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Jobless Rate Falls to 7.7 Percent; What Does the New Jobs Report Mean for the Economy?; Clinton, DOMA is Unconstitutional; Hopes for the Supreme Court Ruling on DOMA; White House on Strong Jobs Report; Sharks Shutter Some Florida Beaches; NASCAR Driver won't Pay Fine

Aired March 08, 2013 - 09:30   ET

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

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: So the economy still has a long way to go. This is the start as we see the Dow begin the day yes at a new record high at 14,335. The Dow is setting a new record every day until you start to see it in the red. Don?

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It's been amazing. Stand by to you Alison Kosik.

We want to go to the White House, Dan Lothian standing by, 7.7 unemployment rate at 7.7 now. Good news for the White House. Any response yet?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Not yet. Typically the White House every month when these numbers come out will release a statement sometime after the market opens so any time now we should be getting some kind of reaction from the White House, no doubt they'll see these numbers overall as encouraging. The president has been talking about how the economy is moving in the right direction, the right trajectory. They'll most likely point to some of the policies they believe are helping this turnaround, help for small businesses, the fact that the president had been pushing hard for healthier Americans to pay more, the money they have put into the real estate mortgages and so forth.

So these are all things that they believe collectively are helping to push the market forward, but we also expect the president to say and the White House in the statement is that there's still a long way to go. While 7.7 percent unemployment is much less than it was before, it's way too high and so the president needs to keep pushing on this course. Up on Capitol Hill we expect Republicans to push back the way they have when the numbers come out in the past.

We got something from Speaker Boehner's office which essentially mirrored what I said earlier is that the numbers are positive. Any time you have a drop in unemployment that's positive but that it remains still too high and that the president when he was pushing his stimulus promised bigger gains or lower unemployment and that has not materialized, and it's time to come up with a plan to tackle the debt and the deficit so that is what the reaction is from Republicans still waiting officially to hear what the White House has to say, Don.

LEMON: All right, when the White House has a response we'll get back to you. Stand by Dan, Alison, and Christine Romans.

Let's go to the ground and see how Americans are reacting to this and really the jobs, one sector showing signs of recovery: construction. Last month 48,000 construction jobs were added around the country, that continues the steady gains made since the fall. Since October the construction industry added an average of 1,000 jobs a day. Paul Vercammen is in California, a state hard-hit and also showing signs of a rebound. Paul, you join us from Los Angeles, what do you have?

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's definitely picking up. California overall, Los Angeles and extremely specific, right here in Hollywood, the project behind me, Emerson college building an L.A. campus, we saw 100 workers in here yesterday, up to 150 on this project. We talked to one young man. He did not have full time work for two and a half years. He collected unemployment for a year, but now he's back on the job and looking forward to getting married. Let's hear what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS IANNICCARI, UNION CARPENTER: There's definitely the extra money to finally go out on a Friday night to have dinner with the fiancee, you know, or with friends, the money to go to the movie or gas money to go to the beach, to go to Las Vegas for the weekend. It definitely feels nice to get back out there and live life for what it's supposed to be instead of at home trying to scrape pennies and nickels to make ends meet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: So a great sense of satisfaction on this construction site, John -- Don, as we see people in California getting people back to the workforce through construction jobs.

LEMON: All right, Paul Vercammen thank you very much.

I want to go back now to Christine Romans. Christine, I want to ask you this, because I think it's a very important question from social media that someone just sent me. They said, hey listen, they also sent it to Alison Kosik, they said, I'm really concerned about all of these fast rises. It usually equates to a very hard fall. Is there any truth in that?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, fast rises meaning in the stock market?

LEMON: Yes.

ROMANS: Well here is the interesting thing. The stock market still looks like it's fairly valued when you look at price-to-earnings ratios. I don't want to get too wonky on you. But there are a lot of people who say it's fairly valued here right now, when you look at the fed pumping money into the system, how much money companies have. Companies are still making money.

If we could predict what would happen tomorrow in the stock market that would be great. You can't. That's what's so intriguing and engaging about watching stock markets and investing in them. It's a risk. You don't know if they're going to continue to rise and you don't know if they're poised for fall.

