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Comedian Bill Cosby is facing new outrage over old accusations; Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi denies knowing Jonathan Gruber; Special presents Taylor Swift;

Aired November 14, 2014 - 15:30   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Each week here at CNN we're shining a spotlight on the top ten CNN heroes of 2014. This week's honoree is battling despair of street of Hartford, Connecticut, to help save her community's kids with little help from some unlikely friends. Here's Patricia Kelly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's tough. It's tough growing up here. It's just so easy to take the wrong path. I was walking around with a lot on my shoulders at a young age. I didn't really care about life anymore. When I met Miss Kelly, everything changed.

PATRICIA KELLY, CNN HERO: Fred was hurting. He needed a place to just be himself. Our program provides a year-round urban oasis. Seven days a week, 12 months a year for children five to 19 years old. We use horses to create pride, esteem, and healing. The children take care of animals, take care of the farm. When they get to a certain riding level, young men become mounted park rangers. When they put their cowboy hats on and they go out on patrol, the myth of the urban male is changed instantly. When kids see other kids ride, they want to know how it's done. That's the hook.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't tell you where I would be without this program. It changed my life. It helped me set goals for myself. I'm a part of something.

KELLY: When you teach a child how to ride a horse, they learn that they are the center of their environment. Once they make that connection, they can change what happens in school, at home, and the community. It's through their minds and through their hearts. They have ability. They just have to unlock it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Make sure you vote CNN.com/heroes.

A grand jury is believed to be very close to making a decision on whether to indict the Ferguson, Missouri police officer who shot and killed an unarmed teenager in August. Now, we have learned if the grand jury reaches a decision on the weekend, schools in the Ferguson in St. Louis area will be notified 24 hours ahead of the members of the media. It is according to a letter posted on the school district Web site. If a decision is made during the week, the St. Louis county prosecutor says schools will be given three hours heads-up.

As you can imagine, this is all being done to keep everyone safe from a possible repeat of rioting and protests should Officer Wilson not be charged.

CNN's Sara Sidner has been following all of this for us and joins me live from Ferguson.

And I just want really to hone in on the school issue, Sarah. I mean, what are you hearing? How exactly will schools respond? Is it a matter of it doesn't matter whether there is an indictment or not, the schools will just get the heads-up and they'll early dismiss? What's the plan?

SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The superintendents themselves actually asked for it. It wasn't the other way around. They had written to the prosecuting attorney's office a couple weeks ago and we talked about that back then asking for them to release the information, make the announcement about the grand jury's decision on a nonschool day at best or at least after school is out. And the reason for that is they are worried about things like road closures. They are also, of course, worried about the protest taking over the streets where some of the school buses go and where parents go to pick up their kids. And they also just want to make sure that kids get home safely and aren't afraid in any way.

You know, this isn't just worrying about violence. It's also just worrying about unusual activity for these children as they are trying to get home. Many of whom will walk to school. Some young ones from, you know, the elementary age through high school sometimes will walk to school. And so, I think this is just an effort on their part to be safe. And the schools aren't saying that there's going to be huge riots or anything like that. What they've been saying is we want to make sure our young people have an ability to get to and from school without having to worry about anything -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: So that's the part with the schools.

Let me just follow-up on something unrelated to schools. But we know that yesterday we talked about this that Michael Brown family, they had hired a very famous pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden, you know, to perform that independent autopsy. And he was asked to testify before the grand jury yesterday. Do we know if anything happened today, any developed out that, Sara?

SIDNER: No. The doctor would not speak to us about his testimony, witness testimony inside of the grand jury and what's going on in the grand jury is really supposed to be kept private. The grand jury shouldn't be talking about it. The government shouldn't be talking about it. But the witnesses once they are done can say whatever they want. Most people have decided to keep most of their testimony to themselves. A few have been speaking about it. But mostly I think a lot of people are just saying I'm going to do my job and going to go in and say what I know and then I'm going to leave it alone.

The town is, you know, tense. I mean, there's a lot of worry here. People are on pins and needles wondering what is going to happen. Some folks say it is not going to be as bad as everyone is talking about and others are preparing in a much different way by for example, boarding up their businesses and some folks talking about getting out of town if they hear about this early enough -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Sara Sidner, thank you so much in Ferguson for me today.

And now this, more than a dozen accusers and not a single arrest. But time has run out for these women who are coming forward with this myriad of allegations against comedian Bill Cosby. One of them saying the statute of limitations on reporting sex crimes should be eliminated all together. I'll talk to our two lawyers, legal panel weighing in on that.

