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The abortion bill passed the house Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-12; Stocks were down sharply yesterday and down a little bit already today; Marine Armando Torres was kidnapped in Mexico last May;

Aired June 13, 2013 - 09:30   ET

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Athena Jones joins us. Way out of touch. So, going back to Congressman Franks and his comments about pregnancy and rape, what is he saying today, Athena?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Congressman Frank said after this situation played out yesterday that he thought that Democrats were trying to stoke this controversy to shift the debate away from the issue of whether abortion should be banned after 20 weeks to something else for this issue of rape. He said they were trying to distort his words, but he admitted his own word choice didn't help him in the matter, Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes. But this bill in the House, you know, abortion banned after 20 weeks, that includes women who have been raped. That includes all pregnancies. There are no exceptions at all, not for the mother's life, not in cases of rape or insist. So, what's happening with this bill?

JONES: Well, I can tell you that it did pass the house Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-12. It was passed by an all-male group of Republicans. But, the point is that even if this goes through the house, it has bad chances in the Senate and not to mention what would happen if it were to ever reach the president's desk. It is not something he would be likely to support. And so, that's where things stand now. This looks like more a matter of debate and not something that will end up making it all the way through, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Athena Jones reporting live from Washington. Thanks.

Good morning, I'm Carol Costello. Stories we're watching in the NEWSROOM at 31 minutes past the hour. It's quiet, actually, on Wall Street after (INAUDIBLE). The fed may start cutting the stimulus program. The bell has just rung.

CNN's Alison Kosik is at the New York stock exchange. And stocks were down sharply yesterday and down a little bit already today.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: No. Just a blunt open today, Carol. Looks like stocks are trying to buck the trend of what overseas markets did. Japan's Nikkei, it led the way down big time plummeting more than six percent overnight. We got some new report today showing a rise in retail sales and a fall in jobless claims to help limit the losses for stocks here. But get ready for another volatile session. You look at the Dow, it has actually fallen a whole three sessions in a row. Believe it or not, that is the longest losing streak of the year and so, it shows just how bullish the market has been so far and how the situation has changed this month. Wall Street is worried that the fed may start gradually cutting back its monetary stimulus efforts. That will pull money out of the economy right at a time when growth is still modest at best. But because of that, we are seeing lots of swings in the market.

You look at just yesterday; the Dow rose 100 points during the session but then ended down more than 100 points. The Vic (ph), that's the main gauge of fear in the market that is jumping, as well, Carol. But, it still -- it has a long way to go to signal a really high level of fear like we saw during the recession -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And that's a good thing.

Alison Kosik, reporting live from New York stock exchange.

Heavy rains hitting Washington, D.C. right now. Take a look at these live pictures as storms move in. The same storms produced heavy lightning in Chicago. Lightning actually striking the Willis tower, a.k.a. the sears tower. Today, the entire east coast is likely to see some of that storm system hit.

Coming up next in NEWSROOM, a marine's trip to visit his father in Mexico turns into a kidnapping mystery. Now, some members of Congress are joining his family in a fight to bring him home safely. His sister and his wife share their story, next.

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COSTELLO: A family anxious and fearful as the FBI continues to search for a missing American marine. His name is Armando Torres and he was kidnapped nearly a month ago now in Mexico along with his father and uncle. Torres was visiting his father's ranch when the FBI said armed gunmen took the three men by force.

Let's bring in Armando's sister Christina Torres and Armando's wife, Melissa Estrada. She joins us by phone.

Welcome to you both.

MELISSA ESTRADA, ARMANDO TORRES' WIFE (via phone): Good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

And, Christina, the FBI has asked for the public's help. Can you give us any sort of update on the search?

CHRISTINA TORRES, SIS OF ARMANDO TORRES' SISTER: As of right now, they're still investigating. We don't know anything at the moment.

COSTELLO: And Melissa --

TORRES: There hasn't been any demand.

COSTELLO: No demands at all.

Melissa, is that surprising to you because you would think you would hear from these kidnappers by now?

ESTRADA: They're still investigating. They haven't, they don't have anything that we can speak on. So, I'm hoping that we can speak on the air. (INAUDIBLE) at this point.