There are certainly Don, there are hedge funds who are betting against the stock market here. They're saying it's the fed that's propping up the whole economy and that has to turn at some point but so far they have wrong. This is a four-year-old bull market and the last leg is often the most profitable. If you are just buying stocks for the first time at the high you should evaluate what you're doing. If you've been buying stocks all along the way --

LEMON: You're fine.

ROMANS: You know, yeah. Evaluate why you're buying stocks, when you need the money, if you're close to retirement be careful here. You were talking about two different things, talking about the stock market and the labor market. For a lot of people they say stocks are at record highs but we still have 7.7 percent unemployment, how can that be? It is. We'd like to se more jobs growth with stock market growth but we aren't.

LEMON: Christine Romans , Alison Kosik,, Paul Vercammen thanks to all of you.

And still ahead, Bill Clinton back in the headline. He's saying he wants the Defense of Marriage Act overturned. Why the former president says his views on same-sex marriage have evolved.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, a discriminatory law that should be overturned, that's how Bill Clinton sums up the Defense of Marriage Act, which he signed into law nearly 17 years ago. Clinton has said that at the time, he was trying to block efforts to send a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage to the states.

The Supreme Court will review DOMA in just a few weeks and in a "Washington Post" op-ed the former president writes in part, "the justices must decide whether it is consistent with the principles of a nation that honors freedom, equality, and justice above all. As the president who signed the act into law I have come to believe that DOMA is contrary to those principles and in fact, incompatible with our constitution."

Joining me now, CNN contributor and former Obama White House official Van Jones and CNN contributor and Republican strategist Ana Navarro.

Ana, I know how you feel about same-sex marriage. You think it's a civil right or human right for all. Are you surprised by the former president's statement or op-ed?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: You know, no, I'm not, Don. I know Bill Clinton, I know Bill Clinton and have spoken to him many times. And I think this is consistent with Bill Clinton. I think it has evolved, the issue. And I think Bill Clinton and so many other Americans have evolved on the issue.

When Bill Clinton first signed the law there was something like 29 percent approval for gay marriage. Today, it's upwards of 55 percent, and I also think it's timely. I commend him. It takes humility to admit a mistake. It takes more humility for a president to admit a mistake.

Bill Clinton is getting old. He's faced mortality and I think he didn't want to get caught on the wrong side of history on this issue. Like me, he has many gay friends, gay couples living in a loving relationship. I think it's very difficult to look at your gay friends in the eye and say you deserve less rights than I do. Bill Clinton's a man who has got no discrimination in his heart. I think this is the right thing to do at the right time.

LEMON: Van, I'll ask you a similar question. When you look at the polling on this, this is no longer about who believes in what. This is really going to be about the courts and what the courts decide, and that's what Bill Clinton is saying in this op-ed.

VAN JONES, CNNCONTRIBUTOR: It's remarkable. It's unbelievable to have, has it ever happened? A sitting president signs something into law and the comes back tells the Supreme Court I am wrong, what I did was unconstitutional, strike down a part myself legacy. That is a remarkable moment I think in American history.

I am personally excited because the Supreme Court has an opportunity to do something that really conservatives should go along with. Why? You got nine states that have said we believe marriage applies to everybody. The federal government says right now under law we don't care what you say, states, we know what marriage is and we're going to discriminate against your citizens. This is a state's rights issue now. When you talk about this particular law it's not going to be about imposing any federal definitional law on a state. It's about recognizing state's rights to do this, so right wing and left wing should stand together on this.

For a former president to say to the world I want the Supreme Court to strike down part of my legacy because justice is more important than my legacy, that is unbelievable, extraordinary, I'm very proud of President Clinton.

LEMON: The justice department also filed a brief last month asking SCOTUS to declare portions of DOMA dealing with income tax purposes, federal benefits, immigration, unconstitutional. Is it in part, can part of this do you think, part of this be struck down or do you think that the court is going to take up the whole thing instead of looking at just parts of it, Ana. I know you're not a, attorney, or you're not a constitutional lawyer but it seems to many people this is a done deal and once the court signs off it is an even "donner deal" as they say.