Plus, when the Obamacare consultant called American voters stupid, you too may have been shocked to hear him make this explosive allegation. We'll tell you what that is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Comedian Bill Cosby is facing new outrage over old accusations. Since 2005, these handfuls of women have accused Cosby of sexual assault. He's denied and denied these allegations. Let's be clear. He was never charged. But when he asked fans this week online to meme him, rape allegations came back and so a past accuser is retelling her story. She talked to my colleague Michaela Pereira just this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBARA BOWMAN, ACCUSED BILL COSBY ASSAULTED HER: I didn't really talk about it much because nobody was believing it. I was in a situation where I was in New York. My job was to work hard, go to classes, don't ask questions. Just be grateful for this amazing opportunity. Don't mess it up. So when things would come up and he would start making me uncomfortable and I knew something was going on, I would start asking questions and he say, you know what, you don't trust me. You have to trust me. And by the way, you were drunk.

In 1989, though, I did go to a lawyer. A friend talked me into doing that. Eventually, he laughed. He laughed me right out of the office. I would like to really have a call for legislation against the statute of limitations. There's no reason that sexual crimes should be gotten away with because there's an appointed period of time that a woman has to come forward. It takes some women their entire lifetime to come forward. It's a very difficult, very strenuous and very soul crushing situation to be in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Want to talk about her point about the statute of limitations. But I do need to say this. CNN has not been able to independently confirm allegations against Bill Cosby.

That said, let's talk about this with CNN commentator and legal analyst Mel Robbins and HLN legal analyst Joey Jackson. So welcome to both of you. And Joey Jackson, let me start with you.

Because you just heard her say, you know, finally in recent years she did go talk to a lawyer. She said she got laughed out of the office. And her issue is, you know, legislation letting go of all statute of limitations on these kinds of crimes period. But her allegations involve this event happening in this Brownstone here in New York and you're saying there are no statute of limitations here.

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: That's absolutely right. So what happens, Brooke, is this. It is that each state, as we know, is a sovereign onto itself, right? And that means that you have a governor, you have a state legislature and therefore, they can do in individual states what they think is appropriate, right, in that state. So what they do in New York is for rape by forcible compulsion, right, you rape someone, there's no statute of limitations.

So at any time, Brooke, that a victim feels that they are ready to come forward, that they are confident enough to come forward, that they have internalized it and people don't come forward for a variety of reasons, they can do that. Or in the event it's not forcible compulsion, but say you're helpless and in the myth end that she's alleging that there was some drugging involved in it. And so, to that extent it is certainly technically possible for a district attorney to say, you know what? I want to evaluate this and I want to see whether there's merit to it. And then your question becomes well, is it just a he say/she say or will they look for other evidence.

And of course, the D.A., district attorney, will look for as much evidence as is there. And in these cases sometimes the evidence is recent outcry evidence. What does it mean? It means when something happens to you, you tell a friend. You tell a family member. You confide in someone because you don't know what to do. And then of course the D.A. can get that person to come forward and testify.

And so, it doesn't have to be, Brooke, the physical evidence that we know, CSI Miami, DNA evidence, rape kits. Sometimes that's not available so you look to other people to corroborate the story.

BALDWIN: So technically, prosecution in the state of New York could happen. It's just really up to the D.A. whether or not that person would take the case. So that's one -- there is the legalities of the whole thing.

But Mel, I just want to talk to you. Because you also, you know, paint an interesting picture because you have, you know, her story and that of other women, right? But then you also have Bill Cosby and you, what, interviewed him a couple years ago about a book, supposed to talk to him for 45 minutes. And the question being, you know, should he come forward and address all this now? What was your take on that experience a few years ago?

MEL ROBBINS, CNN COMMENTATOR/LEGAL ANALYST: Well, if I was advising Bill Cosby, I would say absolutely not. He should not be talking to anybody. And here's the reason why. So, as part of this show that I used to do in front of a live audience, I interviewed Donald Trump, Barbara Walters, Robin Roberts, Dr. Oz and Bill Cosby. It was supposed to be a 45-minute interview, Brooke. And at the time, this was four years ago, he was completely impossible to interview. It went on for two-and-a-half hours. He kept kind of ignoring the questions, breaking into the jell-o impersonation, telling random stories. And I would imagine one of the reasons why he's not talking is because his people don't want him to talk.

