chris Christie all in the mix. I want thank you Jacque Reid, Jawn Murray, Lauren Ashburn and Hal Sparks.

Coming up, it was one of the darkest days in rock 'n' roll, 11 people crushed and killed at a stampede outside of a who concert. That was 33 years ago. Those fans that waited in line for two days to get tickets to that show, guess what, they finally get to use them. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: As Congress bickers over budgets, huge news involving the price of your home. I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.