NAVARRO: You don't know me enough. I did go to law school. I'm not a constitutional lawyer, but I think who knows what the Supreme Court is going to do. I think most of us were surprised by what they did in the Arizona law where they struck down part of the law. I think most of us were surprised by what they did in the health care law. This has been a very difficult to predict Supreme Court and they have been taking surprising decisions.

I hope what they focus on is discrimination. Equal rights for everyone. I have hope with this court that it will reflect the evolution that has happened in the American people. It is at this point undeniable, Don, that it's happening. And I think I agree with Van that Bill Clinton not only is he saying strike down part of my legacy, more importantly, I think Bill Clinton didn't want it to be his legacy. He doesn't want this mark on his history as president, and you know, I think there's going to be some political speculation here. What does this mean? Soes this mean Hillary is going to be running in three years? Is he laying the ground work? But I know Bill Clinton and I think he did it for the right reasons.

LEMON: Van I'm running out of time but I'll give you the last word.

JONES: I do think that's right. I also think it's important to recognize as a person of faith, more than 50 percent of Catholics now are in support of marriage equality. This is no longer a left/right issue. It's a right/wrong issue in America and I hope the Supreme Court listens to the president and listens to the people. It's time for us to move and to do what's right on this question.

LEMON: All right. Thank you both very much. I like my new term "donner deal." Thank you guys, appreciate it, Ana Navarro and Van Jones.

We're getting a reaction now from the White House on the jobs numbers that were released this morning. I want to bring in our White House correspondent Dan Lothian, what is the reaction, Dan?

LOTHIAN: This reaction coming from Alan Krueger, the chairman of the council of economic advisers here at the White House. Pretty much sounding that optimistic tone that we talked about, pointing out more work needs to be done, saying in the statement in part, quote, "while more work remains to be done today's employment report provides evidence that the recovery that began in mid 2009 is gaining traction."

And he goes on to say that "The administration continues to urge Congress to move towards a sustainable federal budget in a responsible way that balances tax loophole closing, entitlement reforms and sensible spending cut while making critical investments in the economy."

And of course we're getting reaction as well from Republicans. The RNC putting out a statement saying that those who are getting back in the workforce it's good news for them but that 7.7 percent unemployment is still way too high and that there are a lot of Americans out there still living pay check to pay check -- Don.

LEMON: Dan Lothian with the White House response. We appreciate it.

Up next here on CNN officials in south Florida are keeping an eye on the beaches after thousands of sharks are spotted just off the shore. Where they are now and what's the threat to people?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A handful of south Florida beaches have been off limits to swimmers this week. That's after schools of black tipped and spinner sharks -- look at it from there -- all those are sharks. They were spotted just offshore. People in Boca Raton and Singer Island and Boynton Beach are among those on high alert.

I'm joined now by John Zarrella. John, how many sharks are we talking about? I mean, it looks like thousands from this video.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Yes well you're absolutely right, Don, you know it could very well be thousands of sharks out there and it's unusual. This is the time of the year, they're like -- they're like the snow birds, they're just like the tourists. They come down to Florida for the sunshine and the warmer water.

And (inaudible) black tips, nearly all of them you see in the video are black tipped sharks although interspersed in there the experts tell me you might find a tiger shark, which is a little bit more of a predator simply because they feed on those black tips which the average size of a black tip is five or six feet long.

And then you know towards the end of April these black tips are migrating back -- back to the north which is -- you know just the cycle that they take. But this is the time of the year they do it, it happens every year and we -- every year we see these incredible pictures of just thousands and thousands of sharks.

And I'm actually on the beach Don right now (inaudible) beach not far from one of the beaches that was closed yesterday. What we're doing is -- with the help from shark fishermen and researchers from Nova South Eastern University trying to catch sharks. Why -- because they are studying the bacteria, and that (inaudible) they haven't got in today but what they'll do is they'll swab the sharks because they want to find out try to identify bacteria because when somebody gets bitten by a shark you're usually treating with broad spectrum antibiotic. They're trying to get a better handle on exactly the best antibiotic to use for shark bite victims.

I was amazed Don to find that even in 2013, there is very little research on the kind of bacteria that sharks carry. They're hoping to catch a couple this morning, but no luck so far.