And here's the other thing. In a situation like this where you have multiple women alleging that this happened, you have one civil suit that we know of that was actually settled out of court, if he were to come out with the guns blazing denying things, that might just throw fire on this thing that's starting to smolder and embolden the women that didn't come forward in the past.

JACKSON: right.

BALDWIN: That's interesting. You know, she eventually, as Bowman you saw Michaela talking to this morning, you know, penned this op-ed in "the Washington Post" and she sort of saying why did no one really listen to me 30 years ago. And here, she is again, you can blame the internet. You can blame means, you can blame court of public opinion. But it is interesting, Mel, that you know, there are certain celebrities, you know, when you think of Bill Cosby -- I mean, listen, I'm a huge Cosby fan. (INAUDIBLE). You think of jell-o, you know, and pudding pops and wholesomeness, exactly. So it's tough to -- some celebrities are just intangible of any kind of damage.

ROBBINS: You know, it's a great point, Brooke. But if you think about it, in a lot of these abuse cases, whether it's the catholic church abuse cases that we saw here in Massachusetts or it's the case against Sandusky that we saw in Penn State, typically a lot of times an abuser abuses his position of power and his public position, and Joey will agree with this, and that is what keeps victims from coming forward because they presume in addition to the shame, nobody is going to believe me. I mean, this is Bill Cosby for crying out loud. And that's exactly what she said to Michaela. She was laughed out of people's offices, Brooke?

JACKSON: Right. Particularly where there's that disparity in terms of, you know, someone is managing my career, over my career in a position of authority. Not to suggest he did these things. We don't know. But you know what? It really begs the question when you have a number of other people who was saying these things, but --.

BALDWIN: No charges -- again, no charges. But it's made its way back, you know, to the forefront. And a lot talk about it.

Mel Robbins and Joey Jackson, thank you both very much.

JACKSON: My pleasure, Brooke.

Coming up next, this so-called architect of Obamacare caught on tape suggesting the American voters stupidity led to this signature piece of legislation getting passed. And now house minority leader Nancy Pelosi saying she never heard of this guy. We'll talk to our chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper about this after the break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Obamacare who called American voters stupid. Well, we're talking about this MIT professor. We are going to play some sound for you in a second. But now, these multiple videos that have been surfacing of him talking about Obamacare, talking about its digital (ph) lack of transparency, blaming the stupid voters, his word. Now the sixth video has been released. It definitely raising some eyebrows. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN GRUBER, MIT PROFESSOR: We have just the insurance company. They pass on higher prices that offsets the tax break we get and it's the same thing. It's a very clever, you know, basic exploitation of the lack of economic understanding of the American voter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: With me now, our chief Washington correspondent and host of "the LEAD" Jake Tapper.

And so, here is the thing. We wanted to hone in on Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, because we know, I mean, looking back in the past, she specifically cited on Jonathan Gruber by name talking about, you know, cost of Obamacare and now apparently, she is saying, what, she's never heard of the guy.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Something like that. Well, look, Democrats are really distancing themselves from him. Jay Carney, the former White House press secretary, told me yesterday on "the LEAD" that he was really -- that Mr. Gruber is damaging President Obama, that he is speaking from an ivory tower and then we have Democrats now trying to act as though Jonathan Gruber was not one of the architects of Obamacare.

And before that, Romney care here in Massachusetts, you are going to here Nancy Pelosi's response to Jonathan Gruber. And after that, you're going to hear Nancy Pelosi in 2009.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: I don't know who he is. He didn't help write our bill. Our bill brings down race. I don't know if you have seen Jonathan Gruber, the MIT's analysis of what the comparison is to the status quo versus what will happen in our bill, for those who seek insurance within the exchange, and our bill takes down those costs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: And Jonathan Gruber, without question, is one of the architects, one of the people who helped craft the bill. And what is surprising in these speeches, these videos that have been newly discovered, is that he was so outspoken in terms of his disdain for voters, calling them stupid, and also in how he suggested the people pushing Obamacare were purposely misleading these stupid voters so as to get this passed, although he obviously believes that it is good legislation, it would be good for the country, Brooke.

BALDWIN: So, the sixth video surfacing, we'll look for you to parse more of this on "the LEAD." We'll see you at the top of the hour for an extended, actually, live interview with the former SEAL who says he fired the kill shot that took out Osama bin Laden. We will tune in for that, Mr. Tapper. Thank you.

Next, the power of Taylor Swift.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Tonight the "CNN spotlight" is on music mega star Taylor Smith.