COSTELLO: I understand the need for secrecy on some things. There have been suggestions that the kidnapping was based on a land dispute. Melissa or Christina, let's do you, Christina, can you explain?

TORRES: The land dispute is still under investigation. The FBI is still investigating that is really the motive. And they still haven't said for sure, you know, that's the reason why.

COSTELLO: Melissa, do you think that everything that can be done is being done to find your husband?

ESTRADA: I get that question a lot and a lot of people question that are they doing everything they can. And I can assure everyone that everything that is being done is being done. I am in contact with the CIA every day and I have left this up to them and kind of put my trust in strangers, you know, his life in a stranger's hand, basically. I do believe they (INAUDIBLE).

COSTELLO: Christina, what has this been like for your family?

TORRES: It's been hard especially for my mother and for his children.

COSTELLO: I understand that several members of Congress have actually sent a letter to secretary of state John Kerry saying it's critical to show the kidnapper's actions; quote "will not be tolerated." has the state department reached out to you, Christina?

TORRES: The state department, no. But Congressman Ruben Hinojosa has contacted my mother and he said he's doing everything he can, in his power to help bring my brother back.

COSTELLO: And Melissa, if by chance these kidnappers are listening, what would you like to say to them?

ESTRADA: We won't stop looking for him. We want an answer. We want to pressure officials and we're writing and calling. We are doing everything we can because we want our government to step in, you know, kind of exhaust all the resources in finding them. You know, he is the father, a son, a brother, a friend. We do want answers.

COSTELLO: Christina Torres and Melissa Estrada, thank you so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

ESTRADA: Thank you.

TORRES: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: You're welcome.

Fans of an 11-year-old singer jump to his defense after his rendition of the "national anthem" brings more hate than applause. The racist tweets about an 11-year-old boy's rendition of "Star Spangled Banner." We will be right back after this.

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COSTELLO: It's just plain wrong and vicious, quite frankly, to say mean, racist things about anyone, but especially about a little boy who was proud of his heritage and proud to be an American. Those comments, those mean, racist comments came after Sebastian De La Cruz sang the national anthem at the Spurs/Heat game.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

COSTELLO: He did a great job, right? That was a beautiful rendition. And you hear the applause from the audience, they were very appreciative. Unfortunately, that's not what occurred online. Some people took to Twitter to express their disdain because of this little boy's Mexican heritage and what he was wearing.

This tweet from Daniel Gilmore, "why they got a Mexican kid singing the National Anthem?"

And this one from Andre Lacey, "how you singing the national anthem looking like an illegal immigrant?"

And from Lowie Groh, "why is a foreigner singing the National Anthem? I realized the San Antonio, but still not Mexico."

Let's bring in Nischelle Turner. It's disgusting. But, the great part about this is this little boy, because he's talking about it.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: He sure is. And he is talking loud about it and proud about it. You know, I think, this is a case of social media amplifying the voices of a small portion of Americans. It's 28 of those racist tweets that you are talking about. We are collecting on the public shaming tumblr site. And most of those accounts, if not all, have now been deactivated as their owners, I guess, have decided not to face the public scrutiny that is coming their way.

Now, this negativity is being met with an outpouring of support for 11-year-old Sebastian and he seems to be taking all of this in stride. Listen to what he had to say after all of this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN DE LA CRUZ, SINGER: I think that the people were talking bad because of what I was wearing and it's not my fault. It's what I love. And I'm just proud to be a mariachi singer and it's their opinion, actually. And if they don't like Mariachi and that's their problem, but I love it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TURNER: Good for you, sir. He has been singing since he was five, Carol. He gained famous in 2012 after being on NBC's "America's Got Talent" for singing Mariachi ballads. He had hopes of winning to help his younger brother get surgery for his hearing problem.

But, you know what, this is not the first time he heard racist comments. According to his father when he was on "America's Got Talent" he faces racism there, too.

Now, in this day in age, Carol, I have a third of the country is Hispanic. So, I don't know what people are looking at or thinking about or upset because an 11-year-old had on mariachi. Come on.

COSTELLO: Come on. Not that it matters, but he's born in the United States, his father is in the military. It's like --

TURNER: And not that it matters, but he sang "the national anthem" beautifully.

COSTELLO: It was a great rendition. You can see all of this online and also on CNN.com. And by the way, too, Sebastian will be on CNN NEWSROOM today at 1:00 p.m. eastern.