LEMON: Can you see them where you are?

ZARRELLA: No. That's just it, you know we're using some literally whole fish and bait and if they were out there this morning, they'd be for the most part chances are they would be biting. You can't see them -- and the water is very rough today. So it's all churned up so I would suspect that even in a helicopter video today, if they're out, they would probably be very difficult to find.

LEMON: Are you going to get in the water, John? ZARRELLA: I'm not going in the water Don, although we do have -- and I don't see anybody else in the water either, although we do have a kayaker out here who is one of our fishermen who literally -- literally takes the bait out past the sandbar, drops it off this kayak and then comes back in.

LEMON: Yes.

ZARRELLA: So he just made it back in after putting out another one of these -- these baits. So hopefully we'll be able to catch a couple of sharks next. But they're not here Don, which is an indication that they've moved on which is you know common.

LEMON: Yes. So no John Zarrella shark bait today. Thank you John Zarrella.

ZARRELLA: No.

LEMON: Be safe. Have a good time.

ZARRELLA: Sure.

LEMON: Tracking sharks you know it is nothing new to the production team behind the Discovery Channel's annual Shark Week. And in our next hour, we're going to talk with an expert from Shark Week about what's happening off the Florida coast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We talk a little sports shall we? Driver Denny Hamlin says he's been disrespected by NASCAR for fining him because of a comment he made. Hamlin says he's not going to pay that $25,000 fine. He's not going to do it, Joe Carter. He said he isn't going to do it. What's going on?

(CROSSTALK)

JOE CARTER, BLEACHER REPORT: Yes we'll see where that gets him. That might get him suspended. But basically what happened is after the race in Phoenix last week Denny Hamlin decided to share his opinion about this new Generation Six cars. He basically believes that these Generation Six cars don't run as well as the Generation Five model which was last year.

So NASCAR felt disrespected by that public criticism, so they decided to fine him $25,000. Hamlin he wants to know why NASCAR just didn't simply come to him first before fining him, so in protest, Hamlin says I'm not going to pay the fine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNY HAMLIN, NASCAR DRIVER: This is the most upset and angry I've been in a really, really long time. I don't believe in this. I'm never going to believe in it. And so -- as far as I'm concerned, I'm not going to pay the fine and if they suspend me, they suspend me. I don't care at this point. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CARTER: The greatest closer in baseball is reportedly calling it a career after this baseball season. Marion Rivera is the man the Yankees have called upon since 1995 to get the final three outs in a game. He has 608 saves in most ball time, he won five World Series titles with the Yankees. When you think great relief pitcher, you think Marion Rivera.

Well NBA player Ekpe Udoh is a huge Betty White fan. I mean, who isn't right? For the past 10 months he's put together an epic Twitter campaign just to meet her. In June he tweeted, "How do I go about meeting Betty White?" In August, "Still searching for Betty White." Then months later in January, "Got to meet Betty White."

Well, this week, his dream finally came true. He posted this picture with everybody's favorite golden girl. And then tweeted "Mission accomplished." Cute story.

Kobe Bryant was on Jimmy Kimmel last night a few days after Dennis Rodman's visit to North Korea. Kimmel wanted to know if Kobe would make the goodwill trip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMMY KIMMEL, TALK SHOW HOST: Would you go over there and focus on stopping this potential nuclear warhead that could come over? That seems more important than the game.

KOBE BRYANT, NBA PLAYER: I'd probably pass.

KIMMEL: You would pass on that one?

BRYANT: I'd probably pass.

KIMMEL: For once you're passing.

BRYANT: Yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARTER: Nice burn there.

Tiger Woods leads at Doral. Rory McIlroy, not so much. He's tied for fifth today. Both tee off again today around 1:00 Eastern -- Don, back to you.

LEMON: All right. Thank you very much sir.

Next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM begins right after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The unemployment rate drops. The Dow climbs in record territory. Have we turned the corner? Our experts have the answers for you. Plus Osama bin Laden's son-in-law heads to court in New York City this hour. He's accused of conspiring to kill Americans. We'll tell you how the CIA finally caught him.