Kyra Phillips will go inside the 24-year-old's exploding empire, taking a closer look at the singer's ever-rising stardom. Just this month, her face is gracing the covers of at least three magazines. It would seem that whatever this country girl turned pop princess touches turns to gold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: By 2014, Swift was ready for reinvention. She moved from Nashville to New York and swore off the boys, something John Rich and Big Kenny fully support.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Honestly, she's too young for a man in her life anyway.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Listen, she's too young!

PHILLIPS: So, your advice to her then, in the love life?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Advice to her is a shotgun.

PHILLIPS: Swift released a new album, "1989," trading country for straight pop.

TAYLOR SWIFT, SINGER: I think it's really important to evolve musically. I think it's easier to stay the same, but I really like to challenge myself musically and kind of push the envelope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Kyra Phillips, my goodness. I mean, this -- her face, it's like you can't go anywhere right now! She is everywhere, and people love her.

PHILLIPS: It's true. And can I tell you how much fun I had doing this? I mean, usually I'm covering wars --

BALDWIN: I know, you're my hard news gal.

PHILLIPS: Exactly. And I thought, OK, I love country music! I'm all over this.

Well, you know, it's like whoever Taylor Swift picks to go on tour, you know that's, like, the next rising star. So, we talked to a lot of people that are in her inner circle. Frankie Ballard is one of them. You like that song "sunshine and whiskey," right?

BALDWIN: Sure.

PHILLIPS: You've partied to that song on occasion.

BALDWIN: Sure.

PHILLIPS: We had a great time. We got together and he talked about how she called him up, asked him to come on tour and he said, let me tell you, having her stamp of approval, you are set for life. And he goes inside and tells us a lot of details we didn't know about Taylor Swift, how she's so hands-on, she's so kind to everybody. She throws big parties for, you know, her fans after concerts. And he said he even will sit back and think, what would Taylor do in this situation?

BALDWIN: Wow.

PHILLIPS: OK, this guy has a few years on her and has tattooed across his chest wwtd.

BALDWIN: What would Taylor do? So, you talk to all these different people. You talked to Big and Rich about her? Tell me a story.

PHILLIPS: They were so great. And you know, they have that mega hit now "look at you," beautiful song. As a matter of fact, I think they wrote it about you. I think that's what they told me.

BALDWIN: Stop it.

PHILLIPS: So, John has a great story about writing "the way I love you" with Taylor. And this is how it happened. She was in the neighborhood, knows he's a great songwriting, called him up and said I have this idea about this song about dating the nice guy but wanting to be with the bad boy, and I think you're the perfect one to write this song with me. So, she pulled up into his driveway. He said gets out, throws her guitar over her shoulder, comes into the house, kicks off her shoes. And he said in 90 minutes they wrote that hit.

BALDWIN: You know, I was actually talking to a friend of mine who is a pretty popular singer who used to let Taylor open for her back in the day in Nashville. And I said what do we think of Taylor Swift, because she's, you know, moved up to New York. I was kidding, we're not really neighbors, but I wish I had that kind of money to pay that kind of penthouse money.

Nevertheless, she said, you know, yes, she's really this smart, young artist. And I think what's really interesting, just reading more about Taylor Swift, is her relationship with the fans. You see all these mega stars and they're like, we love our fans!

PHILLIPS: She's in there. BALDWIN: But you get this sense from her that she really does and

really invites them literally into her home.

PHILLIPS: Yes. And Frankie was telling me, like the dad's there passing out guitar picks, mom's is there bringing in fans to the parties.

BALDWIN: Wow.

PHILLIPS: She's staying up late and mingling with everybody, having pizza and soda backstage.

BALDWIN: Too cool.

PHILLIPS: And that's something that John and Kenny said, too, Brooke, is that she's not just a singer, she's an artist and she's a great songwriter and she loves the crowd. And you know, you can't beat 14 years old writing amazing hits and not be able to cross over and do other things.

Everyone I talked with didn't seem to have a problem that she's crossing over into pop. They like more power to you. It is working. And you are going to bring in even more fans. And it is great for country music.

BALDWIN: Smart young woman. I say, go, girl to her.

Kyra Phillips, (INAUDIBLE) as well. Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: There you go.

BALDWIN: We will be watching, of course, your entire special tonight, "CNN Spotlight, Taylor Swift" tonight 10:00 p.m. only here on CNN.

That does it for me. I'm Brooke Baldwin.