Terrific.

We're back in a moment.

TURNER: All right,

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

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COSTELLO: Some families will sacrifice anything to make sure their children have the opportunity to go to school. Some families in India are even living on the street. It's part of CNN's film "Girl Rising" which premiers' this Sunday and documents the struggles that girls face around the world to get an education.

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COSTELLO (voice-over): In (INAUDIBLE) India, homes made of plastic tarps are a common sight. For some people, it's their only option. But for girls like Roxana, her family lives on the street so she can go to school.

ROXANA, GIRL LIVES ON THE STREET (through translator): My name is Roxana. I'm in the fourth grade. Next to the tree is a building and under that tree we have a home. Here I'm sleeping.

COSTELLO: Roxana's family left their home in a nearby village so they could give her an education and encourage her talents.

ROXANA (through translator): I like to draw. It comes from my heart.

COSTELLO: The screen writer, Sooni Taraporevala, met Roxana during the making of the "Girl Rising" film and sees her drawings as an important means of expression.

SOONI TARAPOREVALA, WRITER: The art is also fantastic, so I think it can open us up to a lot of interior feelings and to reveal what's going on inside.

ROXANA (through translator): I want to change where we live on the street to a better home.

COSTELLO: Education is a chance for girls like Roxana to see the possibilities ahead of them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Roxana is excelling in school and is now in the sixth grade. She is also being formally trained and dance and art to learn more about the campaign behind the film, "Girl Rising" and the ten times ten fun go to, you to CNN.com/girl rising.

And by the way, the CNN film "Girl Rising" airs this Sunday June 16, 9:00 p.m. eastern time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: What a way to start the Stanley cup finals. It took nearly five hours to decide game one between the blue on to the black eye. Andy Scholes is here with bleacher report.

Good morning.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, good morning, Carol.

Fans definitely got their money's worth in Chicago last night. The Blackhawks and Bruins needed three overtimes to decide the winner in game one. Now, this is the first finals between the Bruins and the Blackhawks. And Boston had a 3-1 lead in the third period, but that's when Chicago would get two goals. The second coming when Johnny (INAUDIBLE) the shot deflects on of a Bruins skate and goes in. That would send it into overtime. And after nearly five hours, Blackhawks finally said enough is enough, this shot redirected (INAUDIBLE) and again by Andrew Shot (ph). It goes in. Chicago wins 4-3 in triple overtime. That was the fifth longest game in Stanley cup finals history. Game two is Saturday night.

Less than two weeks after retiring from the NBA, Jason Kidd is back, but he is trading in his jersey for a clipboard. Yesterday Kidd was named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. The move reunites Kidd with the franchise he led to consecutive NBA finals in 2002 and 2003. Now Kidd has never coached at any level, but his knowledge of the game and relationship with Net start Darren Williams reportedly gave him the edge over other candidate. Kidd will be introduced at a news conference later today. And later tonight, it is game four of the NBA finals, pretty much a must win for the heat as they trail this first, 2-1 in the series. Tipoff is at 9:00 eastern.

For Play this morning at the U.S. open has been halted due to more bad weather that has come through the Philadelphia area. The delay means we will have to wait a little longer to see the all-star opening threesome of the top three players in the world -- Tiger Woods, Rory Mcllroy and Adam Scott. They will be grouped together for the first two rounds of play. This is the first time that Tiger and Rory will be paired together in a major.

Well, for the first time in history, a telerobotic pitching machine threw out the first pitch in a game. And here's why. Nick Legrand has a rare blood disorder that doesn't allow him to attend games, so Google built a replica baseball stadium for Nick near his home in Kansas City and from 1800 miles away, nick threw the pitch and at the same time, the robot on the mound fired it in to the aid reliever, Ryan Cook (ph) behind the play in Oakland.

This was a cool deal, Carol, because that robot out there had a camera on top that was live streaming the video of what it could see back to Nick in Kansas City and then Nick was on the big screens at the Oakland stadium. And all the fans gave him a big standing ovation.

COSTELLO: He had a great windup, too.

SCHOLES: Yes, it is better than the robot.

COSTELLO: It is true. Thanks, Andy.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM after a break.

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